- Area:
- England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 13 3 2012
Projects to help survivors and those at risk, of domestic violence are among those sharing over £7 million in National Lottery good cause funding from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).
Some 35 projects across the country have been awarded funding today from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.
Tender Education and Arts receives £300,000 to work in schools across the country with young people who may be at risk of domestic violence, already in an abusive relationship or have an entrenched view of abuse and violence due to a lack of information. The Tender Relationships project will feature drama based courses and workshops aimed at helping young people learn about violence prevention, what constitutes a healthy relationship and tips for spotting early signs of abuse.
Tender will also distribute learning resources to schools to ensure as many young people as possible benefit from the project and get the information and help they need. Around six to ten young people will have contact time with staff during the sessions and over 16,000 young people will have been helped by the end of the project.
Doireann Larkin, Campaign Manager for Tender said: “This funding has given Tender a fantastic opportunity. Over the next three years we will work with our national partners to reach young people across the country, giving them the tools to safeguard themselves against unhealthy relationships and abuse.This represents an exciting turning point for our organisation and gives us the momentum to make a huge impact on the lives of at risk young people.”
ARCH (North Staffs) Limited has been awarded £490,833 to develop a dedicated community venue called the Sunrise Centre for individuals and families affected by domestic violence. The centre will offer one-to-one support, bespoke packages of emotional and practical support and advocacy, and personal skills development workshops, in areas such as positive self image, communications, assertiveness and parenting skills.
Therapeutic sessions and specialist health service drop-in clinics will be supported by counselling in mental wellbeing, substance misuse and independent living. Workshops will also be available in areas such as financial independence, legal advice, housing support and access to independent domestic violence and sexual violence advisors. The project will also offer employment advice with into work training, educational opportunities, volunteer and work placements, skills building and job application support.
Also receiving funding today is Colchester and Tendring Women’s Refuge in Essex, which has received £290,665 to develop their current outreach service so they can offer more one-to-one visits and support. There is currently a waiting list for counselling services, especially in Tendring, and the funding will increase the number of women receiving counselling and group therapeutic support, while also providing dedicated telephone support and quarterly domestic abuse awareness raising workshops.
The refuge will also offer skills workshops including DIY, home economics, IT, access to learning and confidence building, and childcare will be provided for women who may not otherwise be able to attend. More than 2,000 women and their children will benefit as a result of the project.
Nat Sloane, Big Lottery Fund England Chair said: “These awards demonstrate the true value of big lottery funding because they help communities to prevent problems from happening - starting with young men to understand and benefit from good relationships rather abusive ones ; through to enabling communities to solve the causes or circumstances that create need rather than just the symptom. That's the beauty of lottery fund, we can reach and fund in ways that get to the heart of the matter.”
See a full list of projects receiving funding today.
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Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £27 billion has now been raised and more than 370,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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