Northampton organisation supporting vulnerable women receives nearly £300,000 National Lottery funding

The Good Loaf Learning Hub, a Northampton-based organisation that supports women in vulnerable situations through employment at a community café and bakery, has received almost £300,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund – the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

The organisation is one of over 200 projects across East Midlands, doing vital work with communities, to receive a share of almost £10 million in National Lottery funding in the last three months.*

The Good Loaf CIC social enterprise will use the grant to continue supporting nearly 130 women annually. Through baking handcrafted bread and providing customer service, women benefitting from the service will gain transferrable personal and professional skills in a real work environment rather than a classroom.

Loretta**, a person who has received help from the service, said:
“When I was at a woman's refuge, I had a lot of anxiety and low self-esteem. I was invited to Good Loaf as they have helped loads of women like me, but I spent the entire first visit crying. It's funny, I went back again, saying I just wanted to spend 15 minutes there, but I ended up staying 4 hours because I felt so relaxed with the team!

“I've been getting support for domestic abuse and job hunting, and now I've started work! Now that I'm happier in myself, I'm feeling like I can actually help other new girls on the programme, which is something I never thought I'd be able to do. People have always said I'm the problem, but now I feel like I'm part of the solution.”

Suzy Van Rooyen, Chief Executive Officer of Good Loaf CIC, said:
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been enabled to provide practical support to women in our community so that they can believe in themselves and realise a brighter tomorrow. We have helped people recognise their value, place, and contribution to society. We have also helped them to realise that their past doesn’t have to determine their future even though things may have been difficult, and mistakes may have been made.”

Nicola Thurbon, Senior Head of Regional Funding (Midlands) at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “The Good Loaf Learning Hub is a fantastic example of how our funding strengthens communities, and I’m pleased that we are able to support the continuation of their work.

“Thanks to National Lottery players and the hard work and dedication of local projects, like Good Loaf, this latest funding announcement will make a big difference to people’s lives across Northampton and the East Midlands.”

Northampton is not alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that almost £133 million in funding has been awarded to over 2,400 community groups in England in the past three months.*

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes across the UK. In the last 12 months we have given out nearly £600 million to 12,500 organisations reaching every local authority and constituency in the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk