- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Improving Futures
- Release date:
- 1 3 2012
Additional support is being made available for over 500 vulnerable families in Fife as the Big Lottery Fund today (THURS 1 MARCH) announces an award of £896,717 from its Improving Future programme.
The Gateway Project will be delivered in partnership by Fife Gingerbread, Fife Family and Community Support Team, Barnardo's, Adam Smith College and Volunteering Fife to provide early intervention and support for local families who have range of multiple and complex needs.
Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “The Gateway Project will give many children a better start in life by providing tailored and joined up support for families in Fife before they reach the point of crisis. It will combine the knowledge, skills and expertise of a number of partner organisations. Working together, they will reach out in new ways to families who have fallen off the radar and thereby help them plan for a better future.”
Over the next three years the Gateway Project will work with local primary schools to identify and support children and families in need. It will also encourage families to refer themselves to the project for support and will trial a range of interventions for families before they reach the point of crisis.
Rhona Cunningham, Manager of Fife Gingerbread, said: “Fife Gingerbread are absolutely delighted to be leading this award from the Big Lottery Fund especially being a small, independent charity. Together with our partners we recognise that this award is both a fantastic recognition of our tireless joint work within the community, as well as a great new resource to support local families.
“This is another wonderful plus for the area of Levenmouth, long known as an area of deprivation and unemployment. We have a once in a lifetime chance to make a difference for families in the area and the flexibility of the Gateway Project means that we can offer an easy access to a one-stop shop for all areas of support.
“With families under so much pressure these days, this project will identify and plug gaps in existing services as well as ensure an awareness and accessibility of the help available.”
BIG’s Improving Futures programme has already funded three partnership projects in Scotland which are trialling unique ways of supporting families who have multiple and complex needs. These have brought together some of the largest charities, smallest community organisations and local public services to trial a range of family interventions for families whose eldest children are aged five to ten years old.
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Scotland Press Office: 0141 242 1458
Out of hours media contact: 07789 033457 or 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% 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 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- 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 £27 billion has now been raised and more than 370,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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