SLEEC

Survivors Leading Essential Education & Change – known as SLEEC – was set up by survivors of rape, sexual violence and domestic violence to support survivors and those with lived experience of harm and trauma, but also to tackle the root causes of male violence and rape culture.  It is based in Bristol but works on a national basis. Its work with survivors includes aiming to challenge the narrative around sexual violence and domestic abuse and how survivors are seen and treated.  It provides a space for survivors to meet and talk, running a twice-monthly survivor group.

In June 2024, SLEEC was offered funding of £6,020 from the Allen Lane Foundation.  The grant is towards work with men, working to end male violence and misogyny.  It offers courses for men, aimed at creating a ‘deeper understanding of the impact of their behaviour, where that harm comes from and exploring ways in which true accountability can be practised and sustained’.  The grant will create a series of training resources to be used to train and support staff and volunteering working in prisons and with ex-offenders.  A pilot project will involve 15 men, focussing on behaviour, attitudes and experiences that impact their actions and choices.  SLEEC then aims to reach eleven prisons in the South West with this resource over the coming year.  Intended outcomes are reduced harm and violence in communities; for those incarcerated that they will feel less isolation, stigmatised and more integrated into their communities; and to change the culture around prevention and harm reduction work.

www.sleec.net

 

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The Wainman Trust

The Wainman Trust operates day centre facilities for elderly people in the Clifton and Arnold areas of Nottingham.  Three ‘clubs’ are run each week at two different venues, and offer a range of activities as well as a hot lunch and refreshments.  Members are aged between 72 and 99 years, and many have a physical or mental health support need such as early-stage dementia.  The clubs promote improved health and wellbeing, offering a safe and welcoming place to socialise and take part in crafts, games and chair exercises. The provision also enables families and carers some respite, knowing their partner or family member is being looked after and engaged.

Funding of £10,000 split over a three-year period was awarded at the June 2024 Allen Lane Foundation Trustee meeting.  This is contributing towards the running costs of the sessions with older people.  Anticipated outcomes of the work are that members will have reduced isolation and loneliness; their physical and mental wellbeing will be improved; and that they will have an improved quality of life and prolonged independence.

www.wainmantrust.co.uk

 

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Billy’s Lifeline

Billy’s Lifeline is a charity that provides support and counselling services to people affected by suicide loss.  It was set up after a family lost their son/brother, and found there was no professional guidance or emotional support offered to help them deal with issues that arose after his passing.  Billy’s Lifeline aims to fill that gap in support. It is based in South Shields, and works in partnership with mental health services such as Mind and NHS services to ensure a collaborative approach and that people can receive the best help possible.  The work helps bereaved families to navigate the complex grief associated with losing someone to suicide and helps practically as well as emotionally in the days/weeks/months ahead.

The Allen Lane Foundation awarded funding to Billy’s Lifeline at its June 2024 meeting of Trustees. The grant was for £6,600, and will contribute to the salary of the project coordinator. Intended outcomes of the charity’s work over the coming year include that: 80 people will be provided with access to immediate emotional and practical support; schools and health care professionals will benefit from increased awareness of mental health issues/suicide; and that locally there will be reduced stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues.

www.billyslifeline.org

 

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Stockport Refugee Group

This organisation is a constituted group that provides assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in the Stockport area.  Run by local residents and former refugees, it organises a drop-in centre each Saturday, providing a warm safe place for people to meet and access services. It offers English conversation classes, children’s play, a hot meal, and free food bags where required.  Volunteers are able to offer advice on issues such as housing, health and finding other support.  Around 30-35 women attend each week, with a natural flow of new visitors as people arrive into the area and others move on.

The Allen Lane Foundation awarded a grant of £3,726 in June 2024.  This will cover the group’s insurance, volunteer expenses including DBS checks, and pay half the annual rent costs of the drop-in.  Overall outcomes of the work are that attendees of the drop-in will have improved confidence from learning to understand and speak English in an informal setting; better understanding and integration into the local community and culture; and improved chances of employment by gaining new skills.

 

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Hull & East Yorkshire Community Counselling

This organisation was set up in 2020 and specialises in trauma therapy for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, as well as using other interventions for a wide range of psychological problems. It supports adult men and women with trauma-informed counselling, various support groups, a food bank and crisis service.  It also runs two accredited and structured group intervention programmes – ‘Caring Dads’ and ‘Who’s in Charge’.  Caring Dads works with fathers who have been abusive within the family. It aims to increase men’s understanding of the impact of abusive behaviours from a child-centric perspective, improve their parenting, and rebuild trust within the family.  Who’s in Charge is for parents who are being abused by their children. It teaches strategies to stop the cycle of abuse from happening, and works to change parental attitudes, reduce blame and shame, and helps parents to understand more about a whole range of issues that may be involve in causing the abusive behaviours.

