1:30pm Thursday 11th March 2010
CHER Sawyer, the lady who has been the driving force for more than 25 years behind the Threshold charity which looks after Swindon’s homeless, is moving on to work with the town’s youth.
Cher was last month honoured for her work with Threshold when she received an MBE from the Queen at Windsor Castle.
Now she has decided to take up a new challenge by working with the youth mentoring charity, SMASH – the Swindon Mentoring and Self Help Project.
It has been under threat of closure because of a cash shortage and has been looking for a financial backer. The Adver reported last week how workers at the West Swindon project feared that if no source of funding is found, then it could be mothballed and wound up in July.
And it is not the first time the 10-year-old charity, which helps children who have been referred to them from a variety of organisations including social services, schools, Swindon Council and the Youth Offending Team, has faced a funding crisis.
Cher said she was relishing the task of working with the charity which is currently over-subscribed with 40 children on the waiting list and referrals coming in at a rate of one a day.
“One of the first things I’m looking forward to getting involved with is the SMASH-Fest gig at Riffs Bar on March 20, which has been organised by local bands in support of SMASH,” said Cher.
“Second, in partnership with the board and the team at SMASH, we’ll review the strategy for their future development and sustainability. The value of SMASH should not be underestimated and we envisage that new partnerships may be formed to help the youth of Swindon.”
Cher has agreed to work with the charity to develop a business plan based on the experience of building Threshold from an organisation surviving on £35,000 a year to one with a £1m turnover.
SMASH project manager Rob Chappell said: “We’re really chuffed that Cher has agreed to help us.
“Her track record and knowledge of the charity sector is second to none and we at SMASH are really looking forward to working with her to make sure we can secure the future of one of the town’s most highly regarded charities.
“Getting her on board at SMASH really couldn’t have happened at a better time.”
Cher has worked for the Threshold Housing Link since 1985, most recently as its business development director. The charity now operates 10 services and employs 31 people, and she was instrumental in establishing Threshold Housing Link as one of the foremost charities for the homeless in the south west.
In a statement from the charity, the trustees of Threshold said: “We applaud her abilities, loyalty and contribution to the charity’s success and regret her leaving, but wish her well for the future and her continued success.
“Threshold will continue its work aimed at improving homeless people’s lives by providing the opportunity for personal development and the attainment of the skills needed for long-term independent living.”
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