We are celebrating an award of over £430,000 in National Lottery funding to support our work with young people and communities in Trowbridge.
For the next four years the funding will help us to support people through the cost of living crisis, provide opportunities for community connection, and develop our services for children and young people.
Meg Aubrey, Chief Executive, said: “We are really delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognized the valuable work of Trowbridge Future and chosen to support us for the next four years. We are excited to be able to press on with
plans for enhancing the lives of communities in our town, and supporting vulnerable people onto a positive journey of change in their lives.”
We celebrated the funding announcement with members of our weekly craft club at our Seymour Hub - where we welcome local people to our warm and friendly ‘public living room’. The craft club brings local people together to enjoy time together over craft activities, led by our Community Support workers.
“Having moved here recently I have fitted in and made friends immediately. Everyone is so welcoming,” said Pat, part of the Seymour celebration.
Mark, also part of the celebration, said: “Trowbridge Future has built my confidence and given me a life.”
Trowbridge Future has become an essential front-line service for many local vulnerable residents and young people. A central Community Hub in the Shires Shopping Centre offers friendly drop-in sessions supporting around 250 people per month with advice and sign-posting.
We run weekly Kindness Cafes open to all at our Seymour Hub and Longfield Community Centre, and three community fridges working with communities not reached by the Food Bank. The fridges share unsold food from stores in town and feed 5,000 each year.
Over 300 young people attend free weekly youth sessions led by professional youth workers. The sessions welcome young people to a safe, engaging space and supports those with disabilities, mental health and learning needs.
The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its new strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030. National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK and last year The National Lottery Community Fund distributed over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.