Topsham charity receives funding from Global’s Make Some Noise to deliver life-changing services

This week, Estuary League of Friends, begins work on new social activities from their community hub, Nancy Potter House, thanks to a grant from Global’s Make Some Noise.

Estuary is one of just 39 small charities nationwide, and only one of two charities in Devon, to benefit this year.

Estuary will use the grant to support 200 people experiencing loneliness and isolation in rural parts of Exeter and East Devon over the next two years. The charity will run clubs, groups and social activities including the popular Estuary Ladies and Friendship Group; and will set up a new Men’s Club for those living alone or caring for a loved one and a new Bereavement Group.

Global’s Make Some Noise, the official charity of the Media & Entertainment group Global, has distributed grants totalling £2.5 million to small charities and projects across the UK following its fundraising efforts in 2022.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of listeners across Global’s radio brands - Capital, Heart, LBC, Classic FM, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold, Estuary League of Friends has received £16,650 from Global’s Make Some Noise to support its vital work.

Rachel GIlpin, Chief Executive of Estuary League of Friends, said: “Isolation and loneliness have always been a problem in our rural communities. This got much worse during the pandemic when charities like ours could no longer bring people together as before. We are over the moon to receive funding from Global’s Make Some Noise today! The grant will help us re-establish a busy programme of clubs, groups and social activities at our Topsham community hub, Nancy Potter House. It also means we can afford to set up new groups much needed in our community including a Men’s Club and Bereavement Group.

“We are so grateful to Global’s listeners who are helping us bring back laughter, friendship and happiness to the lives of 200 vulnerable people in our community through this grant, so that anyone in need of care, comfort and support in our community can turn to us for help.”

The funding from Global’s Make Some Noise provides a vital lifeline in communities - from food banks to befriending projects for the elderly and isolated, cancer wellbeing programmes to domestic abuse refuges, from employment opportunities to physical therapy for people with disabilities.

This year, the charities that Global’s Make Some Noise supports will receive £5,000 in unrestricted funds to support with the growing impact of the cost-of-living crisis and to help keep their doors open. Many charities are facing growing waiting lists and unprecedented demand for their services, whilst facing increased energy bills and costs for frontline staff.

Suzanne Ryder Richardson, Director of Global Goodness at Global, said: “It’s been an incredibly tough couple of years for everyone and as the cost of living continues to increase, more people are turning to local groups for help, putting extra strain on their resources.

"With that in mind, I’m so pleased that Global’s Make Some Noise is able to help charities at the centre of the communities they serve and we will continue to raise money and awareness for their vital work.”

Over the next year, the funds raised through Make Some Noise’s 2022 appeal will provide support to over 24,000 people through essential services including:

Almost 9000 hours of dedicated support, advice and signposting for those facing financial difficulty, plus access to food support and essential items
Almost 3500 hours of intensive and therapeutic support to people affected by domestic abuse and trauma, including children and young people
Over 2000 hours of mental health support, through 1:1 counselling sessions and therapeutic group work
Over 2500 hours of life skills support and leisure opportunities for people living with a disability
200 brand new beds for vulnerable children living in poverty who either previously had no bed of their own, or are sleeping in a broken, unsafe or unhygienic bed
34 specialist roles, including 2 Bereavement Support Managers, a Family Support Worker for families living through childhood cancer, a Debt & Money Advisor, 2 Dementia Key Workers, a Mental Health Practitioner for women and children affected by domestic abuse and a scent trainer to train specialist assistance dogs to save the lives of children with Brittle Type 1 Diabetes
A new electric vehicle to patrol and attend mental health crises, saving 800 lives each year through suicide prevention
£200,000 in unrestricted grants, for charities to use to meet increasing prices caused by the cost of living crisis

Every year, Global’s Make Some Noise grants are awarded to small charities across the country to help fund vital services.

Since its launch in 2014, Global’s Make Some Noise has supported over 440 incredible local projects, helping 175,000 vulnerable people across the UK.

Global’s Make Some Noise is changing lives across the UK through small charities. Its annual appeal raises awareness for some of the biggest issues affecting society and gives charities a platform to reach an audience of more than 26 million weekly listeners with on-air promotion on Global’s radio brands: Capital, Heart, Classic FM, Smooth, LBC, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold.