Thanks to almost £10,000 in funding from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, Sunderland Home Grown CIC is launching a new service to support vulnerable people in their local community.
With a total fund of £9,622, Sunderland Home Grown CIC will engage with people that have disabilities and those whose circumstances are adversely affected by issues such as welfare reform, health issues, unemployment, poverty and lack of opportunity.
The organisation, which operates as a commercial nursery and garden centre, will deliver a programme in Thompson Park where local residents will maintain areas that are currently underdeveloped.
Gary Hillery, Horticulture Project Manager at Sunderland Home Grown CIC, said: “Sunderland Home Grown CIC is firmly committed to supporting all members of the community of all abilities, but it can be quite a challenge to provide a safe and engaging environment that is suited to the more vulnerable adults in our area.
“With Coalfields funding we are now able to extend our range of services with this new programme which will offer these people a space to work to the best of their ability whilst completing a meaningful task at Thompson Park.”
Chief Executive of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Gary Ellis, said: “It goes without saying that life can be a struggle in the UK’s former mining communities, with low employment rates and high levels of deprivation, which is why it is so important that all residents are offered the support they need.
“As an organisation our strategy is to improve the employment, skills and health and wellbeing of the residents within these coalfield communities. Providing Sunderland Home Grown CIC with this funding not only allows us to address and resolve these issues, but it also extends our reach to the most vulnerable members of the community, which will have a lasting impact for years to come.”
For further information about the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, and how organisations can access funding and practical support, please click here.