With a staggering 34% of children in the North West of England living in poverty (BBC), the decision to centre our first grant awards on supporting charities that alleviate child poverty in the region was both compelling and imperative.
We were delighted to receive a huge number of applications from such well-deserving organisations. Despite the fact that our judging panel (consisting of Equilibrium client Chris Fox, The Bursary Foundation founder Jenny Hopkinson, Andrew Evans of Think Philanthropy and several team members) had an extremely tough job deciding on the winners. However, after careful consideration, we take immense pride in revealing the recipients of this year’s awards who all received a share of £60,000:
Addressing hygiene poverty, Bare Necessities is a toiletry bank that collects and distributes essential products to a network of charities. The grant will support their Give a Smile and Give a Wash Day projects, providing toothbrushes, toothpaste and laundry detergents. These initiatives play a pivotal role in bolstering self-esteem and overall wellbeing for children and their families.
Dedicated to enriching disadvantaged children’s lives up to the age of eight, Bolton Toy Library facilitates interactive play, lending toys, books, and specialised resources. It serves as a nurturing space for vulnerable families, offering essential support services alongside play opportunities. A Diversity Support Worker will be appointed using the grant, focusing on aiding non-native English-speaking families out of poverty.
Children Today provides grants, advice and guidance that allow children and young people (up to the age of 25) living with disabilities to access specialised equipment (including trikes, adapted buggies, powered wheelchairs, lightweight wheelchairs, bubble tubes, seating systems and tough beds).
With a mission to provide support to families with young children during challenging times, Home-Start has built a community network of trained volunteers and experts. Their grant will provide targeted aid for local families facing poverty and debt. The funds will also sustain a part-time position dedicated to organising and distributing essential items.
This youth club empowers young people aged 6 – 18 through a range of weekly sessions in a secure environment. Their grant will be channelled towards enhancing kitchen facilities used for healthy cooking classes. Notably, these improvements will focus on ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
This organisation tackles the pressing issue of safeguarding young people through educational workshops. Notably, their GANG for LIFE? project addresses gang-related concerns among those aged 9-16. The grant will allow them to expand the reach and frequency of these workshops.
Promoting healthy lifestyles and sports engagement, Swinton Lions Community Sports Foundation leverages Rugby League as a medium for empowerment. The grant will support the development of innovative programs across four targeted community hubs in Manchester, catering to those aged 7-18.
The awards will have a different theme for each round of awards, enabling us to spotlight a range of issues depending on what we believe to be most relevant at the time.
For more information on the Grant Awards, please click the button below.
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