WIREDGOV

A fundraising drive to expand facilities at Maryhill’s East Park additional needs school, has yesterday (WED 22 JULY) received a £1/2 million Big Lottery Fund boost.

East Park, which provides a school and home for children and young people with complex additional needs, is one of three Glasgow based organisations sharing grants worth £1,595,027.

Thanks to funding of £513,906, East Park is now one step closer to creating a new £3 million development of four single classrooms for children who need one-to-one teaching, a respite centre, accommodation for four young people and an outdoor classroom.

East Park’s Executive Director, Judy Cromarty, said “We are absolutely thrilled to have the backing of the Big Lottery Fund for our ‘Strategies for Life Project’. Building work has started and we are looking forward to welcoming the children who will benefit from the project in August 2016. The children at East Park are achieving great things and thanks to the Big Lottery Fund we are now able to help more children with complex additional support needs reach their potential.”

A successful employment, education and training programme aimed at Glasgow’s 16 to 19 year olds access is to be continued and expanded thanks to a grant of £540,800.  Over the next three years, Glasgow City Council’s ‘Connect 2 project’ will provide 600 school levers with additional support through an eight week intensive programme of personal development. The young people taking part will have faced a range of barriers including additional learning needs, homelessness, gang related issues, offending behaviour, substance misuse and experience of the care system.

Councillor Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education and Young People at Glasgow City Council, said: "Glasgow City Council is delighted to be working in partnership with local Inspiring Scotland venture providers to continue to deliver the Connect 2 employability and personal development programme.

"An increasing number of young people across the whole of the city will now be able to participate in the initiative which builds confidence, develops skills and introduces young people to a widening network of support. The individualised programmes of activity are tailor-made to help young people become re-engaged with more formal learning and to move into jobs and training with long term prospects."

Meanwhile, older people in Easterhouse will benefit from a grant of £540,321 as the St. George's and St. Peter's Community Association prepares to expand its Daffodil Club for the elderly over the next five years. The group will provide assistance with shopping, medical appointments and advocacy as well as providing transport to a weekly lunch club.

Lynda O'Neill, Project Manager, said yesterday: “Words cannot describe how much the grant means to us. The biggest issue our older people face is that of loneliness and not being able to get out of the house without support because of their disabilities and health. The Big Lottery Fund grant will allow us to continue and expand on our existing work while increasing the number of older people we help and introducing new activities to keep their minds and bodies energised.”

Mary 93, one of the oldest members, added yesterday: "This is like my second home, I would rather be here meeting my friends than stuck at home. I love being here and get so much out of it.”

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said yesterday: “Today’s funding will make huge difference to people of all ages living in and around Glasgow.  In Maryhill, our investment will help East Park create a first class facility for children who have the most complex additional needs; while over in Easterhouse, it will help bring isolated older people together to enjoy a range of activities. I’m also delighted that young school leavers will benefit through intensive one to one support to help lead them on to employment and training opportunities.”

 We are also announcing £62,790 of grants to seven projects, across Scotland, from Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Investing in Ideas programme. Full details can be found here IiI grants July 2015

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1458
Website:    www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter:    @BIGScotland #biglottery
Facebook:    www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to editors:

• The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery for good causes and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes. 
• Since June 2004 we have awarded over £8 billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £33 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.