- Area:
- East of England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 17 7 2012
A vital community project to promote well being for isolated older people and a health and activities scheme for vulnerable young families are among five innovative awards sharing in close to £947,000 across the region announced today by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).
The funding comes from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.
Working to help enable older people with a range of mental and physical disabilities to become healthier, fitter and have a greater level of wellbeing, Age Concern Norwich are today awarded £209, 444 for Active and Involved, a project to provide an advice and befriending service to vulnerable residents over 65 in Norwich.
The service will run an inter-generational volunteering programme to increase the skills of local people to work with others and give older people the opportunity to get out of their homes and mix with a range of different community members. Activities on offer will include one to one and group advice sessions on topics such as keeping homes warm, maximising incomes, eating well and accessing additional support to meet care needs.
The scheme will also provide active companionship with volunteer befrienders who will accompany and encourage older people to get involved in activities, including gardening, group walking, exercise sessions and a range of new social and learning opportunities.
Phil Wells, CEO of Age UK Norwich said, ‘This is excellent news and a real boost for Norwich. We have been told many times that the need for good independent advice and support to avoid isolation are the major concerns of older people in the city, and this exciting project will help us to set up a new approach, working together with the community. Over the three years we expect to recruit well over 100 new volunteers and support over 1,000 older people as a direct result of this project.’
Providing weekly learning activities for local families with children aged up to four, The Kings Hedges Family Support - Thursdays Together project will receive £194, 327. Based in East Chesterton, Cambridge the scheme will offer information and guidance on issues including alcohol/drug misuse, child development, domestic violence and debt. It will also provide access to health and wellbeing skills such as infant massage, first aid, cookery, nutrition, gardening and storytelling. The scheme aims to reduce isolation and promote healthier, more active families.
Creating a community hub which offers training and volunteering opportunities to Peterborough's diverse communities, PACO Ltd receives over £308, 000. The project will provide an internet streamed community radio service which aims to bring people together to develop their potential and raise confidence and aspirations. The scheme will further offer a platform for statutory and community organisations to present their own radio shows or get involved in volunteer led talk shows on aspects of community life.
Also awarded today is Essex Coalition of Disabled People with over £115,000 for a new county-wide volunteer peer and befriending scheme to support people with disabilities. The project will provide guidance and advice on accessing services, and opportunities for work skills training such as gardening. It will also offer a range of social opportunities such as walking groups, and exercise sessions, and encourage people with disabilities to enjoy a more active role in local decision making.
Last but not least, Cambridgeshire Football Association Limited receives close to £120,000 for an exciting project to develop football activities for people with moderate learning disabilities living in and around Cambridgeshire. Providing valuable access to sporting activities, the scheme aims to equip participants with the new skills, knowledge and experience to further develop disability sessions within mainstream community venues.
Sara Betsworth, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the East of England region, said: “Today’s £947,000 investment is fantastic news for the region, whether it’s opening up new horizons for older people with disabilities, providing key support for vulnerable young families, or creating valuable opportunities for volunteering and skills learning, BIGs’ Reaching Communities programme is making a great difference to many lives.”
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
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% 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 £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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