Opportunity Goole, which is funded by Goole Town Deal, has provided grant funding to local charity Helping Others for the creation of a ‘warm space’ and computer room for members of the community to use.

Representatives of the Opportunity Goole team were recently invited to the official opening of the new facilities at the charity’s headquarters on Pasture Road, where  Mayor of Goole, Councillor Anthony Raspin, cut the ribbons to declare them open.

The new warm space, along with a fridge freezer and an air fryer to enable the Helping Others team to prepare hot meals for the people who drop in to use it, and the new computer room, complete with lap tops and private booths for people to sit in as they use them, were paid for using £4,800 In funding from Opportunity Goole’s Flexible Grant Scheme.

Joe Hodgson, Promotions Co-ordinator for Opportunity Goole, said: “Helping Others is an award-winning local charity that makes a real difference to so many local people in countless different ways.

“The new warm space will provide a place for people to come and get a warm drink or a hot meal during the winter months, and they’ll also be able to access the new computer room to help them look for training, employment and volunteering opportunities, and access any other support services that might benefit them.”

Thanking the Opportunity Goole team, the charity’s manager, Melanie Charlton, said: “We first opened our Warm Space in 2022, but the funding from Opportunity Goole has enabled us to improve and update it, and buy some new equipment so that we can prepare warm food for people.

“The computer room is a private space that people who drop in to Helping Others can make use of, where we can talk to people one-to-one and help them access any help and support they might need.”

Helping Others operates a charity shop and a drop-in service at its premises on Pasture Road. It also takes donations of goods from members of the public that can be sold to raise funds to help those who are struggling and need time, support, a chat or help to get back on their feet. The charity was established by local woman Nicola Vause in 2017.

One of eight projects funded by Goole Town Deal, Opportunity Goole provides easy access to information about local job opportunities, training provision, business support and more to anyone over the age of 16 years, regardless of whether they’re employed, unemployed or retired. The team’s role is to help local individuals gain the knowledge and skills that they need to secure employment, and ensure that employers can recruit local people with the skillset that they’re looking for. Opportunity Goole’s Flexible Grant Scheme provides grants to individuals, charities, businesses and voluntary sector organisations towards the cost of securing training, employment and business opportunities. To be eligible for a share of the funding, applicants must be able to demonstrate that their grant will help to boost the local economy by giving people access to training or job opportunities, or by helping businesses to grow.

To find out more about the support on offer from Opportunity Goole or to arrange an appointment, email opportunity.goole@eastriding.gov.uk.