The funds will go towards our new Training and Development Project and Resettlement Support Fund, which helps vulnerable people to set up home.
The Companion Training and Development project provides educational and vocational courses for the formerly homeless people we support (known as companions), helping them with their careers and personal development.
Our Resettlement Support Fund offers people a ‘starter park’ of furniture and essentials to enable people to move from temporary accommodation into permanent homes quickly and comfortably and at no cost to them.
Once we have a list of furnishing requirements from the support organisation, our team will then select suitable items on behalf of the client from current furniture and goods in stock.
We are now inviting all organisations supporting people out of homelessness across Oxfordshire to apply for this support from Monday 3 April. You can find out more about the Resettlement Support Fund and make an application here.
Eddie Blaze, Chief Executive at Emmaus Oxford, said: “This generous grant will make a huge difference to the lives of people transitioning to independent living after experiencing homelessness.
“Our Companion Training and Development project enables the people we support to gain the skills they need for a brighter future. The Resettlement Support Fund will relieve people of the financial pressures of furnishing and equipping their homes during this challenging cost-of-living crisis.
“Emmaus Oxford has seen more demand for our homelessness services during these difficult times, so this exceptionally generous grant is more important to us than ever. I would like to say a huge thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund for their incredible support.”
Almost £133 million of National Lottery funding has gone to over 2,400 charities and community groups in England over the last three months through The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
Grants awarded range from £310 to over £1m and are aimed at providing a welcome boost to local projects as communities continue to face cost-of-living pressures and the prolonged impact of the pandemic.
Emma Corrigan, England Director at The National Lottery Community Fund said: “It’s been a challenging winter for many, and we are so grateful for the support of National Lottery players enabling this helping hand for local communities.
“We’re delighted to have distributed over £133 million to groups responding to local needs and particularly cost-of-living challenges. We’ve seen real commitment and innovation from our grant recipients across the country and, with spring just around the corner, we hope their fantastic work coupled with our support has provided a boost for communities.”
Click here for more information about The National Lottery Community Fund.