Warrington and Cheshire charities receive £26,000 to empower young people with SEND
Young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Warrington and Cheshire have benefitted from more than £26,000 in vital funding distributed by Cheshire Community Foundation through EMR’s Building Brighter Futures Fund.
The fund, created by EMR, which operates seven recycling facilities in the North East, is managed in partnership with Cheshire Community Foundation and is dedicated to giving young people the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
As part of the 2025 grant round, over £200,000 will be invested in youth-focused projects nationwide. Warrington and Cheshire’s share — totalling £26,725 — will empower two local charities, The Puddle Project and Down Syndrome Cheshire, to deliver programmes that help young people with SEND gain life skills, confidence, and pathways to independence and employment.
The projects being supported
Warrington – The Puddle Project
Award: £16,725
The Puddle Project will use its grant to develop new outdoor facilities — including an outdoor classroom and composting toilet — enhancing its training environment for young adults aged 18–25 with SEND.
These upgraded spaces will expand a programme of life skills training, vocational experience, sport and social sessions designed to prevent isolation and ease the transition out of formal education. With a strong focus on employability, weekly sessions will support participants as they progress towards volunteering, supported internships and job readiness.
Cheshire – Down Syndrome Cheshire
Award: £12,500
Award: £10,000
Down Syndrome Cheshire will launch its Tackling Barriers initiative, supporting 22 young people aged 16–25 across Warrington. This year-long programme will focus on career exploration, digital skills, budgeting and interpersonal development through hands-on workshops and real-life experiences.
Each participant will work with an Employability and Life Skills Coordinator to create a personalised vocational profile and structured goals. A “Ready for Work” pathway will provide CV writing, interview practice, workplace visits and job placements, giving young people the confidence and tools to step into adulthood.
The Building Brighter Futures Fund
The Building Brighter Futures Fund was launched in 2023 to create lasting impact in the communities where EMR operates. Since then, it has distributed more than £600,000 in grants nationwide. This year’s North East awards form part of the fund’s £200,000 national investment in youth-focused initiatives for 2025.
Ian Sheppard, Managing Director at EMR, said:
“Through our Building Brighter Futures Fund, we’re proud to support these transformative projects that work tirelessly to help disadvantaged young people across the North East fulfil their potential. Whether it’s through work experience, mental health support or practical skills development, these programmes will make a real and lasting difference in our communities.”
Mel Sproston, CEO of Cheshire Community Foundation, added:
“Collaborating with EMR on the Building Brighter Futures Fund is a privilege. The scale and impact of this year’s awarded projects demonstrate the fund’s strength and purpose — creating genuine pathways for young people across the region to grow, thrive and succeed.”
Building Brighter Futures is just one way in which EMR is helping communities tackle some of their toughest challenges. From helping ex-offenders, care leavers and veterans build vital skills and get back into work to educating young people through four Schools Programmes aimed at inspiring the sustainable innovators of the future, EMR believes that everyone deserves every chance to build a better, fairer life for themselves.