Oblique Arts

Oblique Arts works across Cambridgeshire from its base in Cambridge.  It began as a small artist led charity, and now runs a variety of weekly group sessions, peer support groups, monthly events, art exhibitions and takes part in other events and festivals.  It works with over 1,500 people a year overall.  Part of Oblique Arts’ work is directly with the Gypsy, Roma and Travelling (GRT) community across the county – and this is the focus for the funding.

At the October 2024 meeting of Trustees, the Allen Lane Foundation agreed a grant totalling £10,000 split over a two-year period.  The grant is towards work with the GRT community, and specifically towards the provision of advocacy and support services that the charity has been delivering over recent years.  This includes running a phone line support service and follow-up casework. The service takes referrals from other GRT organisations as well as statutory services and self-referrals from within the GRT community.  The advocacy project runs one day each week and benefits around 650 individuals a year. Outcomes from the work include improved wellbeing and better access to healthcare. There are improved home situations with support around housing, evictions, and access to food banks; plus support for children to stay in schools or education and help with reduction of bullying and discrimination.

www.oblique-arts.com

 

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The Black Dog Music Project

This charity was set up to give focus and build confidence with people experiencing mental health problems/illnesses.  It offers one-to-one music lessons and music workshops with a primary aim to build social skills and bring positivity to people, giving them something to get up for and commit to.  The Project is based in Norwich, Norfolk, and operates two days a week, has a project on Saturdays for under 18s, plus monthly evening sessions and one-off performances.  Around 50 people overall benefit each year.

In October 2024, the Allen Lane Foundation agreed funding of £3,000 to contribute to the Project’s running costs. Benefits for participants of the work are that people will have improved confidence; feel part of a community and feel valued; and that they will have improved skills and reduced social isolation.

www.blackdogmusicproject.co.uk

 

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Meadows Children and Family Wing

The Meadows Children and Family Wing has been serving the community for 27 years, providing various services and support to local families.  The request to Allen Lane was for funding the charity’s Life After Abuse Services, which support women survivors of domestic abuse.

In October 2024, a £10,000 grant was awarded, spread over two years (£5,000 annually). This contributes to the ‘Life after Abuse’ activities. The support helps women understand their situation, recognize healthy relationships and warning signs of abuse, and move towards a healthier future.  Funding outcomes include improved knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their children, increased community support and connections, reduced isolation, and enhanced wellbeing.

www.mcfw.co.uk

 

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Torture ID

Torture ID is a medical human rights charity that provides free specialist health assessments to newly arrive people seeking asylum who have experienced human rights abuses.  It was set up in response to the systemic failure to offer specialist assessments to identify survivors at the earliest opportunity after arrival, and ensure they are offered treatment for health problems. It is the only organisation of its kind in the UK and works across the Yorkshire and Humber area from a base in Leeds.

The Allen Lane Foundation agreed funding of £10,000, split over two years from the October 2024 Trustee meeting.  The grant is for running costs including staffing – as a contribution specifically for the charity’s work with asylum seeking women. It is estimated that 20 women will benefit per annum.  Outcomes of the charity’s work are that individuals will have the chance to disclose their experiences leading to stronger evidence in their asylum claims; and that they will be more likely to access appropriate health and social care support. Asylum decision-makers will also have access to quality clinical evidence of abuses, and can make better informed decisions.

www.tortureid.org

 

 

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Older People’s Advocacy Alliance

Older People’s Advocacy Alliance is based in Sandwell in the West Midlands, but works on a national basis.  It offers bespoke advocacy support, mostly for older people who have reached an impasse to resolve a problem and it is impacting their mental health.  The charity receives around 500 enquires for support annually, with 200 of these being considered more ‘complex cases’.  Cases vary, with largest numbers relating to housing issues, debt, and adaptations.

At the October 2024 meeting of Trustees, the Allen Lane Foundation agreed funding of £3,500.  The grant is to contribute towards the core costs of the charity, including increasing the hours of the Operational Lead to cover the increasing numbers of complex enquiries. Outcomes for the work are to assist older people with advocacy support to satisfactorily resolve issues; and that people assisted report improved mental wellbeing as a result.

www.opaal.org.uk

 

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Conversation over Borders

This organisation runs various services, offering English learning opportunities, digital inclusion, befriending, and wellbeing support to refugees and asylum seekers. Conversation Over Borders is based mainly in Brighton and Manchester where it offers some face-to-face services, but also works on a national basis via online classes and virtual support.

