- Area:
- West Midlands
- Programme:
- Reaching Communities
- Release date:
- 13 3 2012
Families and children affected by domestic violence are among those to get much needed support through a Big Lottery Fund (BIG) good cause roll out in the West Midlands today.
Some four projects in the region working across Stoke, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Herefordshire, share in funding totalling £1,021,404 from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities.
ARCH (North Staffs) Limited receives £490,833 to develop a dedicated community venue called the Sunrise Centre for individuals and families across Stoke and the Staffordshire Moorlands affected by domestic violence. The centre will offer one-to-one support, bespoke packages of emotional and practical support and advocacy, as well as personal skills development workshops, in areas such as positive self image, communications skills, assertiveness, parenting skills and confidence building.
Wendy Wainwright, Head of Domestic Violence Services, said: “Sunrise will make a real difference. It will provide services from a dedicated community setting, inspiring individuals and families affected by domestic violence to regain their self-esteem and increase their confidence, leaving a legacy for future generations. There will be opportunities for children and young people to get involved in activities and projects, to build confidence and develop skills that will help them to recover from their experiences.
“Sunrise is about taking a whole community approach to tackling Domestic Violence, as well as offering victims and survivors of abuse a range of formal support and development opportunities, it will provide communities with the opportunity to get involved and develop their own skills.”
Therapeutic sessions such as arts and crafts, stress management and specialist health service drop-in clinics will be supported by counselling in mental well-being, substance misuse and independent living. Workshops will be available in areas such as financial independence, legal advice, housing support and access to independent domestic violence and sexual violence advisors.
And the project will offer employment advice with into work training, educational opportunities, volunteer and work placements, skills building and CV and job application support. Peer support will also be offered.
Other projects to benefit include Headway (West Midlands) Limited which receives £116,350 to help people in Sandwell, Birmingham and Solihull with a brain injury to integrate back into the community and improve their health and wellbeing. It will enable people to meet others who have been through similar experiences and will offer a wide range of activities including a sports club, lunch club and other social activities such as visits to the cinema, bowling, concerts and holidays. People will be helped to relearn lost skills and coping strategies and to understand their injury which will all help improve their self confidence.
Echo for Extra Choices in Herefordshire Limited is awarded £166,141 to continue its work in helping people with learning difficulties to lead full lives. The project will help people develop self confidence and personal and social networks. The scheme will encourage people with learning difficulties to become volunteers by identifying suitable opportunities in areas such as lunch clubs, conservation projects and dog walking. Confidence building sessions will be given prior to the volunteer placements.
And an award of £248,080 goes to West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority to support communities across Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton with high unemployment in the West Midlands through a community volunteer scheme. The project aims to help people develop transferable skills and improve their chances of securing future work. Following induction training in health and safety, equalities, fire safety and basic first aid, volunteers will support fire fighters and support staff with home safety checks, training exercises and educational programmes in schools.
John Taylor, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the West Midlands, said: “The sun really is shining on West Midlands projects today with this National Lottery good cause announcement. I am really pleased to see such a range of important schemes receive funding which will go towards improving the lives of people affected by domestic abuse, brain injuries, learning difficulties and unemployment.”
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
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
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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