Charitable trust targeting poverty set to reach up to 7,000 people in first year
A new charitable trust targeting poverty and social exclusion in the most deprived communities in Scotland has said it is set to reach up to 7,000 people in its first year.
A new charitable trust targeting poverty and social exclusion in the most deprived communities in Scotland has said it is set to reach up to 7,000 people in its first year.
The Wheatley Foundation, which was set up in April, said that more than 2,500 people benefited from its work in its first three months alone.
The trust will spend around ÂŁ3 million every year on programmes that directly improve the lives of tenants, factored homeowners and the people its care organisations work for.
The foundation was set up by housing, care and property-management organisation Wheatley Group and is chaired by leading public health expert and former chief medical officer Sir Harry Burns.
Scottish Communities, Social Security and Equalities Secretary Angela Constance visited Wheatley House in Glasgow to find out more about how the Foundation is making lives better across Wheatley communities.
She met some of the people who have benefited from Wheatley Foundation programmes, including Klara Chomicz, who received a bursary that enabled her to study at Glasgow School of Art, and Kaylee Duncan, one of Wheatley Group's modern apprentices, at the event on Thursday.
She also spoke to partner organisations about how they have benefited from being involved.
Ms Constance said: I'm delighted to have seen first hand the difference the Wheatley Foundation is making to lives across Scotland.
No-one in Scotland should be living in poverty, and it is crucial that we are able to give support to those most in need, when they need it. We are seeing real success in supporting young people into work and making sure they have the right skills for the future.
Our ambition is for a fair and equal Scotland, and organisations like Wheatley Group are helping to achieve that by pledging to do more.''
The foundation's projects include Wheatley's Modern Apprenticeship programme, which has just seen 41 young people from its communities start their two-year apprenticeship, and the Wheatley Pledge, which incentivises contractors and suppliers to do more for communities through jobs and training opportunities.
It also includes My Great Start, a project that supports new tenants settling into their homes by offering help and advice, including budgeting skills.
Lorraine McLaren, Wheatley Group's partnership and growth manager, said: The Wheatley Foundation has already helped thousands of people lead better lives.
The past few months have seen many people who were struggling to find work get jobs and training places, some of the most excluded people in our communities form friendships and take up new activities, and our young people given the support they need to take their first steps into a brighter future.
But this is just the first stage, and we look forward to seeing our communities - some of the most deprived in the country - grow stronger as the Foundation continues to grow.''