Tags: education and skills

New programme creating better pathways to advice for marginalised people

A major new investment by People’s Health Trust will help to improve mental and physical health by supporting people who are overwhelmed to access advice services

Justice Prince - Overcoming barriers to employment

James talks about the improvement to his mental health and the skills he’s learned as part of Justice Prince’s Barriers to Employment programme supporting young people to gain qualifications and…

Local Conversation in Stanwell

Over nine years, the Local Conversation in Stanwell established priorities for the local community and acted to improve them. Their work is led by a steering group of residents living…

Willow Tree: Skills and safety

Project lead Heather Sayer helps young people with learning disabilities learn how to make pottery, food and clothes, and sell the goods at local hub Willow Tree Stores.

Khalsa Youth Football Academy - Connecting Hope

Khalsa Youth Football Academy provides sports programmes, forums and training for people with learning disabilities in Hertfordshire. Project Leader Bal Singh talks about Khalsa's anti-racist origins and how it supports…

Language for Change

Language for Change provides support for migrants and refugees in Greenwich to learn English and advocate for change for social issues affecting them. The project provides free weekly English as…

Language for Change: Community advocacy through English lessons

English For Action’s Language for Change project supports migrants and refugees in Greenwich to learn English to help them advocate for issues in their community. Greenwich Project Lead Lucie tells…

Refugee Roots: Building skills, confidence and connections

Refugee Roots members come together to improve their wellbeing and social connections and to learn English. Mohammed*, an asylum seeker living in Long Eaton, speaks about how the project has…

Wings Great Yarmouth: Expression through arts

Wings Great Yarmouth supports people who have experienced sexual harassment and intimidation. Project member Nadia tells us how members meet up to discuss their experiences and to express themselves through…

Wings Great Yarmouth

Wings Great Yarmouth provides an opportunity for people with experienced traumatic sexual harassment and intimidation to support one another through discussion and the creation of art. It will provide fortnightly…

Youth Wellbeing Out of Covid

Youth Wellbeing Out of Covid supports young people from African backgrounds in communities in North Lanarkshire through teaching music and providing a space for people to socialise. Following the Covid-19…

StereoHype Social

StereoHype Social brings together racially and culturally diverse creatives in Birmingham who have lived experience of mental health to make friends, share experiences and create artistic work challenging stigma. Workshops…

StereoHype Social: Music changes mental health

Greg Rogers shares his own experience of mental ill health, and how he's supporting fellow artists and creatives in Birmingham to improve their own mental health by creating a night…

Maymessy Mentorship

The project offers the opportunity for the women to get together with others in a similar situation and with similar interests in food and to build friendships, support each other…

Maymessy Mentoring: Sharing culture in the kitchen

In Refugee Week 2022, Anna Richards, Founder of Maymessy CIC in Oxford, writes about their project which helps refugee women form connections and learn new skills. She also explores the…

Bristol Active Women Walk and Talk: Meet the community leaders

Local women from low income and Black and minority ethnic backgrounds living in Knowle and Brislington area of Bristol connect with nature through organised outdoor activities such as nature walks,…

Bristol Active Women – Walk and Talk

The outdoor activities are designed to support mental health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and build confidence, especially following the Covid-19 lockdowns when many people have been isolated. The sessions…

IgniteYou: Dance is a universal language

Founding Directors and Dance Teachers, Kerry Raymond and Becci Gowers, run an inclusive and accessible dance timetable for young people and adults. They talk about the benefits of dance and…

IgniteYou Dance INC

IgniteYou Dance INC was started by two dance teachers who recognised a need for accessible dance classes and workshops in the local area. During the first Covid-19 pandemic they project…

Community Activators: New jobs, new-found confidence, and a new enthusiasm for community change

The Community Activators project hosted by Off the Grid Adventures was co-designed and led by 10 young volunteers from Hebburn Project Lead, Paul Kirkpatrick, shares their story of growth over…

Needlecraft International Project

The project builds confidence and perseverance and supports the participants to develop a skill that they can teach others, and that allows them to produce items to sell or give…

