North Worcestershire Basement Project
North Worcestershire Basement Project received a grant from the first round of WCF’s Strengthening Worcestershire Fund run in partnership with Worcestershire County Council.
The Basement Project operates across Worcestershire supporting young people up to age 25 who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in crisis. The help they provide includes a floating support service, mediation and conflict resolution, counselling, home starter packs and a food bank.
With their grant, the charity delivered 712 hours of support. They helped 79 young people secure and maintain accommodation and prevented 12 evictions. They also helped young people improve their independent living skills, knowledge of benefits, debt services, training or employment opportunities available and, supported them with their mental and physical health and access to relevant services. Overall, they helped young people make informed decisions and improve their socio-economic position, further reducing the likelihood of repeat homelessness.
Fundraiser, Kelly Turner told us:
“This is our second grant through Worcestershire Community Foundation, and we are very grateful for your continued support. We are seeing that local young people facing homelessness are increasingly battling multiple complex challenges, so being able to ensure our services are available county-wide is very important to us and those we support”.
Kelly told us about a young man experiencing housing insecurity. They helped him apply for housing following which he was offered a tenancy. WCF’s funding also helped him set up utilities, manage benefits and budgeting, secure additional financial support and reduce his isolation. As a result, he sustained his tenancy, enrolled on an ESOL course and gained part-time employment. They have helped him to develop greater confidence, independence and long-term stability in his life.
Some of the young people the Basement Project helped said:
“Home wasn’t the safest place for me to be. My mental health suffered a lot. My support worker has helped me to learn how to look after myself, pay my bills on time, with going to the GP and doing all of the things I need to do to stay alive.”
“I was struggling to afford things, using food banks and going to places where I could get free community meals. My support worker helped me to apply for a Personal Independent Payment. I now have a better financial situation and can afford things that help my mental health.”
Two food voucher recipients said:
“Thank you so much for helping me out. I was really worried as I had no money to buy shopping this week.”
“This is amazing, thank you! I was really struggling and this has massively helped.”
WCF distributed £187,000, from the Strengthening Worcestershire Fund first round, supporting 31 different projects. These met a community need for cost of living, ageing well, tackling loneliness and social isolation, providing information and advice and supporting unpaid carers. We are delighted to see how the grants benefited each of the groups awarded and, through their work, continue to enable them to positively impact Worcestershire people.
See more information on the Strengthening Worcestershire Fund and our other grant programmes here.
For further information on WCF, to talk to us about making a donation, setting up a fund or supporting local communities, please contact Director Lucy Wells at [email protected] / 07909 111812.
For information on grants available locally and nationally, please visit the county council grants database: Home | Worcestershire County Council’s Funding Finder.
