£400k Lotto joy for Wolverhampton charities helping isolated residents

Several community hubs based in Wolverhampton are celebrating after being awarded more than £400,000 in lottery funding to fund a new partnership project to help residents facing isolation.

The initiative will be led by the Good Shepherd team in partnership with the city groups Changing Lives, Refugee and Migrant Centre (RMC) and Wolves Foundation. It has attracted £427,523 from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Connect for Change will deliver a coordinated programme of group activities and community-based support across the city. The project aims to bring people together, reduce social isolation, and improve mental health and wellbeing.

The three-year scheme will support residents from inclusion health groups across Wolverhampton including those experiencing homelessness, addiction, vulnerable migrants, residents involved in the justice system, and others facing multiple disadvantage.

Good Shepherd’s operations manager Lee Smith said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded funding for Connect for Change. On behalf of all our partners, we’re really excited to bring this project to Wolverhampton.

“Together, we’ll create opportunities that bring people together, build confidence and support people to take positive steps forward in their lives.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, we can work collaboratively to deliver inclusive, community-based activities that make a real difference and builds a stronger sense of belonging across the city.”

Activities will take place in community settings including at partner venues and local hubs, making it easier for people to access support. The programme will offer a wide range of opportunities such as peer support groups, wellbeing sessions, skills workshops and sports. The sessions will be set up jointly with the participants to reflect their needs.

The project is based on the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework and aims to help people build confidence, develop skills and strengthen social connections to enable residents to take positive steps towards recovery, independence and greater involvement in their community.

The scheme will run for three years. National Lottery players raise over £32 million a week for good causes.