A Kensington and Chelsea charity has been awarded £166,800 for a new programme providing tailored skills and support sessions for disabled people in the borough.

City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, awarded the money to disability charity Action Disability Kensington & Chelsea to fund its fund Independent Lives Kensington and Chelsea programme.

The scheme will give people the skills and support they need to help them to live more independently, including workshops on computer skills, creating personal development plans and group and one to one support sessions.

Alison Gowman, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s City Bridge Trust Committee, commented:

“This is a very exciting project which will make a real difference to the lives of many people in Kensington and Chelsea.

“These tailored support plans will make a positive impact on everyday life and really enhance independent living in the borough.

“City Bridge Trust is committed to making the capital a better place to live, for all Londoners.”

Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea Chief executive, Jamie Renton said:

“Our project offers vital support for disabled people as the revolution in social care and continued cuts to the funding of services are increasingly felt.

“We are helping individuals directly, but, most importantly, supporting self-development and being a campaigning voice for local disabled people.In October City Bridge Trust launched Bridge to Work, a new £3.3million scheme which will open up a wealth of new employment opportunities for young disabled Londoners.

This ground-breaking programme will narrow the employment gap for young disabled people by providing financial backing for organisations tackling the issue.

Over the next five years the Bridge to Work programme will fund projects offering employability support for young disabled people, and strengthen links between employers and the disabled community.

Working in partnership with leading disability charities, City Bridge Trust will pay for work experience, personalised support for young disabled people looking for jobs, advice on employment rights, role coaching and a new online training resource for job seekers.

City Bridge Trust is London’s biggest independent grant giver, making grants of £20 million a year to tackle disadvantage across the capital. The Trust has awarded around 7,700 grants totalling over £370 million since it first began in 1995. It helps achieve the City Corporation’s aim of changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Londoners

ENDS

Media Enquiries

Kristina Drake

Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

07710860884 / 020 7332 1125

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

• We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, makes grants of around £20 million annually to tackle disadvantage across London.

• We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, the Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important commons in London.

• We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies, all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.