WIREDGOV

A young Glasgow mother of five has been speaking about the importance of outdoor play in keeping children on the ‘straight and narrow’ as PEEK – Possibilities for Each and Every Kid - announces plans to expand its ‘Lets Play’ project. The expansion has been made possible, thanks to a Big Lottery Fund award of £605,775 announced yesterday.

Thanks to yesterday’s funding, PEEK will be able to employ eight new Play Rangers, as well as sessional staff, to deliver free and active outdoor play sessions in the north and east of Glasgow. This will see the project doubling in size to provide all year round play sessions for 1,800 children aged 5 to 12 and 120 young people aged 13 to 25.

Angela Morrison, 27, has five children aged between 6 and 9 and has benefited from the services of PEEK as a child and as a mother. She said: “Growing up in the Gallowgate was tough. To this day there is still no community centre or playpark and all too often kids are getting caught up in gang fighting and drink and drugs. I don’t want these things for my children, which is why PEEK, and its outdoor play sessions, are so important for us as a family.  With five children, our house can be crazy at times and so it’s important that my kids get outside into the fresh air to play and release some of that energy.”

Through its play sessions PEEK uses pavements and the wider urban green space for its active play sessions, all the while ensuring that safety is their number one priority.

Angela continues: “One of my sons, Dean, has ADHD which means I can’t let him out without supervision, particularly as we live near a main road. Being able to watch him play safely with other children, with the support and encouragement of PEEK’s Play Rangers, gives me that piece of mind.

“As a parent I also see the physical and emotional benefits of these sessions for all of my children. Not only do they play better with other children but PEEK also allows us to spend more time together as a family. There really is a lack of opportunities in our area to help keep children on the straight and narrow so it’s great news that this additional Lottery money will extend these play sessions to more families like ours.”

Announcing yesterday’s funding, Big Lottery Fund, Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Getting outside to play has a huge impact on a young person’s life, both emotionally and physically. In inner city areas, it can be particularly difficult to find safe places where children have the opportunities for creativity and imagination so I am delighted that we are providing this money to improve play opportunities for almost 2,000 young Glaswegians. This means that many more families, like Angela’s, will experience the benefits of physical activity, as well as improved relationships and increased self esteem.”

PEEK Project Manager Melodie Crumlin, said: “I am thrilled that PEEK has been successful in securing over this funding towards our Play Ranger Services.

“Play is a fundamental part of childhood and is an end in itself, aside from any longer term benefits for children’s development and society in general. In response to these issues, and driven by local needs, PEEK have been encouraging play in centres, local streets and parks.  We have introduced the idea of “urban play” by providing free play sessions loosely supervised by Street Play Rangers encouraging and helping to get local youngsters playing positively on the streets, building their confidence, building connections with their families and communities.  

“This grant will allow us to maintain and further develop this approach into new communities across the North East of Glasgow reaching many more local youngsters.”

PEEK is one of nine groups receiving funding, totalling £4,566 678, from the Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Communities fund:

Scottish Autism 
Award: £548,662
The 'Get Set 4 Autism' project will work in partnership with Autism Argyll to provide post-diagnostic support to families with children up to the age of 18 who have received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Senior Centre Castlemilk             
Award: £168,360
This project will work with vulnerable older people in Castlemilk to provide a series of social activities, learning opportunities, information and advice, assistance with appointments and help with shopping and household repairs.

Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association                         
Award: £356,469
This project will support 90 older people who live in a newly build flat development in Moredun, Edinburgh. The group will employ a full time Community Capacity Builder and part time staff to help people settle in and personalise their homes.

Dads Rock          
Award: £287,096  
This project will continue and expand its services for dads/male carers in Edinburgh, helping fathers and their children to have a positive and rewarding relationship.

Home-Start Angus 
Award: £297,427                             
The "Bumps and Beyond" project will improve links with antenatal services and health and childcare services leading to increased confidence, self esteem and understanding of parenting skills. Volunteers will be recruited and trained to deliver the home visiting service families who need help.

Annexe Communities                 
Award: £629,696
This project will support up to 900 isolated older people in North West Glasgow over five years with a range of social events and healthy activities.

The Royal National Institute for Blind People
Award: £516,235
This  project will  work in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeenshire to support blind and partially sighted young people, aged between 15-25 years, helping them to move into training, employment, or further and higher education.

Muir of Ord Hall & Facilities Company
Award: £1,156,957
This project will refurbish and extend the existing Old Tarradale School, to create a community hub which will improve the centre of the village and provide a quality facility for the 3,300 residents as well as visitors to the village.

We are also announcing over £20,000 of grants to 22 projects, across Scotland, from Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Investing in Ideas programme. A full list of those grants is available here

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1451/07786157837
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.