Additional support is being made available to young carers and help will be given to those at risk of homelessness, thanks to over £1,278,568 announced today (7 OCTOBER).

Working with those at risk of homelessness in Scotland’s largest city and beyond the Glasgow Homelessness Network (GHN) receives £600,550 to tackle the root causes of homelessness. Building on their experience and success of their work in this area GHN will work with up to 300 people offering social and practical support to build confidence and the skills required skills to sustain a long-term home.

Pauline McColgan, Development Officer, Glasgow Homelessness Network, said, “Over 500 individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness have gained the skills and confidence to maintain their own tenancies and become active in local communities across Glasgow. The funding means we can reach more people across the West of Scotland, and build individual capacity and the capacity of local communities by harnessing the assets of the easiest to exclude community members.  Enabling the potential of individuals being realised is at the heart of 4Front Learning, and this is what Big Lottery Fund will help us continue to do.”

The Glasgow Association for Mental Health receives £678,018 to continue their vital work with young carers aged from 12 years old to 21 years old who are caring for a family member with a mental health problem.

This funding means more young carers will be given the chance to meet and develop friendships with other young people in similar circumstances, giving them a new chance to socialise without having to explain or hide their family circumstance. The confidence gained through taking part in the project not only helps the young people build the skills they need to help them cope now but also encourages soft skills and helps ensure there are opportunities for the young people to move towards a more positive future.

Ailsa Grant, Development worker; Glasgow Association For Mental Health, said, “Today’s £600k grant will continue our work with those young people aged 12-18 over the next five years. This will allow us to extend support up to age 21 with a programme aimed at building employability and wider skills that will tackle the inequalities of opportunity faced by this vulnerable group as they go into adulthood.”

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said, “Our Big Lottery Fund support focuses on helping people and communities in greatest need. Today’s awards to the Glasgow Association for Mental Health will help young carers develop skills for the future; while Glasgow Homelessness Network will support people to stay in their homes and understand how they can better afford to live. All of the funding announced today will be truly life changing.”

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1508
Contact: Adele Goodfellow
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGSCOTLAND
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, £34 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.