Activity Angels CIC, a local Warrington charitable organisation, has secured its second main year of funding to keep its projects thriving locally.
The charity, which started delivering its activity sessions back in May 2024, hosts a vast array of community groups across Warrington for unisex adults 18+, with a mission to bring people together over shared interests, to help reduce loneliness and social isolation locally, whilst improving people’s overall well-being.
The group has been awarded £20,000 from the National Lottery Community fund, for its second annual project, which will help sustain its activities into another year of community offerings.
Activity Angels thanked the financial support on social media stating “We would like to thank the National Lottery players, because without them this fund wouldn’t be possible.”
A spokesperson said “the committee, members and supporters were getting very worried, as they hadn’t yet managed to secure their main source of funding to transition into the next stage of sustaining and developing the group longer term, and were ultimately at risk of collapse if they didn’t secure more finance support short term. This funding has been a huge relief to everyone involved, and ensures they can keep operating to support those who need them in Warrington.”
Current members of the community organisation range from 18 years old up to 88 years and the groups are open to adults of any age who are looking to meet new people locally, make friends, or just enjoy friendly companionship at one of the many activities they deliver.
It’s completely free to become a member. Those interested in joining can just turn up to any session, and will be sure to receive a warm welcome from the host and attendees.
Another spokesperson continues “Our latest initiative ‘SHINE- The Halo Project’, for which we’ve secured funding for, focuses on creating sustainability for the future, building capacity, and extending greater reach. We will do this through the recruitment of additional volunteers, enabling us to deliver further sessions, expanding our delivery to support even more members of our community. Our mission remains supporting people experiencing loneliness and social isolation to make new connections and increase their mental, emotional well-being through attending our group sessions. Our Halo project will also empower individuals in our community to SHINE by doing good in their community. Volunteering provides another approach to assist towards reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation, whilst following the simple 5 ways to better well-being, which we can offer; be active, connect, keep learning, take notice & give. This grant has been awarded to help fund an employed role of Volunteer, Partnerships & Fundraising Coordinator to deliver this strategy.”
Current activity offerings include; book lovers club, games night, bingo for adults with additional needs, accessible knit club, craft morning, knit and crochet club, jigsaw meet ups, coffee with company mornings, and more.
Those who attend their groups have described the organisation as “friendly, helpful, encouraging”, “fun, sociable, positive”, “underrated” and “a great asset to the community”. **
Whilst membership is free, the group recently introduced a minimum session donation of £1.50pp earlier this month to contribute towards building longer term sustainability.
Ms G. Simmons, Voluntary Director explained “The last few months Activity Angels has been really struggling financially to keep its doors open to our beneficiaries. Now we have this funding and support from the National Lottery, for which we are extremely grateful, Activity Angels and our community, can look forward to an exciting second year, and hopefully many more years to come as well.”
To find out more about the support the charity offers locally you can visit their website here: www.activityangels.co.uk , or follow them on Facebook- Activity Angels, or Instagram activity_angels
To enquire about volunteering with Activity Angels, please contact: volunteering@activityangels.co.uk
