Hardship fund cash bonanza

FUNDING boost: (from left) Gordon Roscoe, from CAP Oldham management committee; Claire Gleeson, North-West manager for Keyring; and Andrew Barr, Oldham Food Bank ,with the letter confirming funding

AN exciting new project that offers support some of the borough’s most vulnerable people has been given a massive cash injection.

The Ancora Project — a collaboration between charities KeyRing, Oldham Food Bank and Christians Against Poverty (CAP) — has been awarded £469,117 by the Big Lottery fund. It is one of 14 North-West schemes tackling debt, homelessness, unemployment and health issues to receive £6.9 million to fund various schemes.

Claire Gleeson, North-West team manager of Keyring — which supports vulnerable people with learning disabilities and mental health problems — says the money will make a massive difference.

The launch of the Ancora Project on June 1 will also create an apprenticeship and four new jobs as the scheme extends across the borough.

“It’s fantastic news for us,” said Claire, based at KeyRing’s North-West HQ in West End Street, Oldham.

“We are very excited about it and it’s bringing new money to Oldham to help people in hardship and to prevent hardship.”

As well as supporting more vulnerable adults, the money will allow the team to help those dealing with substance misuse, offer debt advice and money management, negotiate with creditors, set up a clothing and furniture bank and offer computer skills and training.