Trust in the Community

Through ‘Trust in the Community’, the Southern Trust will be working in partnership with local community and voluntary organisations to address disadvantage. The project will focus initially on issues affecting older and younger age groups across the area, seeking to build capacity and resource within local communities.

Mairead McAlinden, Chief Executive of the Southern Trust said: “Through Trust in the Community we are teaming up with partner organisations to bring practical solutions to common issues such as social inequalities, community development and health improvement.

“We hope that by pooling our expertise and resources we will bring a more efficient and effective approach to tackling these issues and improving the wellbeing of the people who live in our local communities.”

To date the scheme has been able to provide alternative transport opportunities, developed a new training programme for community and voluntary organisations, established new projects to support vulnerable individuals within communities, awarded 15 young people funding to deliver projects in their community (in partnership with LIVE Unltd and increased access to resources for carers.

Trust in the Community has identified a number of areas which it hopes to develop over the coming months including social enterprise support and development, volunteering, and further training and development for the community sector.