- Area:
- East Midlands
- Release date:
- 10 12 2012
A community organisation in Derby has been awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) to increase the confidence of young peopleas the nation celebrates 18 years of the National Lottery.
The grant is just one of 81 awarded across the East Midlands this month from BIG’s most popular grants scheme - Awards For All- which gives small grants of up to £10,000 to projects that can make a big difference to people’s lives.
The Derby project, Community Soccerstars UK, receives £4,666 to hold football activities to steer young people away from potential antisocial behaviour and increase their confidence as they approach secondary school.
Secretary Gareth Sayers said: “Community Soccerstars UK relies heavily on external funding to run our projects, and we're therefore delighted with this grant from the Big Lottery Fund - without it, this project couldn’t take place and hundreds of young people across Derby wouldn't benefit from the activities we plan to provide.
“The Euro 2012 transition project will provide a number of soccer-based holiday courses across the area, to help support and prepare young people with their important move to secondary school. The courses will help develop soccer skills, social skills, but more importantly, give the young people the confidence they need to do well at their new school.
“A huge thank you to all those that buy a National Lottery ticket each week and make the grants available - without you these young people wouldn’t get the help and support they really need.”
Meanwhile, in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, Brownlow School has received £9,000 to set up support groups in six local primary schools for children who are shy, withdrawn or anxious. This will help the children develop their social and emotional skills and increase their self esteem.
South Northants Community Responders in Towcaster receives £8,592 to buy fife-saving equipment and kits for their community’s responders team.
Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire in Newstead Village has received £9,700 to stage ten internet technical support roadshows at community venues throughout Nottinghamshire to provide training and support to improve people’s confidence in using the internet.
YMCA Derbyshire in Derby will be using £5,824 to buy a kitchen to deliver a vocational training session in cookery and healthy eating to young vulnerable people who have experienced homelessness and substance misuse. This will provide the beneficiaries with skills to improve independence, confidence and focus on development for future opportunities of employment.
Mick McGrath, Big Lottery Fund Head of East Midlands region said: “The National Lottery has been changing lives for 18 years. National Lottery funding doesn’t just help large organisations but makes a huge difference to small community projects run by a handful of people. Every week National Lottery players raise over £30 million to help change people’s lives.”
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