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Keep young at heart with Awards for All

Across Scotland, 118 groups share Lottery funding worth £874,028. Find out where funding has gone in your area

The latest round of Awards for All projects prove that it’s great to learn new skills and talents at any age.

Wishaw Shotts Young at Heart Group receives £5,395 to continue their programme of activities for older people in the town.

Anne, Smith, Assistant Secretary, said, “This grant from Awards for All means a great deal to us as it allows us to bring in experience tutors who can teach us new skills and interests such a silk painting, calligraphy and pottery. The money also allows us to go on cultural visits to develop those skills.  As older people this is vital in keeping our minds active and being part of the group helps prevent some of us feeling isolated in our communities.”

Widower, Tommy Walsh, 67, from Newmains has been part of the group for the past five years. Tommy said, “It’s great being part of such a close knit bunch of people and I’ve made lots of new friends which has really helped me feel less lonely. I’ve also tried and liked all sorts of things I never imagined I would ever do, from video editing to quilting. Being part of this group has given me a whole new lease of life“

Based in Glasgow, Cran Theatre Company will use their £9,902 award to provide on the job training in a wide range of technical skills to unemployed young people in Govan and Partick. Youngsters will be supported by local volunteer mentors to learn new talents from set building, sound and light equipment installation to costume design. The project will culminate in three live shows in the city in in late 2016 and early 2017.

Frank Miller, Artistic Director, said. “This award will allow us to continue to work collaboratively and keep being supportive of each other. We will be able to help young people who might be lacking in life skills or confidence to learn and gain self-esteem. Sometimes we are the only ones who have ever encouraged them to express themselves at all. If anyone is interested in taking part in the project from either community please contact us on info@crantheatre.com

Cath Wallach, Volunteer Mentor, said, “This award is great news and will really help young people get stuck into something new. A lot of them have abilities they didn’t know they had, it’s just a question of confidence. It’s good to be giving them a hand.”

An Awards for All spokesperson, said yesterday: “Today we are announcing over £870k that will help communities from across Scotland set up and develop projects run for and by local people. All of these grants are a great way to show the variety of projects that can be funded through Awards for All for people of all ages to learn new skills and try something new for the first time.”

Awards for All Scotland gives out grants of between £500 and £10,000 to projects that bring communities together to enjoy a range of activities. It is a partnership by sportscotland and Big Lottery Fund. Groups can download this form herewww.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland

Big Lottery Fund Press contact: Lorna McNiven  
Telephone: 0141 242 1451
Email: lorna.mcniven@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: #bigscotland
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotlandGoes to different website

Notes to Editors:

  • Awards for All is a joint awards programme from the Big Lottery Fund and sportscotland.
  • Awards for All makes grants to help people take part in arts, sport, social, environmental, health related, educational and other community activities.
  • Awards for All welcomes applications and focuses on funding smaller organisations with an annual turnover of less than £250k (except for schools).

 

Channel website: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/

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