Community Activators

In Hebburn, there is a lack of community activities to keep young people busy and socially connected. A local resident used their background in outdoor activities to design a programme…

Seven jobs created for young volunteers who helped community during pandemic

Off The Grid Adventures, a community group in Hebburn, South Tyneside has been helping young people get active following the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Local Conversation in Merstham

In Surrey, there are small pockets of disadvantage which are hidden by relative affluence around it. Even within Merstham itself there is vast inequality. Through the Local Conversation, people are…

Local Conversation in Holyhead: Greater control and taking action

Stephanie Pritchard, Local Conversation Project Manager, speaks about how residents have adopted an agenda of taking control of their Local Conversation across their neighbourhood.

Local Conversation in Holyhead: Every voice matters

We hear from Dan Roberts, a resident who joined the Cybi Events group in 2017. The group was set up to encourage residents to plan and run community events, and…

Local Conversation in Holyhead

Local people are at the forefront of the decision-making process and are supported to build confidence and to feel comfortable with making decisions that affect their neighbourhood. As economic conditions…

Edberts House: Impact and achievements

Sarah Gorman is the Chief Executive Officer of Edberts House, the host project delivering on the Local Conversation in the Old Ford and Nest Estates. Sarah talks about some of…

Local Conversation in the Old Fold and Nest Estates

Gateshead has some of the highest levels of disadvantage in England and faces issues such as people feeling isolated and apart from their community. Community organisation Edberts House partnered with…

Welcome Women: Upskilling is a boost to confidence

Leyla Laksari, Chief Executive Officer for Living Under One Sun, explains how this project is providing the space and resources for women to learn new skills and boost their confidence.

Derby Refugee Befriending Project developing confidence and skills

Ali Neghipooran, Project Secretary at Derby Refugee Befriending Project, shares an insight into the impact the project has on individuals and community.

Arty-Folks is more than an art group

Arty-Folks is more than an art group, it’s a community. Laura Wilde, project member and volunteer, explains more about the peer-empowerment group and its impact.

Promoting Roles of Father Figures: Everyone has a voice

The Trust’s Active Communities programme funds community projects which are designed and led by local people. Project members, Rob Milligan and Mark Rouse, share their thoughts on how being resident-led…

Our Roots in the Community: Young people are at the heart of the project

Kebba Ansumana Manneh, Director of Our Roots in the Community, tells us why this project is so important to young people in Wakefield – and why young people are central…

Reform Radio: Helping young people achieve their dreams

Rachel Rogers, Director of The Gorton Takeover, shares how Reform Radio is enabling young people to develop crucial digital creative skills to support them to achieve their goals.

Young Again: Being part of the project has given me a sense of purpose

Mahmood Ahmad Kler, Young Again project member, speaks about the why the project was set up, why they joined and the impact the project has had on them and their…

Refugee Roots: The importance of social connections

Adam Baker, Director of Refugee Roots, speaks about the social connections formed at the Nottingham based project. Social connections have been vital for newly arrived people to find support and…

LGBT+ Service Nottinghamshire

LGBT+ young people are often socially isolated. Some project participants aren’t attending school, some are too anxious to socialise and lack confidence. The Centre Place gives young people the control…

Aaina Community Hub

A lot of the women that usually attend Aaina Community Hub have experienced multiple challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, families living in multi-occupancy households who were unable to…

Glenburn My Life My Choice Project

Easthall Residents Association in Glasgow has received funding three times from People’s Health Trust using money raised through The Health Lottery over a period of eight years. An investment totalling…

Promoting Roles of Father Figures

Stronger social connections helps build confidence, increase skills, and have a greater sense of purpose and hope, which we know are important first steps in being able to address other…

Tang Hall Food Co-operative

Locally-owned shops where people can buy affordable, healthy food and keep local wealth more equitably within communities is an important part of addressing local health inequalities. The Tang Hall Food…

Second Stitch at Home

The project also encourages members to be actively involved and to undertake additional work in their own time, helping them develop a wide variety of sewing skills and techniques to…

Arty-Folks Peer Empowerment Group

Our life circumstances can determine our mental health and create health inequalities. There is not enough provision in the local community in Coventry for people who are living with mental…

