WIREDGOV

Support for mothers with postnatal depression in the Scottish Borders, outdoor play in Aberdeenshire and Glasgow and arts and crafts activities for parents and children in North Lanarkshire are amongst the latest health and wellbeing activities being funded recently (FRI 31 JULY) by the Communities and Families Fund.

Across the country 17 community led projects are sharing in £136,130 from this small grants scheme which is supported by the Scottish Government and Big Lottery Fund and aims to improve the lives of children eight years and under.

Mothers in the Scottish Borders who are suffering from postnatal depression, and struggling to bond with their children in the weeks and months after birth, are to benefit from a grant of £10,000 to PND Borders. The organisation will now be able to provide more mothers with therapy or counselling while their children are being cared for in the organisation’s creche.

Barbara Wright, Chair, PND Borders, said: “We are extremely grateful for our Communities and Families Fund grant which, by funding all our non-salary costs, underpins our work in a very valuable way.  Our support for, and therapy for, mothers with postnatal depression, will make a huge difference to the lives of about fifty mothers and babies and their wider families in this year and give them a much securer foundation to go forward in normal family life.  With this grant our service is secure to deliver this support for yet another year."

Plans to open the first outdoor nursery in the north of Glasgow have been given the green light, thanks to a grant of £9,600 to Maryhill Mobile Creche. The project will establish an outdoor nursery service which will adopt a Forrest School Model allowing children to explore, play, socialise and develop while being stimulated by their outdoor environment.

Caroline Thomson, Manager, Maryhill Mobile Children’s Services, said: “We are delighted to have received funding towards our Outdoor nursery at Dawsholm park from the Communities and Families Fund. This will allow us to help establish an outdoor learning environment taking children outdoors and playing in all weathers within our local community and support families and children. This funding is greatly appreciated

Also encouraging children to take the outdoors is The Adventure Academy CIC in Aberdeenshire. Thanks to a grant of £9,000, the organisation will run a forest school in Pitfour, Peterhead and Mintlaw for local children aged five to eight.

Andy Hart, Director, The Adventure Academy CIC, said: “This Communities and Families funding will make a huge difference to the local community; it will allow local children to experience the outdoors through exploration of the forest. We’re excited to see impact this exploration will have on the children’s development. Now we have the funding we’ll be able to establish a local Forest School and hopefully see it flourish!”

Meanwhile North Lanarkshire Arts Association receives an award of £10,000 to provide arts and crafts sessions for children and parents within their arts venue, the Art Tree. Forty families will benefit from twice weekly classes including beading, clay modelling, knitting and mask making which aim to help families bond and learn new skills.

Fiona McLeod MSP, Acting Minister for Children and Young People said: “Since its launch in 2012, the Communities and Families Fund has funded a wide range of activities to support children and families across Scotland. This joint venture with the Big Lottery Fund has been a resounding success by providing resources for groups working directly with children and families in communities. Every project that receives this funding demonstrates the good work happening in our communities and the positive impact this is having on young people and their families. As the fund is in its last year I would like to encourage community groups to take this opportunity to apply for funding.” 

Maureen McGinn, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland Committee, said recently: “Today’s funding will help to improve the physical and mental health of parents, carers and children in many parts of Scotland. From outdoor play in Aberdeenshire through to support for mothers with post natal depression in the Scottish Borders, these projects will make a huge difference where they’re needed most.”

Click here for details on the other Communities and Families projects received funding recently.

The Communities and Families Fund has a budget of £4.5 million from The Scottish Government and £1.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund. Groups can apply for funding from £250 to £10,000. Find out more about the scheme and how to apply by visiting
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_communities_and_families_fund, or phoning 0300 1237110.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1484
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGScotland #biglf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to editors:

• The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery.
• 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.