Cheshire housing association Weaver Vale Housing Trust (WVHT) is celebrating almost half a million pounds in new funding to keep supporting local people through cost-of-living pressures, job hunting, and everyday life challenges.
WVHT has secured £496,327 from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, allowing it to run its Raising Aspirations programme for a further five years, supporting residents across Northwich, Winsford, Frodsham, Helsby and the surrounding areas until 2031.
Since launching in July 2023, the programme has already helped 659 local people, putting more than £4 million back into their pockets – through securing benefit entitlements, reducing debt, and supporting people into employment.
Raising Aspirations offers one-to-one mentoring and tailored support with budgeting, housing problems, employment, and physical or mental health, helping residents overcome the barriers holding them back.
With the new funding secured, WVHT is aiming even higher: supporting 1,000 local people over the next five years and launching a series of community-based group workshops so people can build skills, make connections, and get more involved in local community life.
Cheryl Quine, Work and Enterprise Manager at Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said:
“Securing this funding means we can keep providing vital support to individuals and families across our communities, helping people overcome personal challenges at every stage of their journey.
“We’d like to thank the National Lottery, our dedicated colleagues delivering Raising Aspirations, and everyone who has taken part in the programme so far. We’re looking forward to connecting even more local people to the support it provides.”
As part of the changes, WVHT’s Employment Support Team is being renamed the Community Skills Development Team, reflecting the wider range of support now on offer.
To register for the Raising Aspirations programme or to find out more details, email workteam(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)wvht.co.uk or call 0300 303 9848.