Community investment in action

As a not-for-profit organisation, we re-invest any surplus back into our services by responding to local needs, harnessing support, and sharing resources and connections.

Sanctuary’s Community Investment Fund gives grants for community initiatives to enhance and improve life for Sanctuary residents. In 10 projects over the last 12 months, we’ll have re-invested over £64,500 across our supported living services, through planned community investment projects. Here’s a look at some of them.

Portside Personal Training, Brighton

Young people at Brighton and Hove Foyer, were offered the opportunity to participate in a Personal Training programme over the course of 10 weeks, designed with tailored exercise and 20 group personal training sessions to improve the physical wellbeing and mental health, as well to help tackle the feeling of social isolation experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The weekly sessions proved a success, and one young person expressed an interest for turning their passion for fitness into a career. Project workers are now supporting them to learn more about the structure and requirements of the career.

Clover Court Pathways, Clover Court, Lowestoft

Clover Court residents got a taste of farming life, with visits to Pathways Care Farm over a 12-week period, giving residents with physical disabilities the opportunity to learn new skills in a therapeutic setting and get to know other members of the community – something which is especially important following the social isolation they experienced during lockdown.

Dame Kelly Holmes Trust - Get On Track for Wellbeing, Brighton, Epsom, Sudbury, Hartlepool, Weston

The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust’s Get on Track for Wellbeing programme gave young people aged 16 to 25 the opportunity to work with current and former professional athletes, to learn and develop the skills needed to enter further education, training or employment. The athletes working with Sanctuary Supported Living’s residents this year included football player Chris Elliott, beach volleyball player Chris Gregory, netball player Serena Guthrie MBE, former badminton player Suzanne Miller, and former boxer Hannah Beharry. Alongside the full programme at select services, all supported living residents had the opportunity to take part in a virtual programme, with interactive workshops and pre-recorded videos focussing on topics including self-belief, problems solving and a positive mind-set.

Christmas Gives Back, Thurrock Teenage Parents Supported Housing

A joint initiative between Thurrock Teenage Parents Supported Housing and Basildon Outreach Service designed to bridge a connection between young clients and rough sleepers. The project aimed to reduce social isolation and supports those on the street with practical assistance.

Together Again Arts Project, Corner House, Mansfield

During the pandemic, many residents at Corner House residential care home for people with learning disabilities, were shielding due to health reasons and have remained like this for months. Having experienced lengths of social isolation, they expressed their fear of re-entering the world. A covid-safe group for fun and educational activity saw a local organisation run 20 two-hour community art sessions with residents in a local community space, to gradually build social and communication skills, connections and the confidence to re-enter the outside world.

Phoenix Life Coaching, Torbay Domestic Abuse Service

Specialised support and coaching through video calls were delivered five clients at Torbay Domestic Abuse Service, who have been victims of domestic abuse. The eight-week programme was designed to build confidence, and mental wellbeing on clients’ journey to recovery by developing skills for personal development and growth.

Getting People into Work Through Digital Skills, Southeast – East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock regions

Coordinating access to digital skills equipment and training. Our partner, We Are Digital have funding to support people with free training, whose job or job prospects have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Residents benefit from career advice and learn new skills to improve their future career prospects, such as how to write a CV, or how to conduct a job interview.