Testimonials

A total of 47 applicants responded to our follow up monitoring questionnaire (after the 2022 grants round).

The following case studies provide examples of the type of projects funded, and of the outcomes generated:

Name of Organisation: Porchfield Community Centre

Name of Project: Digital training/social & educational activities

Approved amount: £1,500

Case Study: Jane is an older vulnerable female pensioner, who lives locally with her husband, they are extremely socially isolated. Jane attends Porchfield Community Centre 3-4 times a week and has been attending classes here now for 4 years. At first, she was very scared of meeting new people and making new friendships. But throughout this time, she has gained self-worth and confidence, made numerous friends, who she meets outside the Centre, and she also does voluntary work now. Her husband, however, does not go out, he is very isolated. They are both on a low income and during the past year, with the Cost-of-Living Crisis, they have struggled with their mental health with regards to paying bills, buying food etc. Jane started attending Porchfield as she knew she had to make this step to help with her mental health, as she has suffered with depression and anxiety for many years. Jane was quite shy at first, but after several weeks her confidence dramatically changed for the better. She stated,’ “Even more than ever now Porchfield is really needed for the older people of this community.”

Name of Organisation: Skerton Community Centre

Name of Project: Skerton Youth Residential

Approved amount: £1,000

Case Study: Young person T is one of six children in a family who have been connected with the community centre for several years. The children have been brought up by their mother as a single parent, however in recent years the grandmother has taken on more parenting responsibility. This is mainly due to the mother struggling with issues relating to drug and alcohol use. Financial difficulties mean that the family is unable to take holidays and rarely venture far from Lancaster. The grandmother also cares for her husband who is suffering from dementia.

T attended our residential for the first time along with four other siblings. This was only possible due to the generosity of funders who were able to fully subsidise their places. This ensured all five children could attend and no one missed out. Prior to the residential T was very quiet, shy, and hard to engage. She would often sit on her own during youth group and needed a lot of coaching to engage with others in the group.

Initially she demonstrated these behaviours during the activities on the residential but with encouragement from staff and young people began to take part in many of the activities. She was clearly out of her comfort zone during many of the sessions but pushed herself to overcome her fears and eventually ‘threw herself’ into all that was asked of her.

At the start of the residential she would sit on her own at mealtimes and wouldn’t talk to other young people. As the days went on, we saw her starting to interact and by the end of the week she had made new friends and formed lasting relationships. These relationships have continued upon her arrival back at the centre and reports from school show a positive change in her attitude.

The impact of the residential is a vast increase in T’s self-confidence and ability to push herself beyond what she believes she is capable of. Her mother and grandmother both report a notable change in her attitude and interaction with others since attending the residential.

Name of Organisation: EMERGE3RS

Name of Project: Feeding families who cannot cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

Approved amount: £2,203

Name of Organisation: Whitehough Educational Centre

Name of Project: Renovation Work

Approved amount: Contribution of £1000