DROITWICH CVS is appealing for ideas on how it can help more people on the Westlands estate after receiving a massive £321,000 grant to expand its ‘Moving Forward’ project.
The scheme was set up in 2019 to help those in need in Droitwich West, with the Westlands Estate being in the most deprived 10 per cent nationally for employment, education, skills and training.
The huge cash boost has been provided by the National Lottery Community Fund to allow the charity to launch its ‘next steps’ phase over the next three years.
This includes launching a free cafe from its base at Westlands Community Centre, which starts on November 6 and will run twice-a-week.
A breakfast cafe will run every Monday between 8.30am and 10am with an afternoon hot drink and cake session from 2.30pm until 4pm on Thursdays.
Then, from November 8, work coaches from the Department for Work and Pensions will contact unemployed 18 and 24-year-olds from Droitwich West to offer them direct support from Westlands Community Centre.
This comes after Droitwich CVS noticed many in the area had to trek to Kidderminster JobCentre to meet with work coaches.
The cash will also be used to recruit, train and mentor volunteers to help with running current and new projects.
Project manager Nikki Beeston told the Standard the service was needed more than ever.
She said: “I know isolated and lonely people who were seriously considering giving up their pets before we stepped in with food because they simply couldn’t afford to feed them.
“I have been here since the start of the project, it’s been fantastic to see it grow and help more people and we want to continue to expand.
“We want to provide activities and support that suit the needs of people living here so any suggestions would be welcome.”
Those with ideas for new services for people living in Droitwich West ward can submit them by visiting Westlands Community Centre, emailing [email protected] or messaging ‘Moving Forward on Westlands’ on Facebook.