At the June 2024 meeting of Trustees, the Allen Lane Foundation agreed funding of £7,079.  This amount is to cover the costs associated with running two Caring Dads, and two Who’s in Charge group over the coming year and benefit 36 people.  Outcomes from the programmes are stronger relationships and improved communication skills for fathers with their children; improved resilience, emotional wellbeing and physical health of children; and improvements to parents mental health.

www.communitycounsellingservice.co.uk

 

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Portadown Wellness Centre

This charity is based in Portadown in County Armagh in Northern Ireland. It has an overall vision to help people in the local community to recover from mental illness, regain their confidence and self-worth and become happier more fulfilled individuals.  The Centre offers various activity sessions, practical workshops, as well as inspirational talks, counselling and therapy.

The Allen Lane Foundation agreed a grant at its June 2024 meeting. The funding of £3,000 is contributing towards specifically designed programmes aimed at improving the education, skills and overall wellness of 28 young people. Many face challenges including being on the brink of exclusion from school or being excluded. The aim is to foster new skills and resilience, and hopefully lead to reintegrating into education. The programmes will cover woodwork, pottery, artwork and cooking, and each will run for ten weeks with a maximum of seven young people participating. Intended outcomes of the work are: to foster a sense of community and solidarity among young people, demonstrating that they are not alone, through shared experiences and supportive friendships; to provide opportunities for life skills; and to instil hope and motivation for the young people for a brighter future through the provision of positive experiences.

www.portadownwellnesscentre.com

 

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Prevent 2 Protect

Prevent 2 Protect was set up with a focus in safeguarding children and young people from criminal gang issues.  It works mainly in areas in the North West including in Salford, Bolton and Darwen.  The organisation delivers educational workshops called ‘Gang for Life’ to those young people identified as being at risk of gang activity.  It pairs educational workshops with physical activities to promote good physical and mental wellbeing and to improve self-confidence. Sessions are delivered by people with lived experience of being in a gang and being in prison.  By speaking with people who had been part of gang culture and suffered the consequences, young people can understand what is like being recruited and exploited by gangs.  Hearing from reformed gang members has a huge impact and gives them the opportunities to talk about their own experiences and offers them opportunities to take a different path to a more positive future.

In June 2024, the Allen Lane Foundation awarded funding of £5,000 to Prevent 2 Protect. The grant will contribute towards the delivery costs of Gang for Life sessions, and help to benefit upto around 1,000 young people.  As a result of the interventions, anticipated outcomes are that the young people will have increased confidence, increased life opportunities away from gangs, and improved health, self-esteem and wellbeing.

www.prevent2protectorg

 

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Ormlie Community Association

This organisation is based in Thurso in the far north of Scotland.  It is open seven days a week delivering projects and social hubs for the local community including for parents and toddlers, families and older adults.  Around 100 people benefit each week.

The Allen Lane Foundation has awarded funding of £5,304 to the Association in June 2024.  The grant will cover six hours per week of a support worker to deliver projects specifically aimed at older people. Three sessions each week will be run, each benefitting around 20 older people. These will be a craft-based session, and exercise provision, and a session focussing on education and developing digital skills.  Expected outcomes from the projects are that older people will feel less isolated and supported; and that they will be more informed and have a sense of identity and inclusion.

www.ormlie.org

 

 

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Doulas Without Borders 

Doulas Without Borders (DWB) began as a grassroots response to the difficulties experienced by vulnerable groups within maternity care.  Its aim is to address disparities in maternal health outcomes and to ensure that women have equitable access to care, in marginalised communities.  The vast majority of women it supports are refugees or seeking asylum, most of whom are isolated and living in poverty.  The organisation works on a national basis, working with women who are referred by midwives, refugee outreach projects and other health and social care professionals. It provides emotional, practical and educational support, alongside its in-house voluntary teams of therapists, feeding specialists and language supporters.

In June 2024, the Allen Lane Foundation awarded a grant totalling £8,000 to Doulas Without Borders.  The funding will contribute towards running costs including salaries and volunteer training. The organisation aims to expand services by training additional volunteers across areas of the UK where there are high referral rates, and provide ongoing education and support to those involved. Outcomes are that women will be better supported throughout pregnancy, birth and receive good aftercare; and that more women will be able to receive support through increased volunteer recruitment and training.

www.doulaswithoutborders.com

 

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Benefit Advice Shop

Benefit Advice Shop is a charity based in Rhyl that works in various towns and communities across North Wales.  It also takes telephone calls and emails for benefit advice and better off calculations from further afield.  The focus of its work is to provide free, independent and professional advice and information services.  It offers advice with benefit entitlement check and benefit claims, support with challenging negative decisions, and completion of lengthy benefit related forms.  It is also the main organisation that provides assistance with representation at appeal tribunal hearings. It takes referrals from other service provides such as the JobCentre as it is a specialist in this area.

Benefit Advice Shop received funding from the Allen Lane Foundation in June 2024. A grant of £5,000 was awarded to contribute towards the salary of a part-time specialist mental health welfare rights officer.  This worker will specialise in meeting the needs of clients who present to the charity with mental health problems and who need assistance with welfare benefit advice, claims and challenging decisions.  Having a dedicated staff member will benefit at least 200 of the most vulnerable people and ensure they get the help they need.  Outcomes for the work include that more people with mental health problems will be reached; they will have maximised income; and they will have better, more comfortable and stable lives.

www.benefitsadviceshop.co.uk

 

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