Tuesday 20th August 2019 - Probably the most crucial six weeks ahead

Posted 1:15pm

The next six weeks are really the most crucial so far for HMHB. I am not saying it is the end if we have not found some seed funding, but it will be almost impossible to carry on.

I have been on Universal Credit for nearly a year - and the Job Centre (DWP) have been fantastic in allowing me to continue with HMHB - well, we want to work with their service users too - and we have an amazing product.

But the lottery turned us down, as the panel "felt that your organisation's capacity to run your project is not strong enough for is to offer you funding and the level of funding requested presented a significant risk in terms of delivery and sustainability."

Obviously we feel this is wrong. We clearly can manage the work we would be doing, and how can we possibly build a capacity if people will not allow us to prove ourselves?  How does any project get off the ground? Isn't everything a risk?  I would add we have no gripe with the lottery. They have a great number of applications and only a few can get through. But we felt we had done everything asked of us - found partners in multiple boroughs wanting to work with us, with a variety of service users. We have received incredible feedback too. What more can we do??  We need three salaries!

Our MP, Jeremy Corbyn, contacted our local CCG. They also said there was no funding. Sadly they suggested four companies, that between them could only grant a total of approximately £8000 in a year - we need seed funding - so that was of no help at all - and in fact we knew of all the companies and have approached already.

It feels like we are banging our heads against an impossible wall.  If I do not get a salary soon the DWP will naturally make me apply for full time work elsewhere, and this project gets shelved - after over five years of solid work.

I had to tell our Personal Trainer today that  we were rejected. I feel like a failure - people are depending on me to get the money. It is starting to look as if no-one will actually help us - but everyone praises us and wants us to work with their users. Go figure!!!!