Bendrigg Trust

Adventure for All

Bendrigg Trust is a residential outdoor education centre working specifically with disabled and disadvantaged people. It aims to promote inclusion, encourage independence, build self-confidence and improve physical and mental health and well-being through the provision of adventurous activities and residential experience. Often a disabled group will require two or three times the number of staff that a 'mainstream' group would require. Often, groups struggle to afford even the subsidised rates and so the 'Adventure for All' project supports those most in need with up to an additional 50% bursary. To tackle disadvantage head on and help users to help themselves, Bendrigg wants to create an accessible 'Fundraising Pack' which will detail sources of possible funding and advice on applications.

To promote equal opportunities and inclusivity to a wider audience, they wish to create 5 inspiring films of 5 different user groups which can be shared within their communities, to showcase their story and to inspire more people to get outdoors. They will showcase these films during an inclusive activity festival held at Bendrigg in September 2019 to bring people together, celebrate inclusivity and raise awareness of the benefits of inclusive adventure and promote equal opportunities.

Hearts and Minds

Clowndoctors

The Clowndoctors programme aims to improve the lives of children and young people in hospital, hospices, respite and schools for learners with complex additional support needs through therapeutic clowning. Clowndoctors are specially trained practitioners who have experience of working with vulnerable children. They are chosen for their empathy and intuition as much as for their performance skills. Through playfulness, smiles and laughter, they help young people to cope with the anxiety and sadness that their conditions may bring, and raise their spirits.

Music in Hospitals & Care

Rhythm for Recovery

Music in Hospitals & Care delivers high quality concerts - performed by professional musicians – to thousands of people in healthcare settings across the whole of the UK. They work in hospitals, hospices, care homes, day centres and special schools, and their music touches the mind, body and soul of their audiences.

The Rhythm for Recovery project will deliver 130 live music sessions to critically ill patients of all ages in Intensive Care units and High Dependency Units throughout the UK. The project will draw on the expertise of six previously trained musicians, and will offer training to a further 12 musicians to cover a wider geographical spread across the UK. This will enhance the variety of music styles on offer and increase the charity’s capacity to cope with the demand for this service in new hospital settings across the UK. It will ensure that more people have the opportunity to experience joyful, uplifting live music at a critical time when they need it the most.

Central Eltham Food Project

Fresh is Best

Fresh is Best' is a brand new, innovative, free, healthy food distribution and educational project targeting vulnerable young people aged 16-30 who live independently but who fail to eat a healthy balanced diet. There are three elements to the project: 1) 'Fresh is Best' cookery course comprising of 6 x 2 hour workshops delivered over 3-4 consecutive weeks. During and on completion of the course, young people will given free fresh food packs containing a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables for them to use at home. 2) Further support including Fresh Packs will be provided once a week on an ongoing basis for a further six months. 3) Young people will have the opportunity to volunteer on the Fresh is Best project by training as Peer Mentors.

Theatr Clwyd Development Trust

Criminal Justice Programme

The Crime Prevention Pathway combines three educational criminal justice projects (Justice in a Day, Connor’s Time and Junior Justice). The programme uses professional actors to deliver hard-hitting and realistic dramas. Each explores topical issues of concern around the criminal justice system affecting young people, in an interactive and challenging way. This programme is delivered across the calendar year providing extensive engagement for the Foundation.

Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres Trust

Financial Advice Project

This project will build on existing work to support vulnerable people with cancer to regain control over their financial situation and in doing so reduce stress and anxiety in their lives. It will focus on geographical areas which have high levels of deprivation. A Benefits Advisor will offer free advice and support to help visitors navigate the complexities of the welfare system, fill in forms, liaise with creditors and provide advocacy to give visitors one less thing to worry about.

Birmingham Disability Resource Centre

Switched On

The ‘Switched On’ project will support 200 disabled people to tackle fuel poverty. It will provide a broad range of support to disabled people; it will be delivered by a full-time Switched On Adviser who is trained to City and Guilds Standard and a part-time Training Officer. The project will be delivered in the form of home visits, one to one interventions, crisis support and group learning opportunities.

Young Women’s Trust

Work it Out

Over the coming year, the aim is to significantly increase the reach and impact of the innovative employability and confidence-boosting project, ‘Work It Out’, by supporting 3,000 disadvantaged young women. Work It Out comprises two complementary services to support struggling young women into work. 1) Self-confidence and employability coaching – provided by professional paid coaches online, 2) Personalised CV and job application feedback – provided online by volunteer HR professionals.

National Autistic Society

Young People’s Social Group

The 'Young People’s Social Group' project in Glasgow and Dunbartonshire is designed to tackle isolation and provide structured opportunities to socialise. The young participants choose the activities to do, with the guidance of staff and volunteers to help them push themselves and try new experiences. All of this helps to build the members’ confidence and ability to be out in their communities, make friends, reduce their social isolation and improve their mental wellbeing. Alongside general social activities, the project aims to introduce two extra elements. Firstly to deliver transgender awareness sessions for the groups. Secondly, to introduce the Socialeyes modules to the groups. This is a learning resource, developed by the NAS alongside autistic people themselves, which helps autistic people to learn social interaction skills and strategies.