A NEW project to help Southend’s most deprived people get back to work has received a £400,000 boost from the Lottery.

The Starting Points scheme, run by Southend Vineyard church, will be paid the money over five years, enabling it to create personal development programmes.

Staff hope to start on these by the summer.

John Williams, coordinator at Southend Vineyard, said: “We want to get to the root of people’s personal problems and help them overcome those.

“We want to work with them, help them sort their heads out, overcome their issues and get them back to work.

“If people want to change their lives we will help them.”

The project will target the long-term unemployed and those recovering from substance abuse.

Organisers will work alongside the Vineyard’s Storehouse community outreach charity project, based in Coleman Street, Southend.

Mr Williams said: “Currently we have around 2,000 people on the books and we are hoping to say to them ‘let’s have a look at how we can help change your life and make it better’.

“There might also be people who haven’t come to the Storehouse before, but they are welcome to come and benefit from this.”

The Starting Points project will take life-coaching techniques and use them to help people in both group and one-to-one sessions.

Mr Williams said: “The new project means 5,000 people in crisis will receive coaching to help them remove barriers, learn skills, and prepare them for employment and education.”

The project will also offer training and advice, including help with interviews, CV preparation and writing skills.

Sara Betsworth, of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “We are pleased to be able to support Starting Points to build on their crucial work helping those who face homelessness, unemployment and problems around substance abuse.

“These increased resources will provide many more people with the invaluable help they need to create a more positive lifestyle and a means to independent living.”

For information about Southend Vineyard, call 01702 612900.