A West Leeds charity is celebrating 25 years of helping vulnerable people. Barca-Leeds is a multi-purpose organisation in Bramley providing specialist services to help people overcome a broad range of issues.
Here, Deputy Operations Director Joe Kent looks at its achievements…
Barca-Leeds was founded in July 1994 by a groups of Bramley residents who wanted to make a difference in their community and has helped to transform the lives of thousands of people in Leeds for the better with a whole raft of great ideas and practical solutions.
It started out as a youth club in the late 1980s and today is a nationally respected local charity delivering a range of innovative services for vulnerable adults, families young people and children.
Their most recent idea is called West Leeds Recipe Station and supports Bramley families shopping on a budget – every Monday at Bramley Hub people can collect a recipe card and bag of ingredients worth £1 that will feed two people with a healthy nutritious meal.
Mark Law, Barca chief executive said:
“I feel privileged to have helped to start up Barca-Leeds 25 years ago – I am very proud of the hard work from all of the staff over the years that has helped it to grow into the amazing organisation it is today.”
People using Barca services have said:
“West Leeds Recipe Station has really helped on making meals for not much money. Easy meals with basic ingredients and very tasty too.”
“All the things they do are fun and I get to meet new people.”
“I liked how my worker has supported me in all areas and help me find the strength in me to do and get through everything I have needed to do and been set out for me.”
“I thank god for Barca and all the support you have given me lately. Honestly I don’t have a clue what I would have done without you guys. I would still be homeless and be done for. I now have my own place and a job and feel things are finally looking up for me.”
“I feel able to cope better in situations where I used to panic. I feel more confident in myself to go out of the house and talk to people and I am pushing myself into doing things I wouldn’t normally do, for example I am doing a sky dive next month. I feel less stressed and feel I can tackle things better. I am also starting to take pride in my appearance.”
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