Step Forward North West, a charity that provides training and support to help local people in the Worsley Hall area of Wigan back into employment is celebrating having received a grant worth £30,000. The funding has been made by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales through its community programme and will support the salary of the project manager as the organisation expands its facilities and develops the services it offers the local community. Since 2008 the Lloyds TSB Foundation has made grants worth £125,000 to charities tackling disadvantage in Wigan.
Based on Logwood Avenue in the Worsley Hall area of Wigan, amongst the most deprived areas of the North West, Step Forward runs a community café for local residents. Visitors to the café can access advice and training opportunities to help them to move back into employment or into new careers. With support from Wigan and Leigh Housing Association and Jackson Lloyd Building Contractors, Step Forward has renovated derelict buildings next door to the café and can now offer training and support in properly equipped surroundings. The charity provides extensive adult learning facilities, including accredited courses and a project working with young people in danger of being excluded from school.
Funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation will allow the project manager to develop Step Forward’s services in the new building to improve the life choices and chances of as many people as possible in the local area. Step Forward have also
Mark Bench, project manager at Step Forward, commented on the importance of the grant, “During this period of recession it will be more important than ever that Step Forward works with the whole community to develop people’s confidence and ambition to play full role in the economic redevelopment of the area. This funding will allow us to do that now and also to become sustainable for the future.”
Lloyds TSB Foundation grant manager for North Manchester, Yvonne Taylor added, “It was obvious from my visit that Step Forward is achieving a great deal for people in this area of Wigan. The Lloyds TSB Foundation is delighted to support their work as they expand their work in the community.”
To find out more about the support that Step Forward can offer, please contact Mark Bench on 01942 209323.
