- Area:
- North East England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 14 2 2012
Around 500 older people with learning disabilities and their carers will benefit from a new project in North Tyneside given more than £460,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.
Around £1.1 million is being awarded to projects across the North East today from the Big Lottery Fund’s flagship Reaching Communities programme, which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.
The Learning Disabilities Federation will use the £463,058 grant it receives today to encourage independent living by allowing older people, many of whom rely on carers, to live in their own homes for longer. The Tomorrows project will also encourage the development of social and family networks and help people to avoid future crises by planning for any needs they may have in the future.
The project will address issues like keeping safe at home, specialist equipment, making wills, benefits and money, respite care, health advice and physical activity. Volunteers from the local community will be recruited to make home visits and provide companionship.
Learning Disabilities Federation Chairperson, Heather Clegg, said: “This money is such a lifeline – we currently help about 60 people but with this money we can help 500. With improved health and an ageing population some people with learning disabilities are outliving members of their family. We need services to be brought in tandem with this growing situation.
“If vulnerable, older people are able to live in their homes for longer it is a great benefit to them and also for their carers. We’ll be offering a variety of practical support in addition to group activities such as picnics, craft groups, lunch clubs, walks and cinema trips to develop social networks. We even plan to develop a local talking newspaper to help people with learning disabilities who cannot read. Our project also helps their carers who are often parents or family members who can struggle due to their age, bereavement and illness.”
Meanwhile, Tynedale Hospice at Home receives £142,373 to continue to provide bereavement support to children and young people in Tynedale and West Northumberland. Sometimes children’s families are grieving themselves and are unable to give the support their children need. The Rainbow Project will provide family weekends, groups for teenagers and support for children anticipating bereavement. This support can avoid a child developing feelings of guilt, poor anger management and social exclusion into adulthood.
Young people with disabilities and learning difficulties in the Sunderland area will benefit from a new project at City of Sunderland College which is receiving £242,478. Together Activity Groups will provide social and health activities for vulnerable young people, helping them to socialise more and take part in mainstream activities outside their small group of friends. Activities will include sports from football to swimming, cookery, short breaks and dancing.
The Tees Valley Rural Community Council has received £248,784 to continue to develop the Old Co-op Building in Loftus which provides services and activities to rural and isolated communities of Loftus, Skelton, Brotton and Lockwood. The money will expand services such as employment advice, CV writing, job applications, training opportunities and social activities including indoor bowling, jewellery making, arts and crafts groups, a healthy eating club and table tennis. Meetings will include a ‘cuppa with a copper’ and ‘confer with a councillor’.
James Turner, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the North East, said: “We are absolutely committed to helping the most vulnerable in our society as demonstrated by this round of awards in the North East. An ageing population brings challenges and this issue will continue to grow in the years ahead so we are delighted to award the Learning Disabilities Federation this significant grant.”
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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