- Area:
- South West England
- Programme:
- Awards for All England
- Release date:
- 23 7 2012
Active 8 is one of 66 organisations across the South West sharing almost £495,000 from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) this month.
The charity in Truro, Cornwall, will use their funding of £6,750 to provide an inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime trip to London for their young beneficiaries to see the Paralympics. The organisation provides fun and challenging experiences for young people with physical disabilities as well as social opportunities for young adults to stay in touch. Active 8 provides 12 residential weekends per year and also helps young people to get involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s award and other activities which can use their skills and talents to the full.
In the last three Paralympic Games (Beijing 2008, Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000) Paralympics GB has never finished lower than second in the medal table. Beijing 2008 was the most successful Paralympic Games ever for Paralympics GB with a final tally of 42 gold medals.
There will be other positive sociable opportunities to improve the lives of disadvantaged people across the South West thanks to Lottery funding this month. The Melksham (A) Townswomen's Guild in Wiltshire will use their grant of £1,450 to run day and theatre trips for older women, who might otherwise be isolated. Townswomen's Guilds – groups of women who meet regularly to exchange ideas, develop new skills, campaign on issues, make new friends and have fun - have been established since 1929 and have over 80,000 members around the UK.
The Bristol Lesbian Gay Bisexual Forum will use their £10,000 grant to establish a volunteer led walking for health programme for older LGBT people, also aiming to reduce isolation.
And the Sea Sanctuary in Falmouth, Cornwall, will use its grant of £9,480 for its Vessel for Change. The group will use the funding to provide a drop-in centre aboard their yacht for people suffering from mental health problems, enabling them to access information and advice, learn to sail, and develop confidence and self esteem.
Also receiving funding is Community Cafes, a voluntary organisation in Swindon which will use their funding of £7,648 to purchase child care provision and provide training in the catering industry for NEET mothers who wish to volunteer and gain qualifications; and Penny Brohn Cancer Care in Bristol, which will use its grant of £6,084 to develop their existing garden and to reconnect an unused well. This will improve the group's facilities, enabling them to offer outside courses and a relaxation area for people living with cancer.
Today’s funding comes from BIG’s popular small grants scheme, Awards for All, which offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 to social and environmental projects that will benefit local communities and make a difference to the lives of those most in need.
Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the South West region, said: “There are a host of organisations with fun and inspiring plans which can now come to fruition after receiving Lottery funding today. I am sure they will make a very positive difference to the health and wellbeing of many people across the South West.”
See a full list of awards announced in the South West today
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