South Riverside Community Development Centre (SRCDC) Wins £20,000 Funding
At Prescott Jones we continually look at ways to support our communities. This year we entered a number of organisations for funds and whilst we are disappointed we cannot be successful for all, this award has undoubtedly gone to a worthy cause.
SRCDC is an independ
ent multi-cultural community charity that aims to alleviate poverty and deprivation in South Riverside. They manage 3 community buildings and have a 40-year track record of working in partnership to support community development, build community cohesion, and deliver services tackling poverty.
Despite being located in the centre of the Capital City, South Riverside is one of the poorest and most deprived 6% of communities in Wales. The average mortality is 12 years younger than the richest areas in Cardiff and the local secondary school the highest number of pupils on free school meals in the city. The population of South Riverside is 51 % minority ethnic, with 35 different ethnic groups present, over a third of residents do not speak English as a first language. South Riverside also has disproportionately high levels of environmental deprivation caused by dense housing, heavy traffic flow and limited green space.
Current activities include:
- Food pantry
- Coaching and mentoring support for women from minoritised communities and community members experiencing in work poverty
- Community education classes in English and Maths, IT for employment, language café, sewing classes, community cycling project, cooking classes and sports activities for girls
- Interpreters group
- Mothers and toddlers group and a mobile crèche service.
- A volunteer programme
- Repair cafe
- Youth club
- Greening Riverside urban growing project
During the pandemic they have rallied together our staff and volunteers to provide food parcels, home tutoring support, outdoor activities, a summer festival, fruit & veg give-aways for home growing, clothing parcels, free computers, advice, information and language support.
SRCDC faces a big challenge as COVID resulted in a drop in income as their buildings could not be utilised. Without the buildings it can’t “Keep the Community Lights On”, i.e. it cannot deliver the same level of support.
This financial challenge comes at a time when community need is at its greatest.
Research by Bristol University (2021):
“The virus has shaken the community in South Riverside…… Families are trying to manage intense demands of economic survival, family wellbeing, and infection control.” Research highlights particular issues affecting BAME families, including precarious employment and high number of informal carers who are trapped, through poverty.
The Aviva funding will leave SRCDC is in a strong position to build on the initiatives that provided a lifeline during the pandemic and secure its future.
You can find out more about their work here https://www.srcdc.org.uk/
Paul Gardner, Prescott Jones’ Sales and Marketing Director said, “The Aviva Broker Community Fund is a tremendous initiative and we are so grateful that they have allocated £20,000 to this worthy cause. It will improve the lives of hundreds of people at a critical time”
15/12/21
paul.gardner@prescott-jones.co.uk