Derby Refugee Befriending Project

Migrating to Great Britain as a refugee or asylum seeker can be an incredibly isolating experience. We know that creating opportunities to reduce isolation can have a big impact on…

Young Again

It’s often presumed that South Asian people look after and live with their elderly relatives. However, as people relocate for work, traditional structures and family ties are loosening. This can…

The Gorton Takeover - Reform Radio

This two-year project delivered weekly dance, art, radio and digital skills sessions for unemployed young adults and their children living in Gorton, an inner-city area of Manchester. Education, skills and…

Butetown Employment Action Team (BEAT)

Income, employment and working conditions have a huge impact on our health. Having a good job can protect health by giving people stability, financial security and the ability to enjoy…

Bridgend Inspiring Growth

Since it started, the members of the local community have taken control of every aspect of the project, buying the building from the local council using community raised funds, and…

Lee Gardens Pool: Learning Together

Penrhiwceiber had the highest child poverty rates across Wales in 2017/18 with 49.4% of children living in poverty. Health inequalities in Wales mean that people living in neighbourhoods experiencing the…

Our Roots in the Community

The group runs weekly activity sessions which are based around football and, once a month, the young people take part in a series of training workshops designed to build skills…

Welcome Women

Many of the people involved with the project are older women, migrants, refugees, or from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. A lot of them do not speak English as…

Ashiana Group

Race Equality First (REF) was established in 1976 the same year that new legislation under the Race Relations Act was introduced. The organisation spearheaded campaigns to tackle racial discrimination and…

#AbilitiesNotDisabilities

The project was set up by existing participants who had an interest in design and wanted to create a business. As more members have joined, the project has grown and…

Touchbase Care CIC

Members come together to tackle isolation and build self-esteem and wellbeing. The project aims to tackle the inadequate representation of people with disabilities in the performing arts, showcase member’s creative…

Sunderland and South Tyneside Centre For People Of African Heritage

This project, provided by African Caribbean Community Association, supports members to increase their employability through one-to-one peer support where people can learn digital and computer skills, how to apply for…

Refugee Roots

The group originally grew out of work with the community and participants have regular opportunities to shape the project’s ongoing development. The aim of the work is to enable people…

Heart of Portsmouth Amateur Boxing Academy

The Heart of Portsmouth Amateur Boxing Club provides a pathway for people in their neighbourhood to progress in their own journey, whether that be building confidence, becoming a coach or…

Covid-Connect

Sunbeams London established the project as a direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rising mental health issues that were evident in young girls who have faced bereavement and…

Unity Youth Projects

The Fort was born from a neighbouring youth centre which offered activities for young people with additional needs. This focus was carried over, and having accessibility and inclusion as priorities…

Education and skills

Lessons from a decade

Over the past decade, the Trust has learnt a huge amount about the importance of supporting neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of disadvantage. Communities have worked to develop their skills,…

Annual Review 2021 - A decade of funding

During these ten years over £121 million has been raised, over 3,200 projects have been reached and over 600,000 people have been supported. Our Annual Review showcases some of these…

Online resources page to support community projects

People’s Health Trust has recently published an online resources page to support community organisations with their work. The page has links to helpful tools, education materials, third sector and governmental…

What makes us healthy?

People’s Health Trust has created a series of infographics exploring what makes us healthy. The infographics look at the importance of the building blocks of health (social determinants of health)…

Local Conversation in Haverhill South is taking action to support young people

The Local Conversation in Haverhill South, funded by People’s Health Trust using money raised by Health Lottery East, supports people living in a neighbourhood experiencing high levels of disadvantage. Mental…

Policy makers must acknowledge and act on Civil Society report on race

The Civil Society report on the state of race and racism in England should serve as an urgent wake up call to policy makers. The prevalence of racism and discrimination…

People’s Health Trust backs the Never More Needed campaign

The not-for-profit sector has become an important lifeline for many during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite adapting to the needs of their communities during the pandemic, charities and not-for-profits have been…

Mental Health 100 Campaign launched in Holyhead Wales

Mental health and wellbeing have become a significant issue for many people across the UK since lockdown restrictions started in March last year. Residents in Holyhead Wales have reported that…

