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Funding Support·Awaaz·17-MAR-2026
A photograph of 9 women in a line behind a table where they have been baking cakes. The women are mostly South Asian and wearing colourful dresses and scarves. They are happily holding up cakes and smiling. They are in a classroom environment with a whiteboard behind them. They are women who have been part of the Pathways Without Cobbles project and who are interested in running a baking cooperative.

Awaaz Manchester

‘Pathways Without Cobbles’ changing lives for South Asian women

Over the last 18 months Awaaz has piloted provision to address the specific needs of South Asian women disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. They have recently partnered with SHS to evaluate this provision and develop an action for building on the findings.

SHS is providing Funding Support and CRM Consultancy to build on the Pathways Without Cobbles pilot to meet the ongoing demand for the provision and to respond to the feedback for further development.

We will work with the Awaaz team to develop a Fundraising Strategy and the infrastructure and capacity to implement it. Evaluation of the project has established a challenging fundraising target over the next 2 years to increase and sustain the provision of trauma-informed mental health support and pathways into employment for minority ethnic women. We will scope out a capital project to open up a commercial kitchen through which women can run a food cooperative.

The Salesforce Nonprofit CRM will be invaluable in streamlining systems and ensuring data is available to the team for building a case for support with donors.

The partnership aims to achieve:

✅Project funding over the next 2 years to support around 200 women per year

✅Ongoing core funding towards staffing

✅A capital project to equip a commercial kitchen

✅Social Investment funding to launch a social enterprise

✅Salesforce CRM to drive supporter relationships

https://itccentre.org/

🙂Awaaz provides culturally appropriate mental health support through community-based activities, including peer support groups where people can share experiences in a safe, trusted environment and build confidence and resilience. Through its current Pathways Without Cobbles programme, it offers targeted support for women in their community experiencing mental health challenges, combining one-to-one guidance, group support and practical help to overcome barriers linked to isolation, trauma and inequality.

Funding partners to date:

🫱🏽National Lottery Community Fund

🫱🏽Greater Manchester Live Well

🫱🏽Manchester City Council

Awaaz Manchester | Sanity + Next.js