Euro Cash For Vital Services

Dozens of groups across Swindon who help some of the most disadvantaged people in the town have been celebrating the work they do. The groups are all beneficiaries of the European Social Fund (ESF) and attended a special showcase of all their achievements at Swindon Council’s offices yesterday.

They all receive money from the ESF to help people improve their life chances by supporting education and training opportunities. And the Adver was at the showcase to speak to some of the groups and charities to find out what the money means to them.

One of the groups that receives funding from the ESF is Twigs, a support group for people with mental health problems. Ian Parfitt, who has been going to the group for 18 months, said it had helped him immeasurably.

“I came from the private sector where I had worked for the same company for nearly 37 years and physical and mental illness took its toll on me,” said the 55-year-old. Going to Twigs is one of the most positive things that has happened to me since I became ill. I very much enjoy going and I would spend all my time there if I could.”

Fellow group user, 47-year-old Helen Jones, has been going to the centre for about a year. “I had been there for weeks and weeks and no one had asked me what was wrong with me,” she said. I came home and said they know me by my name and not my diagnosis, which is the best kind of treatment. I had a degree and a job before I became ill, and I don’t think people associatate mental illness with people who have those types of things. I didn’t. There is total acceptance of everyone who goes to Twigs.”

Twigs received about £110,000 a year, but the funding ends in September. The group is now looking to bridge the funding gap.

Another of the groups to benefit was the charity U-Too, which runs courses for young mums and dads to be. It receives £47,000 for the young mums’ course, and £35,000 for the young dads’ equivalent from the ESF. Two people to benefit from the charity’s work are Brett Slipper, 20, and April Osborne, 17.

“My midwife referred me to U-Too for young mums to be,” said April, who is mum to six-month-old Harvey. It was really good and helped to build up my confidence and got me to socialise with other mums my age. It has also given me the confidence to go on other courses and talk other young mums into going along. It means that I am around people my age who have the same kind of problems and experiences, rather than mums who are older.”

Brett found out about the course before he started going out with his fiancee April. “It has made me a lot more confident with Harvey than I would have been,” he said. “I already knew how to change a nappy and what to do if he cried before he was born. It would have been much scarier otherwise.”

The Foyer is also a beneficiary of the ESF and has received £84,000 over two years. The money has been used to benefit the youngsters who live there, including setting up a CV workshop and job seekers’ breakfast club.

Among the other recipients were the DIY project in Parks, which helps people from all backgrounds gain extra skills, Phoenix Enterprise, who are a commercial enterprise and charity helping people with mental illness get back into work and Leaves, which provides work for people recovering from mental health problems.