WIREDGOV

More than 200 community projects across the country will be able to spring into action for the new season after being awarded grants totalling almost £1.9m from the Big Lottery Fund today. Through the Awards For All funding programme, these grants ranging between £300 and £10,000 will enable great ideas to take shape and change lives, addressing the issues, needs and aspirations of local communities.

A full list of grants is available here

Brinsworth Comprehensive School Academy Trust in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, will run a Dragon’s Den style after-school club and gardening and crafts activities with their grant of £5,900. This will enable pupils to develop entrepreneurial and business skills, learn more about the environment and develop their confidence

The Air Ambulance Service in Rugby, Warwickshire, will use their £10,000 funding to modify their helicopter equipment to enable the air transfer to hospital of critically ill children and young people up to 16 years of age. The aim is to minimise travel times and improve survival and recovery chances.

Warwickshire Association for the Blind in Rugby will use their £7,580 award to purchase digital technology equipment for people who are blind or partially sighted to help maximise their limited vision. The visual aids will enable people to maximise their vision and live more independently.

The Buxton and Beyond Macular Disease Support Group will spend their £9,846 grant on establishing an equipment library for visually impaired people in and around Buxton. This will give people an opportunity to borrow specialised equipment and try it out before committing to buying. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over the age of 60.

Youth in the Community in Luton, will deliver a mentoring programme to young people involved in gang culture with their grant of £9,925, encouraging them to access skills-based training and pursue employment. This will provide young people with the opportunity and confidence to move away from gang culture and improve their future prospects.

Living Waters Divine in Barking, London, will establish a local support and discussion group for teenage mothers through their £9,738 grant, aiming to share learning and techniques and reduce feelings of social isolation.

Youth Skills Network in Hackney will use their £9,985 funding to recruit and train disadvantaged young people in media skills, enabling them to participate in creating a television and talent showcase event. This will help young people to think creatively, communicate effectively and work collaboratively.

Shine Cancer Support in Bournemouth, will spend their £4,910 grant on holding a retreat for people who have been diagnosed with cancer, offering access to information and physical activities relevant to their needs, and fostering positive mental health.

World Education Berkshire in Reading, will use their 10,000 grant to deliver a series of training workshops, for professionals including school teachers and youth workers, focusing on the positive contributions that Muslims have made to society. This will enable participants to see beyond misconceptions of terrorism and extremism, with the aim of addressing Islamophobia and promoting community cohesion.

And Show Racism the Red Card in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, will spend their £3,970 award on providing workshops for young people throughout the North East to enable them to have a DNA world match test carried out by DNA worldwide, to identify their ancestry. This will open their eyes to the fact they may not be 100% British, and help them understand the history of migration into Britain and raise cultural awareness with a view to tackling racism.

Alison Rowe, Big Lottery Fund spokesperson said: “Even small amounts of Lottery good cause cash can have a huge impact on local communities and the lives of those who live in them. It’s fantastic to see such a variety of community projects and I wish them all the very best for the months ahead.”

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572

If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can contact us using Text Relay at
18001 plus 0191 376 1776

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask us a question here: http://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes 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 BIG has awarded close to £6bn.
• The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was returned to the Good Causes.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.