A charity which helps people battling with homelessness, long-term unemployment and addiction is set to expand thanks to a £3.6 million grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The St Giles Trust, which is based on the belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement hold the key to positive change in others, plans to establish a national network of seven ‘peer hubs’ over the next four years with the potential to help 6,000 people.
The Trust says the hubs will offer people with first-hand experience of disadvantage the opportunity to become professionally qualified advice workers supporting others.
The peer hub network is based on an approach already used by St Giles Trust whereby people who have experienced difficulties in life are able to gain skills, experience and qualifications.
The trust’s chief executive Rob Owen said: ‘The peer hubs offer a smart, grassroots way of supporting people and communities and changing the way that services are delivered. National Lottery players are already supporting our existing work which has transformed the lives of thousands. This latest grant will create a true legacy building on its existing success.’
Further details of the approach taken by the Trust can be found HERE, while the press release following the National Lottery Community Fund award is available at this LINK.
