- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Communities and Families Fund
- Release date:
- 18 4 2013
Up to £70,000 will be invested in projects across Scotland today (18 APR) thanks to grants made by the Communities and Families Fund.
The Fund is a joint venture from the Big Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government, which gives groups working with children of eight years and under a vital helping hand.
Maureen McGinn, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland Committee, said: “The Communities and Families Fund is helping to give Scotland’s next generation the best possible start in life. These grants are awarded to a variety of groups delivering outdoor activities, healthy eating projects, community-based family support and childcare initiatives. We’re keen to talk to similar projects from all over the country which could benefit from this funding. Full details of our simple application process can be found on our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland.”
For pre-school children in Angus, healthy eating is high on the agenda. The Sunshine Playschool will use today’s award of £5,254 to create the Eco project. The children will adopt positive attitudes towards the environment by nurturing, growing and eating their own food, while at the same time learning about local flora and fauna.
The nature theme continues at Coldstream Playgroup and Toddlers in Berwickshire. The group will use their £10,000 grant to develop a natural, safe space to tots to explore. An outdoor area will be fenced off and enhanced with bark and sand. Stay and play sessions with encourage parent and children interaction and IT equipment will connect with parents at home.
Sparcs children’s clubs were set up to provide activities and play opportunities for children, aged four to 12 years, and their parents and carers who live in South East Glasgow. The Blaze and Alsorts project, based at the St Francis Centre in Gorbals will use their grant of £9,980 to add outdoor games such as skipping and rounders to the activities on offer. Information sessions for parents will also be provided with an open door policy encouraging individuals to drop in and discuss issues they need guidance or advice on.
The Communities and Families Fund will run over the next two years with £4.5 million from The Scottish Government and £1.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund. Groups can apply for funding from £250 to £10,000. To find out more about the scheme and how to apply visit
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland.”
Other projects receiving Communities and Families Fund grants today include:-
Parents & Tots, Midlothian, £10,000
The group will offer parent and child bonding sessions, parenting tips; baby massage, baby yoga, stories, music and dance are included, along with free health snacks for vulnerable families.
Project 31, South Lanarkshire, £9,955
The Cambuslang and Rutherglen project will engage parents in positive play alongside their children, aged eight and under. Classes will include pottery workshops, cookery classes and outdoor activities.
Rainbow Nursery Parents Committee, Paisley, £9,943
This project will encourage children to learn numerical skills through a range of activities and outings.
Pre-school Playgroup, West Lothian, £9,992
Children in Broxburn will enjoy healthy foods as the Playgroup will be able to refurbish their kitchen.
Glenboig Mothers and Toddlers, North Lanarkshire, £3,100
This award means the children can attend music, sing-along and arts activities.
For more details contact Frances Chisholm, Press Team Scotland, 0141 242 1458
BIG advice line: 0300 123 7110 Text phone: 0845 6021 659
For more information about Big Lottery Fund programmes
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland
Follow us on Twitter @BIGScotland or like us on Facebook Big Lottery Fund Scotland
Notes to Editors
• 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 its inception in 2004 BIG has awarded close to £6bn.
• 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 £29 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
• The Early Years Taskforce was set up in November 2011 to provide strategic leadership for the Early Years Change Programme and co-ordinate policy across Government and the wider public sector to ensure that Early Years spending is prioritised by the whole public sector.
• Scottish Government funding will be drawn from the wider £270 million Early Years Change Fund, which includes a Scottish Government contribution of £50 million over the next four years.
• The Scotland Committee, led by Chair Maureen McGinn, has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007. As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee has and will continue to play a strategic role in the future direction of BIG in Scotland.
• The Big Lottery Fund is funding Scotland’s communities through the Investing in Communities portfolio as well as the small grants schemes Awards for All, 2014 Communities and the Communities and Families Fund.
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