- Area:
- South East England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 20 2 2007
A Kent service offering vital support to people who have been raped or sexually abused will today share in over £2.1 million awarded today in the South East under BIG’s Reaching Communities programme.
Gravesend based, Family Matters, a leading sexual abuse and rape counselling charity, will today receive £500,000 to provide therapeutic support for victims of abuse across North and mid Kent.
The grant will support the work of the charity over the next five years, reaching out to isolated and disadvantaged people in Gravesham, Dartford, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Swale & Ashford and Medway.
Malcolm Gilbert Family Matters General Manager said: “We are delighted to receive this award from the Big Lottery Fund. Sexual abuse frequently lies behind many of the social problems, and this funding will help us ensure that survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and rape of all ages and genders, can continue to expect high levels of support.”
Big Lottery Fund Head of South East England Alison Rowe said: “This vital support service will give vulnerable people across Kent the chance for brighter prospects and better opportunities by helping them cope with the trauma of abuse. The valuable work of Family Matters typifies how the Reaching Communities programme is making a real difference to those in need within the community.”
The Reaching Communities programme awards up to £500,000 to projects that offer people better chances in life, build strong communities, improve urban and rural environments and promote healthy activities.
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 845 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
- The Big Lottery Fund rolls out close to £2 million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours, which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.
- The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.
- On 1 December 2006 the Big Lottery Fund was officially established by Parliament and at the same time assumed the residual responsibilities of the dissolved National Lottery Charities Board (Community Fund) the New Opportunities Fund, and the Millennium Commission. The Fund is building on the experience and best practice of the merged bodies to simplify funding in those areas where they overlap and to ensure Lottery funding provides the best possible value for money.
- Reaching Communities is part of the Big Lottery Fund’s portfolio of new programmes. Following an intense and comprehensive process of consultation with stakeholders and the general public over the last year, the Fund has undertaken to distribute 60-70% of its funding to the third sector. At least one-third of BIG funding will be demand-led and lightly prescribed. In England, this will amount to at least £600 million over the period 2005-2009. This commitment will be met from a variety of funding streams, including, Reaching Communities, Awards for All, part of the Young People’s Fund, Community Buildings, Advice Services and the People’s Millions.
- UK-wide, the Big Lottery Fund will distribute through its new programmes and allocations funding worth over £2.6bn between now and April 2009. Regularly updated information on the Big Lottery Fund’s new programmes is available at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/publications.htm
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