Hundreds of people with multiple needs, including mental health problems, are set to benefit from the launch of a multi-million pound project.
West Yorkshire Finding Independence (WY-FI), a new Big Lottery funded programme, is run by a consortium of the region’s community organisations and has now gone live.
The project aims to help people with multiple and complex needs to access the services and support they need to overcome issues associated with mental ill health, re-offending behaviour, homelessness and problematic substance misuse.
Leeds-based mental health charity, Touchstone, who specialise in working with people from different cultural backgrounds across West Yorkshire, will lead on employment training and education, peer mentoring and BME engagement.
The West Yorkshire based project is fronted by Developing Initiatives for Support in the Community (DISC) which received £9.8 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s ‘Fulfilling Lives’ Programme.
Touchstone will work with other partners in the consortium – Together Women Project, Bridge, Foundation, Shelter, BARCA Leeds, Spectrum CIC and Community Links – to help people overcome barriers to recovery and to help them become active citizens in their community with pathways to education, training and employment.
Alison Lowe, chief executive of Touchstone, said: “Touchstone is proud to be part of a new initiative that seeks to motivate and build the confidence of local people with complex needs, helping them to acquire the personal skills to help them move forward in their lives.”
The Touchstone team, working across West Yorkshire, will be based in Dewsbury. WY-FI is one of 12 partnerships across England, established to improve and coordinate services. The projects have been welcomed by public figures including Jon Snow, Mitch Winehouse and Russell Brand.
