- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Investing In Communities
- Release date:
- 10 4 2013
The Big Lottery Fund Scotland today (10 APR) announces its latest package of funding worth over £8 million to 15 projects across Scotland.
In Aberdeen, Dundee, Fife, Edinburgh and the Lothians, three projects share a total of £1,609,575 from BIG’s Investing in Communities funding programme.
Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “These awards, made through our Investing in Communities programme, will bring real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need in Scotland. Today’s funding will help individuals overcome the challenges they face in seeking employment; support innovative work with families being carried out in a Fife school, and will assist carers. All three are excellent examples of projects making a real and positive difference to people’s lives.”
For people in Aberdeen who face difficulties in getting into the job market, help is now on hand. Volunteer Centre Aberdeenshire work with individuals with learning disabilities and also support those recovering from substance and alcohol misuse, people who have mental health problems and the long term unemployed. Their Skills for Volunteers to Overcome Barriers will use today’s grant of £326,348 to focus on groups across Aberdeenshire who need help with getting into employment. The project operates a flexible approach of meeting individuals where they’re comfortable which is designed to build a rapport with those who struggle with the formal employability system and who lack confidence and self esteem. The project will provide communication skills, confidence building, self esteem and team work in group and one-to-one sessions. Ongoing mentoring will support individuals as they go through the job search process.
David Hekelaar, Convener of Volunteer Centre Aberdeenshire, said “This is brilliant news. This funding will mean we can expand this project and make it available to individuals, wherever they are, in Aberdeenshire. We know from the work we’ve done so far that there are people who have lost confidence, and much more, through difficult life experiences and we can provide the help they need.”
Fair Isle Primary School in Templehall, Kirkcaldy is a restorative school where the pupils take part in Cool in School training which helps them look at how their actions and behaviours affect others. The school’s Opportunities for All project works with vulnerable families in Templehall, who face challenges including substance misuse, bereavement, and mental health issues helping them to improve confidence and skills, increase their resilience and improve relationships. Today’s grant of £435,502 means they can develop the school-based community project providing after school clubs for children and their parents or carers, and combine physical exercise and sport with homework clubs and practical skills such as cookery. Activities for adults have expanded and now include a support group for kinship carers, community education, therapeutic arts, advocacy and practical support.
Rae Walker, Head Teacher of Fair Isle Primary School, commented: “Following on from the success of the Opportunities for All project over the last five years, we are delighted that Big Lottery Fund Scotland has awarded us another five year grant to continue and develop further achievements. Through our inter-generational project we have been able to support many families. Our joint school/community initiatives have enabled parents and children to develop new skills, greater resilience and strengthen family relationships. Having our school based Family Worker offers an early intervention approach and has greatly reduced the need for statutory involvement.”
Mrs and Mrs Ross are grandparents who suddenly found themselves caring for two children under the age of 12 when Mrs Ross’ brother suddenly died. They are very supportive of Fair Isle Primary School’s Opportunities for All project and all it does for the community.
“My husband and I were both at work in September 2011 when we received a phone call to tell us that my brother had died and we suddenly found ourselves carers to two children under 12. They had lived in a different town and I contacted Fair Isle to enrol them there. We already had contact with the school as our grandchildren attend. The Head Teacher, Mrs Walker, and Family Worker, Mrs Knight, were a great help in advising us and helping the children to adapt to a different system. They were enrolled in the after-school activities which are second to none and everyone in the community benefits from this.”
“Our two children and our four grandchildren all love their after school clubs and we believe that socialising helps the children to broaden their horizons. As well as helping the children it has also helped us as, without information and support given from the project staff, we feel we would be floundering and wondering how to go about settling the children at home and at school. We have benefitted greatly from attending the Kinship Group and have met other people in similar circumstances as ourselves. I feel we would not have been so confident if we hadn’t had the support of the staff. It has been a life line to us and we can contact them whenever we feel the need to.”
Many people are not diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) until they are adults. Their carers can find themselves in a stressful situation with little or no information about resources or services. As a result, carers of adults with ASD can frequently experience anxiety, depression and isolation. Parents of Autistic Spectrum Disorder Adults (PASDA) is a charity set up in 2005 to support parents and carers of adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Its PASDA Interactive project helps those living in Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. With today’s grant of £304,235 PASDA can continue to help carers cope with their role, connect with their peers and access local services and resources. The project will offer a range of support options, dependent on individual needs, including one-to-one support, workshops, discussion groups, peer support groups, social activities and information provision.
Susan Chambers, Convener of Parents of Autism Spectrum Disorder Adults, said: “PASDA are delighted to receive an Investing in Communities grant for our three year project. The grant will enable us to support even more families of adults with autism spectrum conditions and to continue to provide opportunities for carers to share experiences, knowledge and moral support.”
Linda is a single parent to a 20 year old diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at 15. She began attending PASDA meetings because she was feeling isolated. She was caring day in day out and felt unable to have a meaningful conversation with anyone about how she was feeling about her son’s diagnosis. Attending workshops on understanding autism increased her knowledge of her son’s condition and helped her develop a more positive relationship with him. Using techniques discussed in these sessions, Linda is able to remain calm when her son is distressed or anxious and that helps diffuse the situation.
She says “Finding out what makes my son tick and how I can help him get through life has been invaluable. I have learned so many coping skills and strategies. Supporting someone with Asperger’s can be a rollercoaster of a ride but thanks to PASDA I can endure things with a bit more resilience now than when my son was first diagnosed”.