At the October 2024 meeting, the Allen Lane Foundation offered funding of £7,940. The grant is a contribution towards costs of the Women Together: Support and Inclusion Project.  The Project is offering a three-year intervention to support existing female clients and reach more vulnerable and isolated women. It is anticipated that approximately 300 refugee and asylum seeking women will benefit from a mix of one-to-one ESOL support; a new women-only group English class; tech and tech support; online peer support; as well as in-person wellbeing and befriending groups.  The Project will also connect women to, and facilitate visits with other women-only spaces.  Overall the work will help to improve women’s confidence in English, increase social connectedness, and improve understanding and awareness of navigating the online world.

www.conversationsoverborders.org

 

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Inside Justice

Inside Justice is an award-winning charity that conducts casework investigations on behalf of people who present a strong case that they have been wrongly convicted. It provides free access to pro bono experts and lawyers, and it identifies and challenges systemic failings within the criminal justice system. It covers all types of criminal cases, but has a particular interest in cases that involve coercive control.

In October 2024, a grant was awarded specifically towards the charity’s work supporting women across the UK. The funding is £5,000 per annum for two years.  Inside Justice aims to reach out to more women prisoners, with increased staff time to raise awareness of the charity’s support services in women’s prisons, and with women support organisations.  Outcomes of the work are that more vulnerable and disenfranchised women in the Criminal Justice System will be supported, and that increased signposting advice and guidance will be provided to female prisoners’ families.

www.insidejustice.co.uk

 

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Connections Group Exeter

Connections Group is a user-led charity that provides social contact and support for people with significant mental health conditions.  It has 50-60 members, some living with diagnoses such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders and depression. Two-three referrals are usually received each month from mental health teams, GPs and social workers. The charity provides a monthly newsletter giving details of forthcoming events and activities that are organised and facilitated and provide a safe and friendly environment for members to meet and enjoy. These might be things like walks, lunches or trips, going ten pin bowling, or playing games for instance.

Connections Group applied for a contribution towards running costs, and in October 2024, the Allen Lane Foundation agreed a grant. The amount agreed was £2,500 per annum over a three-year period. Part of the request related to the charity’s plans to take on an additional part-time paid worker.  The intended outcomes of the grant are that members engaged in the activities will have reduced loneliness and isolation; they will have increased confidence and independence; as well as improved communication and social skills leading to improved health and a better quality of life.

www.connectionsgroupexeter.org

 

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Spark Sisterhood

Spark Sisterhood was established to provide support and assistance for young women in and leaving care, to break free from cycles of poverty and abuse. It was set up by a woman with lived experience of the care system, who now herself fosters other children in Somerset. She aims to work with young people to ensure they are provided with kindness, care, and are better prepared for adulthood and the next stage in their lives.

The organisation applied for funding for a pilot programme that aims to prepare young women in the care system for the future.  A grant of £12,000 was agreed by Trustees.  The pilot aims to offer mentorship and one-to-one support, helping the women with practical employment skills and increasing their confidence in accessing jobs or apprenticeships.  The programme aims to help an initial ten young women, who will then form a peer support group to provide ongoing support and reduce isolation.  Following the pilot, the scheme will be evaluated, rolled out with a further ten programmes a year.  Outcomes from the work are that young women leaving care will learn employability and life skills, and that the work will feed into research on how to improve the lives of girls leaving care by Harvard and Oxford Universities.

www.sparksisterhood.org

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Prisoner Support Services

Prisoner Support Services works across South Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedford, aiming to fill gaps in the support of women leaving prison.  It sees several hundred women each year, helping them to support the cope whilst in prison, and also preparing for life in the community once released.

The Allen Lane Foundation has awarded a grant in October 2024 of £4,355. This is towards a mix of salaries, workshops and travel costs.  The organisation will to continue to run personal and social development workshops for women in HMP Peterborough Prison and resettlement work at Approved Premises in Bedford. Prison workshops are weekly, benefitting around 300 women a year, promoting wellbeing, exploring positive relationships, goal setting and independent living.  The work in Approved Premises will also help with building confidence, assisting with access to services and GPs for example, and help with debt, benefits and budgeting.  Intended outcomes of the work are that women leaving prison or Approved Premises will be able to recognises and apply self-help tools for better personal and social development; and that women will be supported to better independent living, and have improved confidence and a more positive future.

www.prisonersupportservices.co.uk

 

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