Groups across Northern Ireland providing training and education for disadvantaged communities have benefited from funding from Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland to the tune of £1.8m last year.
Their work was honoured at a special reception at Stormont where it was revealed that the Foundation last year helped over 500 charities and community based organisations.
Some of this funding goes to support a wide range of educational and training projects geared to job promotion and community development.
Present at the reception was Garnet Busby and Nichola Johnston from Belfast South Community Resources (BSCR) in Sandy Row, which has received £100,000 from the Foundation’s six year Creating Change programme to develop its services including the provision of IT accredited training for up to 80 disadvantaged residents per year with the aim of increasing their employability.
The group is receiving referrals from the Educational Guidance Service for Adults (EGSA) to train people who have been made redundant and have no computer qualifications but plenty of experience.
BSCR is fast tracking them though exams to gain qualifications that reflect their experience. In the past year at least seven participants have either gained new employment or promotion through their own employer as a result.
Another group to benefit is the Damask Community Outreach, which was set up to help relieve deprivation and social isolation in the Low Road community in East Lisburn. Volunteers Eric and Jane Katherine Dawson both attended the Stormont reception.
It received £4,000 towards training of its volunteers, new computer equipment and the rent and running costs of its premises. With the help of this funding they are establishing a new befriending service and an advice drop-in service. Their plan for 2012/13 is to establish parenting skills training, youth work and bereavement support with Cruse.
Sandara Kelso-Robb, executive director of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland, paid tribute to the work carried out by all of the community-based organisations.
“We are continuing to meet the escalating needs of the local community by funding these groups and are delighted to celebrate another successful year of investment in important projects that are making a difference to so many lives,” she said.