- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Investing In Communities
- Release date:
- 11 9 2012
Three Edinburgh groups are today (11 SEPT) sharing in Lottery good cause funding worth over £1 million. Teenagers with additional support needs, older people and their carers and women who want to find work are to benefit from three awards from the Big Lottery Fund worth £1,278,081.
Announcing the funding, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Each of today’s funded projects will support some of the hardest to reach and most vulnerable people across the city at different stages of their lives. The money will mean that older people and their carers become less isolated, while women from ethnic minority communities will benefit from new skills and training to help them enter the workplace. Young people with additional support needs will also be able to move from school into further education with the support of staff who recognise their individual needs and talents.”
The transition from school to work or further education can be a difficult and frightening prospect for many teenagers but it is often all the more challenging for young people with additional support needs. Thanks to a grant of £328,127, Sleep Scotland’s TEENS+ project will provide a tailored full time education programme for many young people across the city. The grant will be used to fund a Speech and Language Therapist and an Education Worker to enable the group to expand its services.
Jane Ansell, Director of, Teens+, Sleep Scotland and mother of Andrew who has additional support needs, said: “Everyone at Teens+ is delighted to have received such a significant grant from the Big Lottery Fund. When my son, Andrew, left school I soon realised continuing education would be a key part of his adult development.
“Teens+ is a transitional education project for young people with complex needs, including autism, learning disabilities, challenging behaviour and severe communication difficulties. Our philosophy is that everyone has the right to continue with their education regardless of social barriers. We work to ensure that every aspect of the learning process is relevant. By supporting each young person to develop their education, enterprise and communication skills we make their transition from school to adult life as smooth and enjoyable as possible.”
As the population is ageing, more people may have to take on a caring role for their parents or relatives later in life. Now, thanks to a grant of £536,015, the Prestonfield & District Neighbourhood Workers Project will be able to provide additional support for older people and their carers.
Project Co-ordinator, Linda Wright, said: “We are delighted to get this money from the Big Lottery Fund. This means we can continue the work in promoting independence, increasing the social contacts and reducing social isolation for older people in our community. It also gives us the opportunity to develop additional services for carers, ensuring they have access to advice, support and respite despite their role. This is solid, preventative work and will make such a difference to and improve the quality of the lives of both older people and their carers through one to one support, financial and practical advice, appropriate training and social activities and events for both the carer and the older person they look after.”
Sikh Sanjog’s Pathways to Employment project today receives £413,939 to give women from ethnic minority groups the confidence, knowledge and skills to enter the job market. Work opportunities and training will be delivered from the organisation’s social enterprise cafe in Leith, a place where the women feel comfortable and safe.
Director of Sikh Sanjog, Trishna K Singh, said, “We welcome this significant long term investment by the Big Lottery Fund as it will help create improved employment and training opportunities and will lead to better outcomes for the women involved in Punjabi de Rasoi Social Enterprise Community Cafe. This will enable the Sikh women’s kitchen to fulfil its aim to develop viable plans for the cafe at the foot of Leith Walk.”
Balwinder K Singh, Chef at the cafe became involved with the project as a volunteer and now is a member of staff. She said, “I have gained so many skills and really feel that this money will give more women the opportunity to be part of something that allows them to move on to successful jobs. Everyone should get a chance in life to become someone or do something.”
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office 0141 242 1458 or 07786 157837
Public Enquiries Line: 0870 240 2391
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 editor
- 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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