We were pleased to able to support Dial West Cheshire with £5,000 to be used in their core operations.
For 40 years, Dial West Cheshire has been improving the lives of local disabled and older people to participate equally in society through various means, such as providing information and advice, helping clients with benefit applications and appeals, providing supported volunteering and learning opportunities, delivering bespoke services for autistic adults and creating a sense of belonging through community groups, activities and in their community café.
Our core cost funding contributed towards upgrading the outdated phone system, maintaining the accessible lift, and covering volunteering costs, supporting the charity’s fully accessible services.
Phone system
The grant enabled the analogue phones to be replaced with digital ones, making it a more effective, accessible system. Dial West Cheshire receives on average 400 calls a month, all fielded by a team of 13 volunteers who have lived experience of disability or long-term health conditions. The calls made to the charity are often from people who are feeling vulnerable, and the volunteers, with support from the staff team, will identify ways in which the charity can assist them. This friendly welcome, empathy, and support offered can really make a difference to local people in need of support.
Accessible lift
Our grant award was also used towards the maintenance contract of the accessible lift at Dial House, the home of Dial West Cheshire, meaning it will be regularly serviced, and any faults can be fixed immediately.
Dial House spans two floors, and with over 80% of the charity’s workforce (both staff and volunteers) having lived experience of disability or long-term health conditions, the lift ensures they can move around the building safely, freely, and independently.
The charity offers private appointments to people with disabilities about a range of issues, including benefit applications and appeals, and the confidential meeting rooms are located upstairs. With up to 20 in-person 1-2-1 appointments held per week, the lift ensures that the services are fully accessible to everyone who crucially needs it.
One of their trustees who is severely restricted with their mobility has said “Having the lift at Dial House means that I can participate fully, undertake essential tasks, and be visible and available to our staff, volunteers, and clients.”
Volunteering costs
The grant also contributed towards volunteering costs, such as travel and training, which is crucial for Dial West Cheshire’s service delivery as all the services are supported by volunteers. The volunteers, who often have a long-term health conditions or disability, feel a huge sense of belonging, with one saying “Before I volunteered at Dial House, I didn’t go out. Now I have a safe space where I can be me.”
If you are looking for core or project funding, please read more here
