- Area:
- Wales
- Programme:
- Young People's Fund Reaching Out
- Release date:
- 30 3 2007
Hundreds of young carers in Wales will receive more support and young people with learning disabilities will gain more skills and experience thanks to an award of nearly £1 million from the Big Lottery Fund.
Young people across the country are rejoicing following the news that they are set to benefit from a grand total of £913,922 awarded to six different projects under Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) Young People’s Fund. The largest cash boost was the £908,922 awarded to five projects under the £6.2 million ‘Reaching Out’ programme. Reaching Out supports young people in Wales who are at risk of becoming, or already are, disaffected and disengaged, particularly in disadvantaged communities. One project will also reap the benefits of £5,000 awarded under BIG’s smaller Make It Happen programme, which has £1 million to award to projects, activities and equipment that make a difference to the lives of 10–19 year olds in Wales.
Projects that envelop the counties of Bridgend, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Flintshire Merthyr Tydfil, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Swansea share in the awards. The money will be spent on a broad range of initiatives that will aid young people from different backgrounds, cultures and abilities.
Highlighting the importance of the Young People’s Fund, Big Lottery Fund Wales Committee member and Chair of the Young People’s Fund Committee, Mike Theodoulou, said: “I have been fortunate in being appointed as Chair of the Young People‘s Fund Committee for the Big Lottery Fund in Wales. BIG has been very active in supporting young people in Wales over the years and I have no doubt that the projects we have funded today will have wide-reaching benefits for hundreds of young people from various communities and backgrounds in Wales.”
In Cardiff, the Supporting Asylum and Refugee Affairs organisation will spend their £5,000 Make It Happen award on a project to start a homework club to help asylum-seeker and refugee children aged 11 to 16 with day-to-day homework activities.
An award of £253,065 under Reaching Out will allow the Royal Mencap Society in Carmarthenshire to run a project that will support young people with learning disabilities to gain practical skills and experience in work and actively participate in their local community. The money will provide additional support for this group to undertake work experience placements with local employers and community groups.
In a project that envelops the counties of Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Merthyr Tydfil, Elite Supported Employment Agency Limited will also spend the £269,560 they received under Reaching Out on a project that will work with 15-19 year olds who have moderate to severe learning disabilities or difficulties, during their final two years of education. Every year, up to 25 young people will learn new skills, be supported into employment and volunteering, gain qualifications, show improved self esteem, confidence and social integration.
Powys County Council will spend their Reaching Out award of £113,060 on a project to benefit young people aged 15 - 19 who are leaving care in Powys through the provision of participative activities. The grant over three years will part fund two Participation Officers, one in Newtown and one in Brecon, residentials and care leavers forum, weekly drop in and activity days, publicity, training costs and computer equipment.
A Reaching Out Award of £102,260 will allow Swansea Neath Port Talbot Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme Ltd to run a project that will work in 13 secondary schools and two colleges in Swansea to raise awareness of young carers needs.
Young carers are children and young people under 18 years who look after parents and other relatives who are disabled or live with a range of debilitating conditions. According to the Children’s Society, a large number of children, some as young as eight, are taking on the role of main carer for a family member with at least one in ten young carers spending more than 20 hours caring each week.
This new scheme will support 180 young carers aged 11-18 and to support the schools to set up young carer policies and support systems. Part of the three year grant will pay for the salary of a full time Education Development worker.
In North Wales, Groundwork Wrexham & Flintshire will spend their Reaching out Award of £170,977 on a project that will provide practical project development and skills training through community environmental projects to the most disadvantaged and disengaged young people in Flintshire. Volunteers will be recruited as Community Mentors and will have the opportunity to undertake Foundation in Youth Work training.
Further information:
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 02920 678 207
Out of hours contact: 07760171431
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
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:
- On 28 November the Big Lottery Fund (Prescribed Expenditure) Order 2006 completed its Parliamentary passage and came into force Friday 1 December at which point the National Lottery Distributors Dissolution Order 2006 also came into effect dissolving the National Lottery Charities Board (Community Fund) the New Opportunities Fund, and the Millennium Commission.
- The Big Lottery Fund - the biggest of the Lottery good cause distributors - has been the joint operating name of the New Opportunities Fund, the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants under the name of the Community Fund) since June 2004.
- The Big Lottery Fund is building on the experience and best practice of the merged bodies to simplify funding in those areas where they overlap and to ensure Lottery funding provides the best possible value for money.
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