- Area:
- South West England
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 14 4 2009
A new project in Exeter and Devon will support disabled people from BME communities and help them to lead more independent lives, funded by a Big Lottery Fund grant, announced today.
The funding from BIG will enable the Rejuvi-Nation project to provide drop-in-centre, social visits, art workshops, information and advice. The grant comes from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, which aims to improve the lives of those most in need.
For people in Devon who are from BME communities and are living with a disability, the £40,070 grant will provide invaluable support and a welcome and safe environment where they can get practical help and enjoy social activities.
David Wright, Rejuvi-Nation, said: We are all delighted that we have been successful with our bid for funding. Some of our members have been very marginalised and we know that our support programme can make a big difference in helping them to get their lives back on track. We have been making plans for a long time... now we can make things happen.”
During the first year, Rejuvi-Nation will run a BME Disability Support Programme and a once-a-week drop in centre in Exeter where information and advice will be available, relating to active citizenship, lifelong learning and employment opportunities. Creative workshops including art, crafts and creative writing will also be available and a programme of day trips will be organised.
Rejuvi-Nation will extend the project in the second year to enable people from BME communities with disabilities in other parts of Devon to benefit. It also aims to establish a BME Disability Service Users Forum, which will meet quarterly and will provide a voice for this marginalised group and a platform from which to engage with local government.
Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the South West, said: “This new project will bring tremendous benefits to people who can often feel isolated and marginalised. It will enable them to become more active within their local community and will help to build a stronger community as a result, which is one of the main aims of BIG’s Reaching Communities programme.”
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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