WIREDGOV

A new online support service for young people with eczema is one of 23 projects  (25 SEPT) yesterday sharing in £1 million from the Young Start fund. 

Run by the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, the programme awards money from dormant bank and building society accounts to support a range of projects that help young people aged eight to 24 reach their full potential.

Chair of Big Lottery Fund Scotland, Maureen McGinn, said: “Young Start helps ensure that Scotland’s next generation has the best possible start in life. All of today’s successful 23 groups share that ambition, so I am delighted to announce this latest investment totalling£1,052,031. The awards include one to set up an online support service for young people with eczema; and another which will provide new, fun and creative opportunities for fathers and their children to spend quality time together.   All of them will make a huge difference by enabling children and young people to gain the abilities, skills and confidence required for positive and healthy futures.”

Eczema Outreach (Scotland) receives an award of £49,993 to set up a new online support network where young people can exchange tips, share experiences and make new friends. The project will also offer these young people and their families a range of fun and educational activities and events.

Manager, Magail Redding, said: “Eczema Outreach provides the only front-line support to children and young people with eczema in Scotland.  The condition is a chronic disease which causes the skin to become extremely dry, red and cracked and it impacts on all aspects of a young person’s life such as social activities, education and relationships.  Through our service young people at risk of isolation and low self esteem are given the chance to build their confidence and self management skills.  They can also take on some rewarding volunteering roles with the charity and increase their work experience.  The Young Start grant will make a tremendous difference to the lives of many more youngsters suffering from eczema.”

Christine Roxburgh, Head of Family Support at Eczema Outreach Scotland, said, “The funding will enable the charity to run a unique on-line scheme called the High 5 Club.  It offers all our youngsters the chance to take part in a range of confidence and skills building challenges, individually from home and in groups, at their own pace throughout the year.  The challenges reward self-management of the condition and encourage the children to raise awareness in their own communities, especially in schools where they can actively fight stigma and bullying.”

Dads Rock Academy will use their £12,200 to run a programme of weekly music tuition lessons for up to 100 children and their families at Edinburgh College’s Sighthill Campus. 

Director, David Marshall, said: “It’s amazing to have secured this funding from Young Start and it’s an absolute life line. We want to install a passion for music in youngsters and this funding will help towards making Dads Rock Academy sustainable for many years to come.  With the money we will be able to help so many families enjoy music together and develop our plans to expand Dads Rock Academy to other parts of Scotland.

 “With this award we are offering weekly music tuition in a range of instruments from bass guitar to keyboards and drums.  Our students will learn to play some iconic rock songs, as well as covering academic areas like music theory and practice.  The end of the year goal is to have a class performance with all of our students taking part.”

A list of other projects which have received funding is available here.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office:       0141 242 1451

Website:                                             www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Twitter:                                              @BIGScotland #biglf

Facebook:                                          www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to editors

• Dormant accounts are defined in the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 as those which have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years. 
• In September 2011 the Scottish Government formally issued instructions to the Big Lottery Fund to distribute dormant accounts funding for the benefit of Scotland’s voluntary and community sector.
• The Reclaim Fund Ltd. (RFL), which was established in March 2011 to receive and invest dormant account balances across the UK, transferred the first tranche of monies from dormant bank and building society accounts to BIG on 2 August 2011. Scotland will receive an 8.4% share of the total funds to be distributed.
• The Distribution of Dormant Account Money (Apportionment) Order 2011 prescribes that Scotland will receive 8.4% of the dormant accounts money to be made available for distribution by the Big Lottery Fund under the 2008 Act. The estimated grants budget for 2014/15 is £4.8m. It should be noted that this figure is a median projection and may go up or down.
• The Fund 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 its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was awarded to projects. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded.