OPCC
“We put in a bid last time to help with safety equipment. Any of our funds we can we direct back into employment costs. The aim is to create proper opportunity for people who might otherwise be struggling. “We now have 18 employees across two sites. The Commissioner’s Fund has recently given us £6,000 for uniforms – which frees-up the equivalent amount of money we can then use to provide employment opportunities,” said Mrs Jones. “Our first employee was a 19-year-old who was supposed to have been home schooled, but he did not really have an literacy skills at all.We helped him develop those skills so he was able to apply for a job.” But the charity will do its best to help anyone, whether they have training requirements, need to build their confidence to help them re-enter the jobs market, have special needs, or wants to volunteer. “We go and look at some people’s homes and it really opens your eyes to the level of poverty out there and the number of people who really need help. “On Christmas Eve one year we had a call from social
services asking if we had anything we could give a young couple with a baby they had just found a flat for. It meant we were going to have to give up our Christmas Eve with our families to deliver the items – but they really had nothing. So you help, don’t you?” BBC turns spotlight on incredible work of charity Residents who use a much-loved community centre in Gloucestershire were given the chance to become stars of BBC Radio. A producer from the county wing of the national broadcaster set up a temporary studio at the GL11 Community Hub, with the aim of telling some of the amazing stories from centre users. Chris Sandys, a community producer at BBC radio Gloucestershire, is the man behind the near two- week stint at the charity. “It is a really good place. It has a unique community offering and spirit. It is all part of our plan to get out and support and get involved in what is happening in Gloucestershire,” said Mr Sandys.
The Rock
100 | February 2020 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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