New charity initiative launched in Morpeth thanks to a share of The People’s Millions!
A Morpeth charity based at the town’s Sanderson Arcade has been successful in its bid for a share of The People’s Millions to launch a ground breaking new project.
The Community Works project is a new initiative by Castle Morpeth Disability Association which will give access to a free handyman and gardening service for elderly and disabled people who may not otherwise be able to pay for help.
They put together their bid for a grant of £52,552 from The Peoples Millions - a grants programme run by the Big Lottery Fund in Partnership with ITV - and went head to head with other charities across the region for a share of the fund.
The Morpeth charity’s bid was featured on TTTV on Tuesday this week and supporters were urged to ring a special voting hotline to register their support. Hundreds rang in and the team have now been told they’ve been successful giving the green light to press ahead with the new community programme.
The Community Works volunteers will provide services alongside paid workers giving them the opportunity to increase their skills while helping others.
Brooke Burgess, Independent Living Advisor at CMDA said: “We are absolutely delighted and so grateful for all the support we’ve had from people who voted for the Community Works project. This is a fantastic new initiative and will create jobs as well as recruiting young volunteers and providing training, work experience and access to new skills.
“We are really pleased the community has got behind us in this way – the hard work really starts now as we’re hoping to get the project launched by August 1st.”
Centre Manager at Sanderson Arcade Debbie Anderson said: “We are really pleased that CMDA are going to be able to provide this fantastic service thanks to this funding. Well done to everyone on the team.”
Editors Notes:
For more information about Castle Morpeth Disability Association visit www.cmda.org.uk
The Community Works project is designed to tackle environmental improvement and social exclusion. These are two issues that arise when individuals who cannot take care of their homes and gardens due to disabilities and age related ailments become excluded from society, agrophobic and generally run down. It is common, in these circumstances for individuals of the 16-24 year old age group to target these dwellings as “hang out” areas. Loitering in, and littering the community. The Community Works Project aims tackle the issue by offering NVQ Level training to young people through volunteer placements and getting them involved in the cleaning, gardening and community work of their local area
1 Jul 2011
For further information, contact:-
Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk