On Friday, I met with Angeline Gore (pictured) and Charlotte Waldron from the inspirational not-for-profit social enterprise Browns Community Services.
Ms Gore, the Chief Executive, briefed me on how the organisation provides bespoke social care for vulnerable adults across Surrey and Berkshire, including here in Elmbridge. Browns works with individuals – from young victims of grooming to ex-offenders – to build-up their confidence, help them to address any substance abuse or personal challenges and support them back into work and training.
The group runs a number of programmes, including the ‘Rebuild Project’, which supports families by providing vulnerable children, teenagers and adults with a 26-week course of counselling. It also operates the ‘4Es to Employment Course’, which has an impressive 98% success rate for getting ex-offenders and the long-term unemployed into one of paid work, volunteering or education. The Rebuild Project has recently won financial backing from the National Lottery Fund, which has enabled Browns to appoint a dedicated Rebuild Child Exploitation Parent Support Worker to work one-to-one with families.
Ms Gore also introduced me to a local resident who has benefited from the Rebuild Project. She told me first-hand about the invaluable support she and her family had received from Browns.
You can find out more information about Browns here.
