Member Article

Life-skills project aimed at helping vulnerable people launches on Tyneside

A project which will help vulnerable people, especially those facing homelessness, to develop essential life-skills and maximise their income has been launched on Tyneside.

The Nosh project, a partnership between Ouseburn Farm Charity and Tyne Housing, was officially launched at Ouseburn Farm this week by John Hesketh, Regional Director for NatWest Premier Banking in the North who presented a cheque for £10,059 as part of the NatWest Skills and Opportunities Fund.

Throughout the year, 50 vulnerable people will benefit from the programme and receive specialist one-to-one support, advice and guidance on how to prepare healthy meals on a budget. Sessions will be delivered at Tyne’s supported accommodation across the region and at Ouseburn Farm’s training kitchen facilities.

As part of the launch, John was joined by members of staff who will be facilitating the delivery of the programme including some of those participating.

Ouseburn Farm Charity, working in partnership with Tyne, is one of only three organisations in the North East to receive funding after it won a public vote and the regional boards selected winners from each area.

52 not-for-profit organisations including charities, community groups, social enterprises, and state-funded schools and colleges across the UK and Ireland were successful in securing funding towards their projects. The Fund awards grants of up to £35k and this round of funding (Round 2) is the latest and final funding award of £1.25m, taking the total issued by the Fund over its 4-year life-span to more than £10m.

The Fund was set up to support organisations and projects that enable people in disadvantaged communities to develop, create or access the skills and opportunities they need to develop now and in the future. Since the Fund was established in 2015, NatWest has awarded over £7m of funding to 311 organisations across England and Wales.

John Hesketh, Regional Director for NatWest Premier Banking in the North, said: “Through the NatWest Skills and Opportunities Fund, we’ve been able to support a range of programmes across the North of England in their development and delivery. The programmes and initiatives run by the team at Ouseburn Farm Charity have already had a hugely positive impact on the local community and we’re delighted to be able to help them continue their great work.”

Louise Wilson, Head of Business Development from Tyne Housing, said: “The Nosh programme will help some of society’s most vulnerable people and teach them the essential life-skills they need that will hopefully encourage them to move on with their lives. While most of us may take these basic life-skills for granted, it could change their lives forever.

“We are very grateful to John and the NatWest Skills and Opportunities Fund for supporting our project which will have a long-lasting social and financial impact on those who engage and participate. Our vision is about ‘supporting everyone to be the best they can be’ and if 50 vulnerable people, including those that are homeless, can learn essential life skills then this goes a long way to achieving our aims.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Up North Communications .