SUSO in Macclesfield has been awarded £127,922 by the Big Lottery Community Fund.
The cash is continuation funding, and will be the charity’s third award from Big Lottery.
SUSO (which stands for Speaking Up Speaking Out) is a drop in for adults with learning disabilities and additional needs.
It started out in 2005 as a small self-advocacy group which met once a fortnight at a church hall, and from there has grown and grown. Today SUSO has its own premises in Macclesfield town centre.
Karen Keen, from SUSO, said: “We are enormously grateful that Big Lottery have agreed to support this exciting, next stage of SUSO’s development.
“It is an outstanding achievement as it is quite rare to receive a second award, and very rare indeed to receive a third award.”
However, there is a difference this time.
Karen explained: “Whereas previous awards from Big Lottery have covered full project costs, we are committing our reserves and earnings over the next 3 years to co-fund this project.
“Support from our friends and community will be vital, but we see this as an important investment in our future, and are thrilled that Big Lottery have the confidence in our ability to deliver and have chosen to continue their support for a third and final time.”
The new project is designed to make SUSO a much more secure and sustainable organisation – with far less reliance on the uncertainties linked to grant funding.
“We will have additional premises in the Silk Museum,” continued Karen, “which will enable us to offer a wider range of activities.”
These include a community garden, music, dance, drama and a varied programme of training including practical and class-based work-skills training.
The charity will also develop a pop-up cafe as a social enterprise to help generate income.
If you would like to know more about getting involved, please visit: www.maccsuso.org.uk or call 01625 424 717 for more information.
