13:00, 17 January 2021
Words by Smiley Team, Staff Writer, London
Unemployment levels over the national average pose a serious problem for people living in and around the city of Leeds. But working to improve opportunities for young people in the area, Middleton-based charity Health for All (HFA) has received £100,000 in National Lottery funding to help recover from the pandemic.
With the grant, HFA will introduce new facilities to its community centres, to address food poverty, digital exclusion and unemployment in the area.
Run by volunteers, the centres will offer an IT point, providing free internet access; and a series of training courses to educate local youths. Each centre will also include a Food for All Pantry, offering weekly food distribution for a small membership fee.
HFA chief executive Pat McGeever said: “We know that unemployment in the area has risen significantly. HFA has long supported local people to develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge so the enterprise offer is a logical progression in these times of increasing unemployment. This grant will transform the services our local centres can offer and change peoples lives.”
He added: “We discovered from our delivery of emergency food parcels and essential supplies during the lockdown the pressures experienced by so many local people to simply feed their families. The Food for All Pantry will provide a community-led, empowering and sustainable answer to this.”
Rochdale can thank HFA for a wide range of services, uplifting the community and helping vulnerable people. These include offering community meeting spaces, helping young people, people with disabilities and families, as well as improving health and well-being in the local area.
HFA is always looking for volunteers to help run activities and support others. If you have the time and skills to assist them, you can apply by filling out a form on the HFA volunteering page.
For more information visit their website.
