See some of the inspiring projects to receive a welcome boost from our General Grants Programme…
Handcrafted Projects, Durham
Handcrafted Projects is a Christian charity working in the North East of England, supporting the most vulnerable in the community by offering training opportunities in woodwork, catering and crafts. The charity also provides supported housing for people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness.
A £3,000 grant from Benefact Trust will help Handcrafted Projects to transform an old pub in a disadvantaged area of Gateshead into a community hub that will provide housing support, a community café, debt advice services, a training kitchen and a workshop – all to empower marginalised people to turn their lives around.
Family Space, Hesters Way, Cheltenham
Family Space works in partnership with the Cheltenham YMCA and four local churches to offer support and a helping hand with the ups and downs of family life. The main focus is to help local families, especially the most vulnerable and isolated, by providing a safe space where they can interact with other families and take part in positive activities.
As part of its work, Family Space runs a nursery at St Barnabas Church in Cheltenham to support young families – a need which has grown since the pandemic. £750 funding from Benefact Trust will help Family Space to purchase IT equipment to support admin, parent education and Early Years learning.
St Andrew’s Church, Yetminster, Dorset
St Andrew’s Church serves a community of around 1,200 people. The church is an important part of village life, with an important historic clock tower, which dates back to the 17th Century. The clock is of national importance as it is one of the earliest pendulum clocks in the country and operates a carillon – meaning every three hours it plays the National Anthem.
A £1,800 grant from the Trust will help St Andrew’s to make urgent repairs to the clock, which has stood silent for a year, so that the community and visitors can hear it ring again for generations to come.
The Bridge Church, Bolton
A £5,600 grant from Benefact Trust is helping The Bridge Church to develop one of its current buildings, an old car showroom, into a purpose-built centre for children, young people, and families.
The Bridge Life Centre will help the church to reach more young people with meaningful projects to improve spiritual, mental, social and physical wellbeing. The centre will offer an after-school children’s club as well as regular drop-in sessions with a range of fun and varied activities.
