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Around £23 million from the Big Lottery Fund will be shared amongst 676 organisations across England.

Today’s funding will support local organisations to help improve their local communities and the lives of people most in need.

Below are examples of some of the great projects receiving funding, see a full list of awards

Depaul UK receives £399,711 for a project to improve wellbeing, social inclusion and prospects of people aged 16-25 faced with homelessness in Tyneside, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Sheffield, Kent and London. The project will first develop relationships with the young people before mentoring them and inspiring them to explore life outside their supported accommodation. The project will then get the young people involved in community volunteering through internal opportunities and external partners including Crisis, Greggs, Age UK Brent and Mudchute City Farm.

Prisoners Abroad receives £493,000 to develop an England-wide project providing a resettlement service to British citizens returning to England following imprisonment overseas. The organisation aims to address potential homelessness, destitution, poor physical health, mental health and isolation. It will do this by offering housing advice, arrange viewings, identify benefit entitlements, help with filling out forms, help to access education, work and training through an in-house job skills programme along with referrals to external employment agencies. It will also help with counselling and addiction.

HALE (Health Action Local Engagement) receives £304,539 to expand a befriending service for isolated older people in the Shipley area of Bradford. Demand has increased for the service, which will prioritise isolated disabled people at home including those with mental health issues especially dementia, severe depression or brain damage following a stroke. Volunteers will also be trained to befriend and comfort older people in the last few weeks of their lives who have chosen to die in their own home.

Eva Women’s Aid receives £484,701 to support women escaping from domestic abuse or sexual violence in Redcar and Cleveland. The service currently helps women aged 16-24 and the funding will enable them to expand this to women aged up to 44. The support will include advice on solicitors, health providers, banking, financial institutions, benefits, housing, employability and identifying abusive behaviour.

Asphaleia Action in Worthing has received £454,465 to support children and young people aged 10-24 who are victims or at risk of becoming victims of child sexual exploitation across West Sussex, and those at risk of becoming perpetrators. Specialist interventions will focus on prevention and protection, including school workshops on healthy relationships, group work and one-to-one mentoring to enable young people to talk freely. There will also be support for parents and signposting to other services.

Redditch Nightstop in Worcestershire receives £262,266 to develop their project that delivers support and prevention programmes to homeless young people aged 16-25. Volunteers will be trained as ‘hosts’ and will provide emergency accommodation and supported lodgings placements for beneficiaries. Following a needs and risk assessment, an emergency action plan will be created to help with securing long term accommodation. Access to a programme consisting of supported accommodation for up to 12 months, a personalised support plan and a chance to learn skills essential for independent living.

Home-Start Basildon District has received £428,937 to offer practical and emotional support to parents with issues such as post-natal illness, depression, anxiety and social isolation that have children aged 0-11. Families will develop a personal plan with weekly support and mentoring from volunteers, and counselling if needed. Weekly family groups will allow parents to socialise in a safe environment while their children play. The group will work with local services and schools, and run across Basildon, Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford.

The Joshua Tree in Cheshire receives £310,305 to develop its project providing targeted support for families affected by childhood cancer. The project will recruit and train two new members of staff to increase capacity, as well as increasing the use of volunteers. People will have access to support using play therapy and counselling. They will also have the opportunity to share experiences with other families in similar situations through activities such as coffee mornings and craft sessions.

Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund England grant making director said: “So many local organisations are enabling people to improve their communities, bringing positive changes to their lives and futures. It’s wonderful to hear how these great projects have helped people overcome barriers, learn new skills and improve their lives.”

Today’s awards have been made through the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All and Reaching Communities programmes. Awards for All provides grants between £300 and £10,000 to voluntary and community organisations and Reaching Communities awards larger grants of £10,000 and above.

For more information on funding available visit:
https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding

• The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. We put people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects.
• We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Every year we invest over £650 million and award around 12,000 grants across the UK for 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.

Website:   www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Twitter:    @biglotteryfund #BigLottery

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For funding and general enquiries call:

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