A HAMPSHIRE trust has been awarded a national lottery grant to help unemployed people into work.

Wheatsheaf Trust, a Southampton-based charity that operates across the Solent area, has been successfully awarded grant funding for the Bridge2Work project.

The initiative is set to support people across Solent affected by complex and multiple barriers towards and into work.

Bridge2Work focuses on offering paid work which is designed to meet participants’ needs and will allow them to build their confidence and resilience. 

Job matching and taking into account individual circumstances will be a key part of the programme.

It is set to be delivered by Wheatsheaf in partnership with Portsmouth Craft and Manufacturing Industries (PCMI) and Solent Mind.

Dan Freshwater, Wheatsheaf chief executive officer said: “Bridge2Work is a great opportunity for us to work with a significant number of people across the region who are struggling to gain a foothold in the labour market.

“The project is funded for two years and we are excited about what we can achieve in that time, working together with our local employers to create a legacy for years to come.”

Wheatsheaf was set up 15 years ago and develops employment skills for those living in poverty.

Based on College Street in Southampton, it’s set up for lone parents, people with disabilities and refugees among others.

PCMI is a multi-purpose unit that provides in-house employment rehabilitation and work experience for those with disabilities.

The project has been supported through the Building Better Opportunities programme, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) and European Social Fund (ESF).

The BLF is the largest funder of community activity in the UK and works often through small community projects.

Every year it invests more than £650 million and awards 12,000 grants across the UK for health, education, environmental and charitable purposes.

The project has received more than £1.1 million of funding from the BLF and ESF as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth.