WIREDGOV

Additional support is being made available for people living with dementia and their carers, in Aberdeenshire as the Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network announces plans to expand its activities. The expansion has been made possible thanks to a Big Lottery Fund grant of £350K announced today (27 AUGUST).

Over the next five years, the Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network will use its award of£366,470 to expand and deliver new activities to 304 older people. A group of local volunteers will help with day to day living including shopping, transport, household tasks and gardening.  The funding will also set up a new group for carers of people with dementia and a telephone service, as well as providing support with cooking and healthy eating.

Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network, Meg MacKenzie, Chair, said: “Our work is about enabling older people to live as independently as possible and I'm so relieved that we will be able to carry on and develop this work further.”

Ed Garrett, Manager, added: “This is great news. With 5 years funding we can really plan and concentrate on improving the lives of older people in Kincardine and Mearns rather than constantly worrying about money.”

The Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network is one of nine groups sharing in £4,172,654from Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Communities programme which aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities across Scotland.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Today’s funding will make a huge difference and create a lasting impact to people living with dementia and their carers in Aberdeenshire. A dementia carers group will be set up to support carers in their role and a range of new activities will be available for people with dementia to build new relationships and assist them with day to day life.” 

Big Lottery Fund Press Office:

Contact: Adele Goodfellow adele.goodfellow@biglotteryfund.org.uk 0141 242 1508
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @adelebiglottery #biglottery
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

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 for good causes 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 make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £33 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.