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Dudley North MP Ian Austin has worked hard to
secure £111,000 for St Thomas’s Network after their initial bid was
unsuccessful. The cash is a massive boost for the local
centre whose good work was threatened by a lack of
funds.
Austin became involved in the centre’s bid after he
was approached by local Councillors Steve Waltho, Shaukat Ali and
John Davies, who asked for his help after the centres first bid to
the hardship fund was rejected.
As result
Austin immediately contacted Minister for the Third Sector Angela
Smith to discuss the great work the centre does and what this boost
would mean for the local community.
The
Government introduced the Third Sector Hardship Fund as part of the
£42.5 million Real Help for Communities Action Plan. It will provide support to third
sector organisations in England delivering front line services to
the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in
society.
The Hardship
fund is available for Third Sector organisations that are suffering
financial hardship that is impacting on their ability to deliver
services in health and social care, housing support, education and
training, and information, advice and guidance.
St
Thomas’s Network is the
epicentre of community activity in the Kates Hill area of Dudley
which offers a range of social and learning activities, educational
courses, child and youth provision and acts as a resource and
meeting centre.
St
Thomas’s Network is run by
Janet Hilken and employs and supports hundreds of local
people.
Ian Austin
MP said:
“I am
delighted to have got St Thomas’s Network this huge boost, which
will be used to better provide the local community with social and
education opportunities.”
“As soon as
I heard that St Thomas’s was struggling to get funding I
immediately contacted the Government Minister responsible to talk
about the issue face to face.”
“I regularly
visit the Network and am constantly amazed by the amount of good
work that Janet and the staff do and the involvement of the local
community.”
“Since
becoming an MP my top priority has been to bring increased training
and educational opportunities to Dudley, which is why this victory
means so much to me.”
Councillor
Steve Waltho said:
“This is
great news for the local community and it is huge amount of
money. I am very proud to have worked hard alongside Ian
Austin MP and my colleagues Councillors Ali and Davies to make this
happen. “
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