ONS Health Index Consultation

In December, Office of National Statistics (ONS) published a new health index for England, and opened a consultation for feedback. The index was first proposed in December 2018 by the…

UK COVID-19 death toll and health inequalities

The UK has now passed a horrifying marker of the pandemic: 100,000 deaths. Every life lost has a truly devastating impact on the surrounding community and, over the past year,…

Second stitch at home

Having good working conditions, fair contractual conditions, and stable employment that pays at least the real Living Wage all have a big impact on our health, and refugees and migrants…

South Street Kids

Ipswich Community Media CIC and their two-year project South Street Kids runs weekly creative workshops in arts, music and media specifically designed for and by young people living in Westgate…

Interpreting a pandemic

Scottish Minority Ethnic Deaf Club (SEMDC) has members across Scotland and provides a variety of services ranging from a bi-weekly support group to providing bespoke advocacy, advice, signposting and information…

Celebrating the season

Scottish Minority Ethnic Deaf Club (SEMDC) has members across Scotland and provides a variety of services ranging from a bi-weekly support group to providing bespoke advocacy, advice, signposting and information…

Carers' rights day

According to Carers UK, there are approximately 6.5 million carers in the UK, and Every day another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility.[1]. Recent findings from Carers UK show…

Disability History Month 2020

UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) which runs every year from 18 November – 20 December is an annual event focusing on the history of the struggle for equality and human…

Annual Review 2020

It has been an extra-ordinary year. Our new Annual Review highlights the ways in which health inequalities have been bought into sharp focus. It makes clear the challenges neighbourhoods experiencing…

Monty's Bike Hub

Monty’s Bike Hub is a project run by Monty’s Community Hub based in Southampton and is an example of local people using their skills and knowledge to support others…

Influencing locally

The Local People project in Brighton, supported by Scope, works with local disabled people and unpaid carers to develop shared priorities, including raising awareness and acceptance of disability in all…

Refugee Week 2020

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees. Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee…

Carers Matter

Recent findings from Carers UK show an estimated 4.5 million people in the UK have become unpaid carers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.* When combined with the 9.1…

Take a(n online) bow

Beatroute Arts is a community-led charity based in Balornock in the North East of Glasgow. Offering creative activities for young people and community groups, they work to address inequalities in…

Pie Factory Music

Pie Factory Music is a youth club that supports young people in Thanet, Kent. Three years ago, they set up an intergenerational group – Create Community - after multiple requests…

Zooming in on accessibility

The Local People project in Brighton has created a shared vision, supporting disabled people and unpaid carers to identify barriers and bring about change to increase community equity, therefore improving…

Staying creative in lockdown

Taking part in creative activities and staying connected have become vital to support wellbeing as the country gets used to a new normal. Reform Radio support local people to develop…

Building Collective Control

When people have more control over decisions and actions that affect their lives, they have a better chance of improving and maintaining their health. At the heart of the Trust’s…

Connecting through art

Having access to creative activities can have a positive impact on our health. Taking part in art projects can help increase social connections, decrease stress, build trust and strengthen the…

Music at the Edge

The Youth Enquiry Service is a charitable organisation which holds twice-weekly free music workshops for residents of all ages, through their project, The Edge Acoustic Band, giving them an opportunity…

Striving for action at City Hall

English for Action (EFA London) are influencing local leaders to listen to their views and help shape policy that directly affects them, using their collective power to influence and affect…

Local Conversation in Merstham - Repair Café

The Local Conversation in Merstham is a lot of things. It is a space for people to get together and make friends. It is a vehicle for change, and for…

Bridgend Farmhouse

When people have control over their lives and decisions that affect them, they are able to improve and maintain their health. Collective control is power exercised by groups of people,…

Marmot Review: 10 Years On

Published in 2010, The Marmot Review was a landmark study of health inequalities in England. The report stated unequivocally that the fundamental causes of health inequalities were political (unequal policies…

Disability History Month 2019

Disability History Month (DHM), which runs from 18 November – 20 December in the UK, aims to create a platform to explore the history of disabled people’s struggle for equality…

