Asda’s charity, The Asda Foundation have today announced that substantial funding has been awarded to a Belfast group to enable them to transform community space where local people can come together.
West Wellbeing Suicide Prevention based in Belfast have been awarded with a grant of £25,000 from The Asda Foundation that will help to create an extra safe space for delivering its vital services.
The Asda Foundation surprised 31 different community groups earlier this morning by telling them their Spaces and Places grant application has been successful. The grants totalling to over £600,000 range between £10,000 and £25,000 with the aim of improving community spaces in local communities across the UK.
Sharon McBratney, Community Champion at Asda Westwood surprised the local charity based in Belfast with a cheque that will help deliver a range of services including art therapy and counselling to support adults, children and families affected by or experiencing poor mental health. (Video of the surprise is here)
The grants awarded by the Asda Foundation can be used for renovations, repairs or transforming outdoor spaces, with projects ranging from upgrading a community kitchen and café, to roof repairs, to refurbishing a whole community building to improve accessibility, to creating an outdoor nature and sensory trail.
The funding will enable West Wellbeing Suicide Prevention to increase its number of counselling and therapy rooms, helping to double its capacity, meet increased demand for services and secure the long-term sustainability of their vital services.
The challenges faced in local communities are complex and bigger than ever with the challenges to get appropriate space and the funding for general running expenses. It is often small, grassroots groups which are the lifeline for many, but funding is needed to ensure these vital spaces from where they operate don’t vanish from local communities and are supported not only for today, but for generations to come.
Desy Jones, Director of Care Services at West Wellbeing Suicide Prevention, said: “It’s blown me away. It’s not often I’m stuck for words but I am. I’m always humbled when people do anything to support the charity, we never take it for granted.
“We’re going to use the Asda Foundation funding to expand up and put another floor on our premises so that we can double the capacity of the service we provide for the community.”
Sharon McBratney, Community Champion at Asda said: “The Investing in Spaces and Places grant is for grassroots community groups and charities, and it is to help them develop their spaces and create safe spaces for their users.
“West Wellbeing were chosen because of the fantastic work that they do in helping families and children who have been affected by suicide and getting that awareness out there.
The Asda Foundation told 31 groups who submitted an application, that they had been successful and they would be receiving one of their Investing in Spaces and Places grants.
Alexandra Preston, Senior Manager for Asda Foundation, added: “Every community needs a safe inclusive space for people to be together and be themselves. Community spaces can be a lifeline, but we know many are in desperate need of funding to maintain, develop and repair these spaces to enable community groups to continue delivering their vital services and activities. That’s where Asda Foundation can help with funding. We want to continue playing our part in uniting communities and reducing loneliness by improving community spaces for people to be together.”