- Area:
- East of England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 14 4 2009
A project to help older people in Norfolk to deal with substance misuse by enabling better community integration has been given the go-ahead through the support of a Big Lottery Fund grant.
The funding is from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme that aims to improve the lives of people and communities in need across England.
NORCAS has secured a grant of £396,710 to run its Older People Outreach Services for people in Norfolk. This will support people aged 50 or over who are affected by their own substance misuse or that of a relative or close friend. This will help to decrease social isolation and increase community participation. It will relieve some of the pressure on primary care, families, carers and agencies working with older people.
Funding will be used to create new drop-in centre services for older people, particularly those who have health issues or are experiencing loneliness or bereavement which could lead to or increase alcohol or drug use.
The project will also support Age Concern, Social Services, Norfolk Older People's Forum, Royal British Legion and older people's organisations.
Maggie Williams, CEO, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this grant, the money will enable us to make a significant impact in communities throughout Norfolk. The harm caused by alcohol or drugs in people aged 50 and over is often overlooked and issues can go unrecognised."
Jonathan Clark, Big Lottery Fund Head of the Eastern Region, said: “This Lottery grant will enable NORCAS to deliver a vital community service to people whose lives have been adversely affected by substance misuse. It will provide a lifeline to vulnerable people over 50 years old and offer them the chance to be better integrated into their community.”
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- Under Reaching Communities, the Big Lottery Fund awards grants between £10,000 and £500,000 to projects that offer people better life chances, build stronger communities, develop improved rural and urban environments and improve health and well being.
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half 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. 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 £22 billion has now been raised and more than 300,500 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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