WIREDGOV

People experiencing or facing a crisis as a result of extreme circumstances are to be supported by 59 projects sharing £30 million announced by the Big Lottery Fund yesterday.

The 59 projects across England will work with more than 35,000 people to tackle the underlying causes of their crisis through advice on issues such as employment, homelessness, debt, and health problems. By putting the person at the heart of the solution, offering tailored support and access to a range of networks and services that can build on their strengths, they will gain the confidence needed to take control of their own lives and plan for a better future. The projects will initially provide immediate support to tackle the crisis such as food parcels or a bed for the night before working to address underlying issues.

The funded projects, which include collaborations between local organisations, are aimed at people who find it difficult to access support because they are disabled, have a mental health issue, live in an isolated rural community, are homeless or at risk of losing their home. Projects include training for ‘community champions’ to provide services in their local area, GPs working with partner agencies to refer people for advocacy and advice, and specialist legal experts working with disabled people experiencing hardship.

Big Lottery Fund England Chair, Nat Sloane said: “Our projects will not just provide hands-on support, advice and advocacy to address the immediate crisis, but more importantly will help people overcome and work through the underlying causes of their hardship and put them in a better position to improve their circumstances. Successes and lessons learnt will be shared so other organisations can build on the outcomes and replicate and develop further projects.”

Case study: Emily (not her real name), 45, from Leeds whilst studying for an MA had to deal with financial struggles, then multiple health problems including a bilateral pulmonary embolism and family bereavement. Having received vital support when she hit a crisis point she’s now back in control and studying again. She explains:

“After a degree I then studied an MA in Counselling Studies at the University of Manchester, which I had to fund from a private Career Development Loan. But after I had signed up for the course and university housing, the bank reneged on the loan. I undertook a number of part time jobs but struggled to make ends meet and left the course after a year.

“The stress of all the demands for the fees, accommodation costs took its toll on my health. The added stress made another long-standing illness severe and I began suffering from panic attacks. This had severe impact on ability to meet essential living expenses.

“My sister sadly passed away in February 2015. I was working and struggling with the loss, but I could no longer continue the job I had. In August 2015 I suffered from a bilateral pulmonary embolism and am now on long-term disability. I also finally had a diagnosis of another illness and was in and out of hospital having operations.

“I was unable to work and my debts and the demands for payment had become unmanageable. I decided that obtaining professional help would be the best start to getting my life back on track. I approached Better Leeds Communities, who gave me good advice, support and hope. They helped me to be proactive and worked with me to produce a clearer picture of how to manage my debts which led to me applying for and being awarded a debt relief order. This means I will be able to start again with a clean slate. Receiving support from Better Leeds Communities was essential to my life.

“I’m now undertaking a proof-reading and editing course, which means - health permitting - I will be able to work from home on a more flexible basis and I am more positive about my future.”

Better Leeds Communities receives £500,000 and will target people through housing possession hearings at the County Court and at foodbanks. Project staff will carry out an assessment, addressing immediate issues such as heating bills, lack of food, homelessness and averting eviction and bailiff action. It will then work with people, assisting them, rather than doing things for them, to give a sense of control, ownership and understanding. Goals will be set and peers will teach other different skills and knowledge where short work placements will be offered at a community exchange.

Nottingham Women’s Centre will use £491,890 to empower women living with extreme hardship to achieve better long-term outcomes for themselves and their children through tailored support and providing them with new skills including finance. The most vulnerable women including those who are homeless, victims of domestic and sexual violence will reached through support services they attend.

Oasis Aquila Housing in Gateshead receives £499,261 and will work with the local CAB, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities, a foodbank and a credit union. The borough of Gateshead covers significant rural areas and case workers will arrange home visits for those who find transport costs prohibitive and deliver food by van to rurally isolated or housebound people.

Website:    www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Twitter:       @biglotteryfund #BigLottery

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund

For funding and general enquiries call:

BIG Advice Line: 0345 4 10 20 30

For press enquiries call:

Press Office: 020 7211 1888

Out of hours media contact: 07867 500572

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 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 change the lives of millions of people. Every year we fund 13,000 small local projects tackling big social problems like poor mental health and homelessness.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £34 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.