Friends of Constable Street Field

Constable Community Allotment, run by Friends of Constable Street Field and based in Hull, encourages local residents to come together and foster community spirit. Members help to maintain and expand…

MaD Theatre Company

MaD Theatre Company is a charitable organisation, which provides drama workshops for young people and adults living in Greater Manchester. Over a year ago, MaD Theatre Company facilitated drama sessions…

The Association of Blind Asians

The Association of Blind Asians (ABA) has been supporting visually impaired South Asian people and their carers in Leeds since 1989. Thanks to funding from People’s Health Trust, they have…

Local People in Boston

The Local People project in Boston, Lincolnshire supports older people to identify barriers and bring about change to improve their lives, health and wellbeing. Led by a passionate group of…

Connecting through song

The Include Choir are breaking down social stigmas and tackling mental health through singing, song writing and signing. The Include Choir welcomes those with communication difficulties and those without, to…

English for Action

A local charity in Tower Hamlets, London is supporting migrants to help create an equal and fair society by providing free English classes. English for Action (EFA) is dedicated to…

Ek Saath - Community Together

‘Ek Saath – Community Together’, a project run by the Indian Community Association (ICA), offers daily activities and get-togethers for older residents in Reading. Project members are encouraged to interact…

Volunteer Revolution

New research from Royal Voluntary Service finds that people from neighbourhoods experiencing disadvantage are less likely to volunteer than people from wealthier neighbourhoods. Three in ten (34%) of people from…

Pride Jubilee

50 years ago, the Stonewall Uprising started a series of riots and demonstrations which became the catalyst for the modern Pride movement. Three years later, in July 1972, the first…

Sharing stories

Since 1998, Refugee Week has celebrated the contribution of refugees and migrants to the UK, encouraging a better understanding of diversity within local communities. This year, Refugee Week runs from…

Developing a local vision

Residents from across Caia Park in Wrexham came together for an ambitious event to further develop a local vision for their neighbourhood. The strategy day was organised by the Local…

Volunteers United

“You are not defined by what you cannot do, but what you can do” - MAP Volunteer Volunteers United, a project run by Mercian Ability Partnership (MAP), provides opportunities for…

Celebrating women

For more than 100 years, International Women’s Day has celebrated women’s achievements, showing the social, economic and political impact they have had on their communities. The day, which is an…

Time out for carers

The project Inspirational Us, run by Carers4Carers, provides a friendly space and complementary therapies for carers living in the London Borough of Lambeth. Project members are supported to lead weekly…

Ethiopian community

The Ethiopian Community Association of Greater Manchester recently held an event to bring the community together. Members of the Ethiopian Family Learning Group came together for an event which included…

Surfs up in Bradley

“The group has evolved, there is the odd IT problem here and there but now members just like getting together to have a coffee and chat.” In Wolverhampton, both men…

More than activities

“The project is about so much more than just activities, the classes really bring people together and help them make friends.” Apna Virsa supports older residents living in Slough to…

LGBT+ History Month

February marks LGBT+ History Month, which aims to promote equality and diversity across Great Britain. A series of events and activities are planned as part of LGBT+ History Month across…

Young People Lead

The Local People project in Swansea is supporting residents of all ages to build their confidence and take action on issues that are important to them. The project is based…

A collaborative resolution to build a healthier society

In this piece, we hear from Cathy Irving, Director of Communications at the Health Foundation, about their new Collaboration for Wellbeing and Health.“Looking back over January, it struck me that…

Working skills and rural crafts

“The Greenwood Club is for people living with dementia and their carers, and people who are socially isolated or have some cognitive impairment of different scales. They may have had…

Talking empowerment

The Local People project in Brighton supports and empowers disabled people and unpaid carers who live locally to identify barriers and bring about change to improve their lives, health and…

Resolution to connect

The start of a new year is a time for resolutions, with many people talking about what they would like to accomplish in the coming months. People often start to…

Evaluating the impact of Active Communities

People’s Health Trust’s Active Communities programme is helping to create stronger connections between people in neighbourhoods and communities. This is according to research conducted by consultancy firm Ecorys.