A Norwich charity which empowers those with disabilities to live independent lives will benefit from a slice of a £70,000 funding pot.
Equal Lives, which is based in Framingham Pigot, will share the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) funds with two Suffolk causes.
The charity received the cash for their Moving Forward project, which helps those facing barriers, such as a physical disability, learning difficulty or mental health problem, find work, training or volunteering.
The boost will ensure Equal Lives is able to deliver the project this year.
Mark Reilly, project manager said, 'Equal Lives has achieved great things in 2015 – supporting individuals with a disability to become work ready. More than half of the people we have supported this year, who are often perceived as furthest from the jobs market, have gone on to employment, education, training or volunteering.
'Equal Lives is committed to removing disabling barriers and we are delighted that we can continue this work for a further year.'
Last year, the LEP's Community Challenge Fund, working with the Norfolk and Suffolk Community Foundations, awarded grants of £20,000 to eight community projects across the counties.
It saw more than 100 people start work and 340 more become ready for employment.
The organisation picked three of the causes to benefit from the further investment.
Equal Lives will share the money with the Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket and Suffolk Sport's Be Inspired Too project.
Graham Tuttle, chief executive of Norfolk Community Foundation said: 'The Community Challenge Fund has proved hugely successful in its first year – it has exceeded the challenge targets, and helped hundreds of people gain the skills and confidence they need to get back into work. We are very excited to see how these projects develop with their second year of funding – they have the potential to make a very significant impact on local unemployment.'
For more information go to info@equallives.org.uk
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