A WOKINGHAM charity that supports families living on low incomes has been awarded nearly £70,000 to fund a number of vital projects.
The money will back a two-year scheme to increase life skills and enable life-changing benefits to families and individuals in the local community.
Linda Heppolette, head of coaching at First Days Children’s Charity, said: “People who are struggling with the effects of financial hardship often feel at their lowest, lacking confidence and self-esteem.
“This incredibly generous funding will mean we can get alongside families and help them to believe in themselves again. The confidence to learn new skills and take control of our lives should not just be the privilege of the well-off.”
The funding from Make Some Noise the official charity of the media and entertainment group Global, will provide a vital lifeline in communities – from food banks to befriending projects for the elderly and isolated, cancer wellbeing programmes to domestic abuse refuges, from employment opportunities to physical therapy for people with disabilities.
This year, the charities that Global’s Make Some Noise supports will receive £5,000 in unrestricted funds to support with the growing impact of the cost-of-living crisis and to help keep their doors open. Many charities are facing growing waiting lists and unprecedented demand for their services, whilst facing increased energy bills and costs for frontline staff.
Suzanne Ryder Richardson, director of Global Goodness at Global, said: “It’s been an incredibly tough couple of years for everyone and as the cost of living continues to increase, more people are turning to local groups for help, putting extra strain on their resources.
“With that in mind, I’m so pleased that Global’s Make Some Noise is able to help charities at the centre of the communities they serve, and we will continue to raise money and awareness for their vital work.”
Over the next year, the funds raised through Make Some Noise’s 2022 appeal will provide support to more than 24,000 people through essential services including:
More than 2,000 hours of mental health support, through one-to-one counselling sessions and therapeutic group work
More than 2,500 hours of life skills support and leisure opportunities for people living with a disability
More than 200 brand new beds for vulnerable children living in poverty who either previously had no bed of their own, or are sleeping in a broken, unsafe or unhygienic bed
Since its launch in 2014, Global’s Make Some Noise has supported more than 440 local projects, helping 175,000 vulnerable people across the UK.
