THE COLEBRIDGE TRUST LTD
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : b****f@c********e.o*g
Mission Statement
Colebridge Trust seeks a cohesive society where people are enabled to achieve their full potential and where barriers to living inclusive, happy and healthy lives are challenged through the provision of creative, innovative and enterprising activities.
About This Cause
Colebridge Trust is a registered charity and recognised community development trust based within the West Midlands. Since 2002, we have been supporting people within some of the most deprived 5-10% areas of the country and those who are often marginalised through disability, health conditions and other limiting circumstances, such as care responsibilities. We directly deliver work including Employment and Skills interventions, from our Community Centre, Social Supermarket, ISO9001 Assembly & Packing Social Enterprise and other outreach locations. We are the ‘Local Trusted Organisation’ for the Cars Area Together Partnership, supporting local people in the Smith’s Wood area, who were awarded £1m of Big Local National Lottery funding to spend over 10 years. Colebridge Trust registered as a charity in 2002 with the aim of “improving the life chances of local people”. The name was taken from the River Cole which runs through Solihull & Birmingham. The charity was started in recognition of the contrasting experiences of residents living in the largely deprived North of Solihull Borough (and surrounding areas) and the more affluent South of Solihull Borough. As an example, Chelmsley Wood, in North Solihull was built as one of the largest council estates in Europe and remains a sizeable area of social housing today. Life expectancy in the North of the borough is nearly 10 years shorter than that of residents in the South. The area also housed older residents and had facilities for those with physical or learning disabilities. Unemployment has stayed consistently at well-above the national average and crime has also been relatively high. The Trust developed services to bring opportunity into North Solihull, including the development of a learning disability project called Waterloo Woodwork, which has now evolved into Colebridge Enterprises – moving from woodworking / gardening to quality Assembly, Packing and Component Kitting services. In 2013 we were ‘Highly Commended’ by Social Enterprise West Midlands, as “a social enterprise committed to growth”. Over 70 organisations were nominated for awards so it was very pleasing to pick up an award amongst such impressive competition. Other notable projects include:- Skills for Jobs, which has been an employment and skills partnership with Solihull College spanning 16 years; Talent Match [photo below shows our CEO, Chet Parmar and partners sharing the programme’s success with Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor] which was a 5 year Lottery funded programme to support unemployed 18-24 year olds; and 2015 refurbishment of the previously burnt down and subsequently derelict Chapelhouse Boys Club which has evolved into the Junction Community Centre and Health and Wellbeing Hub. In 2018, the Trust helped to develop the idea of a Social Supermarket to provide local people in need with access to low-cost essentials and deliver support that would help them to eventually overcome the cause of their need. Interventions such as money advice, housing support and mental health workshops have resulted in many positive outcomes for the Around Again project. In 2019 the Trust was awarded an Inclusivity Award at the Houses of Parliament in recognition of its work towards creating inclusive workplaces. Also in the same year Colebridge was a finalist in the Locality Awards for its Employment and Skills work which utilises a holistic health and wellbeing approach. In 2020 The Trust remains very much at the heart of the community and endeavours to continue making a difference where it is needed the most. The trust is also a firm believer in collaboration, believing that working together is paramount to achieving outcomes and changing lives. 2020 to present day has seen the trust deliver COVID support work and develop new services for mental health, money advice, health and wellbeing. We are currently running a family hub, community centre, community garden and helping to secure local community assets.