The charity organisation’s recently released Annual Review highlights the fantastic work Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) and its partners have done throughout 2018-19 to change people’s lives for the better.
This year has been an extremely positive one at VAL, with key achievements including supporting 612 voluntary groups and facilitating £3.3m in funding for 37 of them through VAL’s Voluntary Sector Support Service.
The continuing success of VAL’s employability projects, YES and GREAT, have seen over 170 people being helped into employment resulting in £1.7m being added to the economy through average wages. These projects have supported people in the region to overcome barriers and challenges that have prevented them from finding a job or seeking further education and training.
The impact they have had is huge, with people such as Eda, who was a GREAT Project Participant, commenting: “Before joining the GREAT Project, I didn’t leave my house. Now, I have completed my time with the project and it’s given me a new lease of life. I’m so grateful.”
VAL has been helping volunteer and community groups to thrive for over fifty years and across a range of services encompassing education, employment, support and funding for some of the hardest to reach and most marginalised people in society.
Anil Majithia, Chair of VAL Trustee Board, says: “VAL’s fundamental aim is to change people’s lives for the better, which we do directly and with the support of partners. Following a difficult year in 2017/18, it gives me great pleasure to be able to report a much improved financial and operational performance for 2018/19.”
Kevan Liles, Chief Executive of Voluntary Action LeicesterShire, continues: “Thanks to the hard work of our trustee board, our staff and our volunteers, we have started this year in a better, more sustainable position. Despite the challenges, we are full of hope for the future and looking forward to seeing what the coming year brings.”
To find out how your business, charity or community group could benefit from talking to VAL contact them on 0116 257 5050 or visit https://valonline.org.uk/