- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Communities and Families Fund
- Release date:
- 21 3 2013
Over £200,000 will be invested in helping Scotland’s young children have a better start in life as 29 projects across the country today (21 MAR) receive grants from the Communities and Families Fund - a joint venture from the Big Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government.
Maureen McGinn, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland Committee, said: “The Communities and Families Fund aims to give groups working with children of eight years and under a vital helping hand. Gardening, art classes, cooking, outdoor play and musical and physical activities all help educate and inspire our younger generation, giving them knowledge and confidence which they can take into the future. Lochwinnoch Playgroup and Howwood Primary School are both encouraging children to learn new skills and enjoy the outdoors, and are good examples of the type of projects we wish to fund. I am delighted that today’s grants will support these projects in their valuable work, and I would encourage interested groups to call us or visit our website to find out more.”
Howwood Primary School PTA will use a £10,000 grant for their Community Cycle Track. Based in Johnstone, the project will develop a 200m circular track within the school grounds. The tarmac track will provide a safe place for children, up the age of eight, to learn how to ride a bike and it will be signposted to add to the overall cycling experience. The group will work with Johnstone Wheelers Cycling club and Sustran volunteers to give weekly tuition. And as an extra benefit, the wider community will be able to use the track in between the structured classes.
More play equipment and outdoor activities are on offer to children and families in Lochwinnoch. The Little Seeds Garden, Play and Learn project will use their grant of £9,950 to develop the service it currently provides to children who are too old for mothers and toddlers groups, but too young for nursery. Garden tools and plants means the children will get the chance to play and learn in a safe environment outside and as Lochwinnoch Playgroup is the only facility of its type in the area, more children will be able to attend and join in.
The Communities and Families Fund will run over the next three 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 phone 0300 123 7110 or visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_communities_and_families_fund.
A list of all the projects which have been awarded funding today.
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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