WIREDGOV

Three projects that help some of London’s most vulnerable people are set to expand their work after being awarded over £800,000 of Lottery funding. 

The Westminster Drug Project has been awarded £489,634 to help reformed drug users to get back into employment through their Giving Something Back Into Work project. The scheme will establish hubs in Barnet and Enfield but will encourage service users from across the capital to take part.  

Working with Job Centre Plus and local employers, service users will join a 10-week programme comprising a volunteer training course, an OCN level-two accredited employability course, job club sessions, and direct sessions with employers career talks, mock interviews, CV writing and IT skills workshops. After securing positions with employers, clients will be provided with in-work support for up to three months.

The grant comes from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.

Yasmin Batliwala, Chair of Westminster Drug Project, said: “We are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for giving us the opportunity to run our Giving Something Back Into Work (GSB Into Work) programme. This project directly leads on from the successful delivery of our Giving Something Back project and incorporates the best practices and learning we gained from this. The new GSB Into Work project will provide a bridge between volunteering and employment, and support service users to develop their pre-employability skills and move into and sustain paid work.

Our experience has shown that supporting service users to develop their self-confidence and skills to gain employment is an effective way of achieving long-term recovery. Through the support offered in GSB Into Work, individuals who have been heavily dependent on drugs and alcohol, will be equipped for the world of work.”

Audrey, former nurse and GSB participant, has previously battled alcohol addiction. She said: “I attended rehab and in 2011 I decided to join the GSB volunteering programme in Barnet. GSB helped me to look forward to something every week – it gave me direction and the confidence to apply for any form of employment. Addiction is like hell on earth. It is so powerful that the minute you get any money, you no longer think about your health but now my family and friends are finally trusting me and accepting me back into their lives again. I can be proud of myself and so are my family.”

Audrey, a 59-year-old former nurse, may not fit the stereotypical image of a substance abuser but she found herself getting help from the project when she hit rock bottom:

Meanwhile The Spires Centre has been awarded £362,233 for its Streetlink project to help meet the health needs of sex workers in Brixton and Streatham and ultimately steer them away from prostitution. The women often have little value for themselves, have great difficulty trusting others and in choosing and sustaining healthy relationships. With little education, many are unable to carry out basic life skills such as cooking, managing a tenancy or budgeting and paying bills.

The project will go out to meet the women in their own territory and provide them with individual support workers. A day centre allows the women to access women only advice and support away from the street and provides facilities such as showers, food and clothing to meet basic needs. The day centre also offers a base for professionals such as training advisors, housing and benefits advisors and Job Centre Plus.

Finally, Scope&rsquo ;s Face 2 Face project will expand into Islington, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Newham thanks to a grant of £701,443. It aims to support parents who have disabled children through the emotional and practical challenges they face. It will give them the skills and emotional resilience to support their children and family with increased optimism, confidence and knowledge. They will use this to combat isolation and fear and engage in their community.

The parents of disabled children will be matched with befrienders who will help and support parents to become emotionally resilient. They will also provide practical local advice and information around health and social care organisations, which will mostly be provided in the home environment.

Dharmendra Kanani, Big Lottery Fund Director for England, said: “These Reaching Communities awards demonstrate the difference that Lottery funding can make to the most vulnerable members of society in London. Scope, the Westminster Drug Project and the Spires Centre are all working hard to improve the lives of people in real need of a helping hand and I am proud that Big Lottery funding can help make this possible.”

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500572
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @biglotteryfund #biglf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund

Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was returned to the Good Causes. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded.