Big Lottery Fund
Printable version

New Year cheer for 42 projects sharing £13.2 million in Lottery funding

Over 40 projects across England yesterday shared £13.2 million to help get 2015 off to a great start. Yesterday’s funding came from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme helping communities and projects most in need.
 
WWV (World Wide Volunteering) is awarded £465,646 to develop its project which aims to reduce the number of ex-offenders who re-offend on leaving prison.
 
The project, which gives ex-offenders a chance to rebuild their lives through community volunteering, will use the funding to expand capacity across the North West, London, South East and South West.  WWV provides one-to-one coaching and mentoring support to clients to identify routes to real life change, and facilitates specific voluntary placements in the community which will help them meet their goals.  The programme has already demonstrated significant success in helping people to turn their lives around, including significant improvements in personal skills, social networks, wellbeing, and employability.
 
 
WWV works in partnership with other agencies to ensure the volunteering is embedded as part of a resettlement package including housing, drug and alcohol support.  Following volunteering placements, WWV provides continuous support where needed to enable clients to gain sustainable employment.  
 
WWV has been supporting ex-offenders for the past five years and aims to help hundreds more people leaving prison to become economically independent, self-reliant and contributing members of society.
 
“I had no self-belief – no qualifications. Drug and alcohol addict. I didn’t feel anything.  Since working with Karen [WWV staff member in Manchester], I have a totally different mindset now.  She believes in you, and makes you realise your self-worth. She makes you think about what you want.  She has helped me find my calling.”  Client, Manchester

“WWV makes a real impact on people’s lives. People who haven’t worked for a very, very long time. [The clients] come back from their volunteering placements beaming. Their whole demeanour changes.  It builds their confidence, and develops a work ethic.  It gives them a sense of purpose, and self-respect they never thought they would get back.”  
Hostel manager, Manchester

Mike Silvey, Director of WWV, said: “The programme gives people a second chance.  Without support, their expected trajectory is to return to prison within months of release. But we know that by taking up a voluntary role, irrespective of their starting point, they can learn the skills needed for a successful career change and put their past behind them. The grant from the Big Lottery Fund will enable the programme to reach many more people coming out of prison who genuinely want to become self-reliant and contributing members of society.”

Also the Advocacy for OCD (OCDA) recieved funding yesterday, which will use its award of £327,070 to develop its existing England-wide project which provides a specialist advocacy service to hundreds of people affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

The initiative aims to improve the lives of people affected by this debilitating mental condition through a range of services. Information and one-to-one support for people struggling with access to treatment, education, employment or housing will be offered. Clients will also be paired with an appropriate advocacy volunteer who will work with them to devise an agreed action plan.

In addition, OCDA will research and deliver detailed information to people with OCD, their parents, carers and to professionals in social services, housing, the NHS, education and HR.

OCDA will develop the project to provide more targeted training to volunteers so that they can specialise in specific areas, such as benefits applications or helping someone at risk of their child being put into care. Evidence from the work of the project will be gathered at local and national level and reviewed by an impact and monitoring group to identify key issues affecting people with OCD and how these can be tackled.

Pub is The Hub will use the funding of £452,000 to develop its project which supports communities to retain, re-establish or create essential services which have been lost. Pub is The Hub, which has been successfully running for 10 years, provides advice, guidance and training to communities and organisations to help them utilise opportunities in their local pub. Often this involves developing unused space to create a community hub and other services the community needs. For example, The Bell Inn, Purleigh, Essex has a community meeting room and cinema club and The Angler’s Rest, Bamford, Derbyshire is a community owned pub with community café and post office.

Experienced advisor mentors, community members and pub licensees work closely with the local council and voluntary organisations to create and develop local hubs. Pub is The Hub will use their grant to continue to reach thousands of people and to build on the experience gained in creating seven hubs in 12 regions and to move into new areas where a need has been identified.
 
Nat Sloane, Big Lottery Fund England Chair said yesterday: “It’s a great start to the year for the 42 projects across England sharing £13.2 million funding today from our Reaching Communities scheme. World Wide Volunteering’s initiative, which supports ex-offenders to change their lives for the better, is a great example of how Lottery funded projects make a real difference to communities and people most in need across the country.”

A full list of the 42 projects receiving funding yesterday is available here

Twitter: @biglotteryfund #BigLottery
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundGoes to different website

For funding and general enquiries call:
BIG Advice Line: 0345 4 10 20 30

For press enquiries call:
Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500572

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, £32 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.

 

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

Share this article

Latest News from
Big Lottery Fund

Free, Secure, Compliant UK Public Sector IT Recycling Service