£300k funding awarded to South Tyneside charity

BLISS=Ability based in New Green Street, South Shields, has been awarded more than £300,000 to deliver its new Step Up project.

The three year social prescribing project aims to help those who feel socially isolated to find activities of interest to help lift their mood and motivate them.

The scheme was officially launched, last week, with a special event attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside Coun Alan Smith and Coun Moira Smith.

Coun Alan Smith, said: “It was a great pleasure to help launch BLISS=Ability’s new social prescribing project which will help many across the borough to improve their sense of wellbeing.

“The project enables people to think about the many services and activities on offer in South Tyneside that residents can attend in their local communities to help lift their mod and motivate them.”

The scheme aims to compliment the council’s Public Health ‘Better U’ Agenda, including the ‘Change4Life’ programme which looks at helping people to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

The project is being funded by the Lottery’s Reaching Communities Fund.

BLISS=Ability was formed in 1995 with the main aim: to “relieve people with disabilities living in South Tyneside so that they can lead active and fulfilling lives integrated into society.”

The charity’s core business is a disability information service. To contact BLISS=Ability call 427 1666.