- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Investing In Communities
- Release date:
- 18 7 2012
Community groups in Scotland are today (18 JULY) sharing Big Lottery Fund (BIG) grants totalling almost £3 million that will support vulnerable families with young children, help young people leaving the care system to live independently and support homeless young people to live stable lives.
The funding from BIG’s Investing in Communities fund totals £2,973,034 and is shared by seven groups. Announcing the awards Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Today’s funding will provide additional support for many vulnerable families and young people helping to put them on the path to a more secure future. Two of these projects will work with young people at times of change in their lives as they make the positive transition back into their communities. The third award will support parents of young people who are living in poverty to build family relationships and strengthen their budgeting and parenting skills. We are delighted to be funding these projects which demonstrate BIG’s commitment to improving the lives of those most in need.”
Home-Start Falkirk West today receives £324,842 to provide early intervention support to families in Denny, Bonnybridge and Banknock with children under five years old. The project, Building Stronger, Healthier Families, will offer weekly information sessions, group training and one-to-one support for parents and children on topics that will support families to lead to more stable lives. Over the next five years, the project will benefit 250disadvantaged families.
Project Co-ordinator, Sandra Rankin, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a grant for this project which aims to support the most disadvantaged familiesinour local area. At times of crisis many families need access to a wide variety of services. Through our Family Groups and individual support by our Family Support Worker, thisgrantwillenable us to offer a comprehensive package ofinformation, advice, training and one-to-one, tailored support, to parents with young children. This support willempower them to tackle the difficulties and inequalities they are experiencingin health, employment, financesand in engaging fully in their local community, all of which impact on their own lives and on the lives of their children.”
Young Care leavers in the Scottish Borders will be supported to live independent lives, thanks to an award of £347,036 to the Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) Plus’ project, Transitions. The project will provide four self-contained flats where the young people will live and a separate training flat where they will work through issues around housing, community integration and employability, as well as progressing into work, training or education.
SBHA Chief Executive Julia Mulloy said: “SBHA is delighted to have received this grant from the Big Lottery Fund. It is tremendous news for young people moving to independent living in the Scottish Borders. It allows SBHA to further its commitment to work in partnership with Scottish Borders Council to support marginalised young people and to continue the delivery of the successful Transitions Project. The project provides support to young people, enabling them to sustain tenancies and develop skills for employment, making a positive impact on their transition to independence and social integration.”
A project which will help young people to live a more positive lifestyle and to break the cycle of re-offending today receives an award of £100,000. Liverpool Personal Service Society (PSS) will support young people across Scotland through its Ordinary Homes – Extraordinary Lives project, which places homeless young offenders aged 16-17 in family homes with the support of mentors. This will help them overcome barriers to housing, education and employment, as well as tackling any health or addiction issues.
Donald McLeod, Head of Service, said: “I am delighted with this news.It will allow PSS to develop new support opportunities for vulnerable young men caught up in the criminal justice system, who are at risk of becoming stuck in a cycle of re-offending.They can now be offered a second chance, within a stable family environment, to make a positive contribution to society, with PSS mentors as role models.This project has the potential to reduce levels of re-offending in this age group of males, which is where the highest levels of re-offending occur.This grant will enable us to offer young male offenders housing, support, training and the chance to engage positively with their local communities.”
Other groups receiving funding today:
The Venture Trust
Award - £696,354
The project will help young care leavers aged 16-25 in Glasgow and Inverclyde to improve their confidence and self esteem as they make the transition to adulthood and move towards employment.
Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol
Award - £496,049
The project support adults in West Dunbartonshire with alcohol misuse problems to overcome the barriers they face in becoming ready for work. The five-year project will benefit 184 adults.
The Dundee Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre
Award - £527,692.
A project helping 50 women in Dundee with mental health, drug and alcohol or offending issues to tackle their problems head on and facing the barriers they face towards leading a more stable lifestyle.
Saheliya’s Women’s Learning Centre
Award - £481,061.
The project will provide 400 women from black and ethnic minority backgrounds with poor mental health with training for work, ESOL courses and accredited classes to improve their financial literacy.
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office 0141 242 1415
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
Further Information
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half 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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