For Linda, the PASDA Interactive project has been extremely positive. She values the opportunity it has given her to meet with others who experience similar challenges: “At PASDA meetings we are able to speak open and honestly in an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding and encouragement. We are all in the same boat.”
Claverhouse Training is a charity which runs employability training programmes in Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross, and Fife. Their SMART Lone Parent Programme aims to provide long term, one-to-one support to unemployed lone parents, helping them overcome barriers which they face to securing employment. Using today’s grant of £543,490 their project will target individuals in Dundee focusing on lone parents of children under school age and those who are far removed from job seeking services. A project worker will take on a befriender and life-coaching role, leading clients through successive steps in their individual plan and at a pace they’re comfortable with. Emotional and practical support will be given to help develop confidence and self-esteem with advice on lifestyle changes to improve health and well-being and so progress towards employment goals.
Alastair Cameron, Chief Executive of Claverhouse Training, said: “The funding provided by Big Lottery Fund Scotland will make a huge difference to the lives of more than 200 Lone Parents in Dundee. The money is a long term investment in their futures, allowing us to work with lone parents early and provide a consistent thread of support over two years and more as they move towards a return to work. Big Lottery Fund support allows us to work with people individually, empowering and encouraging them at their own pace, building trust and a network of support that will result in truly sustained outcomes.”
Three years ago Kerry was a confident, enthusiastic person enjoying life.
“I was working with individuals in the community, building trust, supporting them and giving guidance in relation to removing barriers and encouraging engagement in local groups and training opportunities. Unfortunately I became unemployed, and faced some life changes including becoming a new mum and then a lone parent. Although I was very happy about being a new mum, my confidence began to decrease and, by the time I had my child, the thought of going applying for work or going to interviews was difficult as my self-esteem had hit rock bottom. I felt isolated and lacked confidence and self belief.”
“On the run up to my 40th birthday I realised I had to change my life for myself and my family. Through a local support agency, I was attended a course designed for Lone Parents at Claverhouse Training and my life has changed for the better. I was encouraged, supported and reminded where my skills lay and that is why I am now sitting doing a job I absolutely love. The staff at Claverhouse gave me my self belief back, my children notice the difference in me, and as a family we have a positive future ahead. My confidence and self-esteem have greatly increased and I now feel my life is on the move and I am achieving my goals.”
Other groups receiving funding today:
Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (trading as Combat Stress) - £628,780
The Expansion of Outreach provision in Scotland to include alcohol/substance misuse aims to support veterans across Scotland who are experiencing alcohol and/or substance misuse issues due to underlying mental ill health issues caused by their experience of active service.
Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Energy Agency - £780,782
The five year Affordable Warmth for Sustainable Rural Communities on Argyll project will provide intensive support to 1500 elderly people and single parent families to enable them to move out of fuel poverty.
Isle Futures - St Ninian's Hall Development Project - £940,222
Isle Futures will develop the community owned and run St. Ninian's Hall in the Isle of Whithorn by building an annexe which will double the floor area and provide a tearoom, village shop and post office, public toilets and storage.
The Terrence Higgins Trust - £792,587
Confident Families project aims to support families affected by HIV across central Scotland to reduce their exclusion and better cope with their situation. The project will target 17 local authorities with the highest prevalence of HIV and socio-economic deprivation.
Jobs and Business Glasgow - £519,880
Personal Best - Achieving Ambitions project, in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Jobcentre Plus and John Wheatley College aims to utilise the opportunities for volunteering, training and employment arising from staging major sporting and arts events in Glasgow.
Isle of Rum Community Trust - £679,776
Will build a new community owned bunkhouse facility which will provide visitor accommodation, create local employment opportunities, and help secure a more sustainable economic future for the island.
The Haven Caring Counselling Communication Centre - £378,516
The Haven: Caring Connections will support the work of The Haven Centre in Blantyre to care for families affected by a long term illness such as cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neurone Disease.
The Star Project - £286,425
Family Matters programme will work with families in the north end of Paisley who are facing poverty and disadvantage and who are struggling to cope with complex and difficult personal circumstances.
Aberlour Child Care Trust - £391,610
Aberlour Family Support Service will provide intensive support to families at risk where one or both parents have an identified learning disability. The project will improve parenting capacity and basic life skills in order to provide a safe and nurturing home environment for children aged from pre-birth up to 12.
Clydesdale Community Initiatives - £915,256
Clydesdale Community Workshops project will create a new enterprise and training hub and expand the organisation’s existing social enterprise. Over four years the project will create new sustainable jobs in social enterprise, and offer vulnerable young people and economically inactive adults with mental ill health or learning disabilities from South Lanarkshire training and work placements.
Up-2-Us - £360,000
The Up-2-Us 'Time for Change' project will work with girls aged 15 to 20 with a background of offending who are at highest risk of repeating damaging behaviour. Girls will be engaged through referral from Cornton Vale Young Offenders Institute, secure units or social workers.
Frances Chisholm, Press Team Scotland: 0141 242 1458
Public Enquiries Line: 0300 123 7110
Text phone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website:
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% 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. 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 £25 billion over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
• The Scotland Committee has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007. As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee, led by Chair, Maureen McGinn, has and will continue to play a strategic role in the future direction of BIG in Scotland.
• The Big Lottery Fund is investing in Scotland’s communities through its Investing in Communities portfolio, as well as the small grants schemes Awards for All, Investing in Ideas, Communities and Families and 2014 Communities.
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