Third sector organisations are urging a review of banking procedures to ensure that vulnerable and excluded people are not penalised by the banking system. 

The different areas of the third sector represented by the campaign reflects the far reaching implications of financial exclusion: it increases poverty levels amongst the lowest-income groups, which has a huge negative impact on those struggling with debt, poor housing, old age, ill-health, physical and mental disabilities, and social exclusion.

The campaign is pushing to bring in new measures which will ensure banks give full financial disclosure, cap unfair credit rates for those who cannot afford them, demonstrate that they provide fair access to credit and that a proportion of future profits are reinvested to support activities of benefit to the public.

Our aim is to assist people who are dependent upon social care services to be contributing members of their communities, to help them develop and benefit from loving and caring relationships (and hence not be lonely and isolated), and have access to social capital. In short, help them to access true 'care' and so reduce peoples' dependency upon services. 

The funding for the Provider Development Programme will allow us to train our staff even further so that we continue to provide the best possible help to those people in the region who need it.

Luckily our bid was successful, so watch this space for more news as the programme rolls out!

The group now has a space they can call their own within the centre and provides the opportunity to get more involved with the local community.

The centre has excellent facilities, meaning anyone who wants to can now learn new skills such as photography, craft or painting, as well as join a wide variety of people taking part in dancing and exercise classes.

To find out more about what is on offer at the centre, follow this link.

Andrew Davidson , a gentleman who receives support from New Prospects at his home in Northumberland,  has been appointed as a governor for the Learning Disability Constituency for the Trust.  As a newly appointed governor he will be part of an active and involved council of governors for the Trust. He will represent his peer group at monthly meetings. These will take place at Walkergate hospital where issues such as employment for disabled people will be discussed, along with a wide range of other issues.

Andrew is delighted to have been elected and is looking forward to playing an active role.  He has been given lots of homework to read up on and is preparing thoroughly for his new role.

Congratulations to Andrew from everyone at New Prospects.