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Scottish communities get creative with Awards for All grants

Across Scotland, 110 groups share Lottery funding worth £846,502. Find out where funding has gone in your area.

Thousands of Scots will now be able to explore their creative side through a diverse range of arts and crafts activities, thanks to Awards for All funding announced yesterday (MONDAY 31 OCTOBER).

A first of its kind in Scotland, The African Book Trust CIC will set up an African Writers Agency with a grant of £9,700. This will work to support and nurture African and other minority ethnic writers across the country.

Meg De Amasi, Director, said, “We are extremely excited to have been chosen to receive Awards for All funding which allows us to kick-start our plans for the African Book Trust. This funding will allow us to deliver a mentorship programme for previously undiscovered African writers, offering support through training and workshops which will bring minority voices to the page.

“We will also be able to initiate parallel projects and events on a non-fee paying basis including an African Writers’ Group and community book clubs.  All of this work means we will be well placed to inspire young western, minority and mixed race people across Scotland to grow up with a global perspective of their world.”

Local Kirkcaldy charity, Suit and Pace, will use laughter to bring people together and help them tackle the day to day issues they face. An award of £9,750 means they will run a series of comedy workshops for adults with disabilities from across Fife. The project will culminate with three performances for families and friends.

Beth Hamilton-Cardus, Artistic Director, said, “We are so excited to be starting the DIY comedy project and really appreciate the support we are receiving from Award for All. By participating in our weekly comedy classes, local adults with disabilities will have the opportunity to create sketches that express their feelings about their own lives.

“We feel that humour is a great way to explore challenging topics, both for performers and audience members. We’ve also seen that participating in such projects can have a massive impact on the confidence of those involved. We hope that DIY Comedy will continue in Fife for many years to come.”

In Edinburgh, WHALE Arts Agency will use their award of £8,007 to run a series of arts and craft sessions for people in the south west of the city.

Meghan Bidwell, Creative Development Co-ordinator, said, “WHALE Arts is delighted to receive funding from Awards for All to support visual arts classes for adults with complex and additional support needs. We will also be able to set up a new intergenerational art group to bring people together.

“We offer free or low cost activities and events for our community, reaching a diverse range of vulnerable adults and children including those who might not otherwise be able to access the arts.”

Awards for All Scotland offers 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, Big Lottery Fund and Creative Scotland.

Iain Munro, Deputy CEO, Creative Scotland, said, “We are delighted to partner again with sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund on Awards for All. These National Lottery grants are vital in helping to deliver high quality, engaging arts projects across the country. Artistic and creative activity helps to shape and connect communities, and these projects will enrich people’s lives and wellbeing in many different ways.”

An Awards for All spokesperson, said: “Today we are announcing over £840k that will help communities from across Scotland set up and develop projects run for and by local people.  These awards show the variety of projects that can be funded though this small grants programme and demonstrate how people’s lives can be enhanced by expressing themselves through a range of arts activity.”

Applications are received on a rolling basis and can be received at any time. Groups can download this form here www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland

Big Lottery Fund Press contact: Scotland press office 0141 242 1400
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, Creative Scotland 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).
  • Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.comGoes to different website. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotlandGoes to different website

 

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

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