Chance Changing Lives has become the fourth official partner of the Crewe Prize Draw, selected by Swansway Motor Group.

The next Crewe Prize Draw will take place this Thursday (30 July) at 7.30pm, with two local people already winning a £1,500 prize.

Following a company-wide vote, Swansway has nominated Chance Changing Lives, a Crewe charity close to the hearts of its colleagues and customers, to become one of the beneficiaries of the draw.

The partnership reflects Swansway's commitment to its values of being caring, honest and proud, while supporting a charity making a real difference to people across the local community.

Based on Coronation Crescent, Chance Changing Lives joins St. Paul's Centre, Hopes & Beams and The Wishing Well as organisations to receive regular funding through the fortnightly Crewe Prize Draw.

This partnership means local residents can continue supporting good causes in Crewe while also having the chance to win cash prizes every week.

ENTER CREWE PRIZE DRAW

Alongside the chance to win weekly cash prizes, players know their participation is helping organisations such as Chance Changing Lives continue their vital work for local people.

General Manager, David Barker, has exclusively spoken to Crewe Nub News about the charity helping people facing poverty and homelessness in Crewe and surrounding areas.

Tell us about Chance Changing Lives: How it all began and how it has developed?

It all started organically around 2018. Crewe was facing a huge homelessness issue, and a few people before my time here decided they wanted to do something about it. They created a homeless kitchen in a local church to feed people in need, and things grew from there.

​Eventually, we opened the pantry that we have now. The homeless kitchen has since moved to the Wishing Well Project, where it operates every Saturday, including Christmas Day if it falls on a Saturday.

It runs all year round to ensure that homeless individuals and financially vulnerable people in Crewe can get a hot meal.

​It is also an isolation project. Some people who attend are not necessarily in financial hardship, but they might not see anyone else all week. Coming to the Saturday kitchen gives them a chance to connect with others.

​We now see between 8,000 and 10,000 visits across our projects each year.

On a personal note, how did you get involved with Chance Changing Lives?

Alongside my work here, I run a national mental health charity [UMHAN], focused on education and supporting young people.

I was approached to see if I had the capacity to join Chance Changing Lives, and given my background and part time schedule, it felt like a natural fit. It has been great to be part of the team.

Is there anything about your service that you think people in Crewe might not know?

We are about much more than just food.

​While food and the pantry are central to what we do, when people come in, we connect them with a wide range of partner organisations.

We work with debt solution services like Pennysmart, NatWest for financial advice, and the Guinness Partnership for housing arrears support.

​We operate a 12-to-20-week membership programme. Members come every week to do their shopping, and we use that time to check in with them, asking how their rent or personal situations are going.

Our goal is to offer holistic support and help people resolve underlying issues by connecting them with the right partners.

What are the biggest challenges Chance Changing Lives and your visitors are facing right now?

The main challenge for us as a team and for our volunteers is simply wanting to do more while facing funding constraints.

​Over the past year, demand for our services has gone up by 55 per cent, but our funding has not increased to match that.

For instance, some of our previous grant funding, like our Lottery support, has come to an end. Meanwhile, food and operational costs are rising for us too.

​Our members pay five pounds per shop to receive around £45 to £50 worth of goods. Keeping that stocked and ensuring people still have a dignified choice in what they buy requires continuous support.

Are you able to share an example of someone whose life has been impacted by your work?

We had one individual who lost his job, which brought on a tremendous amount of stress.

​By coming to us, he was able to significantly reduce his food expenses, which gave him the breathing space he needed to avoid falling into debt.

After a few weeks, with that immediate financial pressure lifted, he was able to focus on his job search and successfully secured full time employment.

​He was so grateful for that temporary lifeline that he wanted his story shared to encourage others who might be going through a tough patch.

How will funds raised through local initiatives, like the Crewe Prize Draw, make a difference?

Funding streams from central government and local councils are under significant pressure, so local support is crucial.

​Money raised helps us keep our pantry shelves stocked, cover operational costs, and onboard more volunteers.

Crucially, it allows us to maintain a shopping experience that offers choice, dignity, and respect to everyone who walks through our doors.

What does being chosen as a Crewe Prize Draw charity partner mean to your Chance Changing Lives?

It means a lot. Being voted for by the local community shows that our work is recognised and respected across Crewe.

Beyond the financial support, it helps us build relationships, raise awareness, increase donations, and connect with people who might want to volunteer with us.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes and ambitions for Chance Changing Lives over the next few years?

One of our major ambitions is to open a dedicated advice centre in Crewe town centre within the next 18 months.

​We are seeing more people coming to us with multifaceted, complex challenges: it is rarely just one isolated issue causing financial hardship.

The advice centre will bring our partner agencies under one roof, allowing visitors to get immediate, comprehensive support in one place.

ENTER CREWE PRIZE DRAW

Director of Swansway Motor Group, David Smyth, told Nub News: "As a family owned business, supporting our local community has always been part of who we are.

"We wanted our colleagues to have a genuine say in which charity Swansway should nominate, so we invited them to vote for the organisation they felt would benefit most from the Crewe Prize Draw.

"We're delighted that Chance Changing Lives received the most votes.

"The charity does incredible work supporting people across Crewe who are experiencing homelessness, food poverty and financial hardship, helping to make a real difference to people's lives every day.

"The Crewe Prize Draw is a fantastic initiative because it brings the whole community together, supporting local charities while giving people the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes.

"We're proud to be the main sponsor and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have across Crewe."

READ MORE: Casualty treated with oxygen after 'burnt food' causes Crewe blaze.

Crewe Nub News, supported by Crewe-based family business, Swansway Motor Group, has launched the Crewe Prize Draw.

The Crewe Prize Draw sees one winner take home a cash prize every fortnight, with every ticket purchased helping raise vital funds for community-based causes in Crewe.

The next draw takes place on Thursday 30 July. Buy a ticket for just £2.