- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Investing In Communities
- Release date:
- 11 9 2012
Two Glasgow based projects are today (11 September) sharing Lottery good cause funding worth over £960k. The money will help individuals and families in some of the most deprived areas of the city to manage their finances better while improving relationships between parents and their children.
Announcing the funding, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “The Big Lottery Fund supports projects across the length and breadth of Scotland that aim to improve the quality of life of individuals most in need and their families. Today’s funding for Glasgow means that hundreds of people in the west of city will be able to access support from organisations that will help them manage their finances better and stay out of, or reduce, debt. Families in Glasgow will also have the chance to change their circumstances by learning new skills to help them move into further education or employment.”
A successful pilot project targeting disadvantaged Glasgow families in and around school activities is set to expand, thanks to an award of £606,242. The School Gates – Gateway to Success project is run by the Glasgow Regeneration Agency in partnership with Glasgow City Council Education Services and Jobcentre Plus. With today’s additional investment, project advisors working in schools and nurseries in some of Glasgow’s most deprived areas will provide 900 parents and carers with a range of early family interventions. This will include financial advice and budgeting, support with basic literacy and numeracy skills, help with accessing employment and classes covering a range of issues such as healthy eating and parenting skills.
Stephen Brooks, Head of Strategy, Projects and Compliance, said: “With this funding we expect, during each year of this project, to assist 250 parents living in disadvantaged communities to deal more effectively with the challenges that 21st Century life throws at them. To do this we will provide parents with training and learning opportunities while assisting them to deal more effectively with the financial challenges they face. As a result parents will have greater input into school and community activities and will be much better placed to take advantage of opportunities for themselves and their children.”
An award of £361,813 to Drumchapel L.I.F.E will be used to work with people who find it hard to manage their finances and are struggling with debt. The L.I.F.E Moves project will enable the group to signpost 800 people to financial advice services which are tailored to their personal circumstances.
Kenny Macdonald, Manager, Drumchapel L.I.F.E, said: “I’m delighted and relieved at hearing this good news. Not only does this money help secure the future of the organisation for the next three years but will also provide a sound platform for us to develop and grow. The difference we can now make is really significant. The focus of our project is to support people to maximise their ability to manage their own finances better and to get access to a range of vital financial products and services. Now we can hit the ground running and get together all of our partners to get the project started.”
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office 0141 242 1458
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 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 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.
Tags