Shaw Trust Awarded Big Lottery Funding

National employment charity, Shaw Trust, has been awarded almost half a million pounds by the Big Lottery Fund to offer life-changing opportunities for people with mental ill health in Leyland, Lancashire.

The charity has been awarded £446,642 over three years for its Windmill Designs project through BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, which supports people most in need and helps build stronger communities.

The project will support people who are recovering from mental health issues to achieve mainstream work. Working from local community centres to provide ease of access to the service, the programme will provide opportunities for volunteers to support others in their learning and the opportunity to learn new skills whilst exploring ideas and aspirations for employment.

The project receives commissions from local organisations including schools and libraries to produce art works and pieces of garden furniture. It aims to build the confidence, communication skills and self esteem of those involved by providing structure to their lives and aiding their recovery whilst providing them with the skills to go into voluntary or paid employment.

The service will be based on art focused activities which will enable people to gain confidence and provide integration whilst learning new skills. This will lead to support from employment focused staff who will provide guidance and support to access further learning, voluntary work, and paid employment.

The new funding will enable the project to receive more referrals, offer better access by providing workshops in five community centres rather than one, and start new workshops such as gardening and basic house repairs.

Theresa Lloyd, Regional Manager for the North West for Shaw Trust said:

“We are thrilled to have been awarded this funding by the Big Lottery Fund. It means we can help many more people with mental ill health in the Chorley and Ribble area.”

“Shaw Trust has been working with people who have been referred to us from hospital environments for the last three years and we are delighted that we can support many more people.”

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Notes to editors:

1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust Press Manager Samantha Jobber on 01225 716 300 or 07595 214 649.

2. More information on the Big Lottery Fund can be found on their website.

3. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels. Across the UK around 1,400 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

4. If you would like to support the work that Shaw Trust does to help disabled and disadvantaged people find work and achieve independence please visit our website

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