Big Lottery Fund
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BIG break for carers in latest Reaching Communities awards

A new support network to enable carers of disabled children to take short breaks is among 18 projects receiving funding today from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme.

Today’s announcement sees over £5.25million awarded to voluntary and community organisations working with some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded people across England.

Sanjay Dighe, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund’s England Committee, said: “The Reaching Communities programme continues to make a world of difference to people’s lives by supporting projects that reach out to those most in need. The latest £5.25million will provide vital support for a range of individuals as it helps meet the diverse needs of communities across England.”

Shared Care Network has been awarded £379,128 to set up an England-wide short break carers network, giving families of disabled children a short respite from their caring duties. The four-year grant will be used to establish a network of volunteer carers that will step in and look after a child for short periods on a regular basis either in the carer's home, the child's home, or in the community.

The project will establish a national database of short-break carers and a website will be set up where carers can register.

Candy Smith, Chief Executive at Shared Care Network – The Short Breaks Charity, said: “We are thrilled to get this funding. Short break carers really do transform the lives of families of disabled children.  Not only do they give parents a break from caring; they give disabled children the chance to take part in activities that most non-disabled children take for granted.  

“Receiving this funding will allow us to create a national network of carers so we can support them in this challenging, but very rewarding role they provide to disabled children and their families. Without the support of outside agencies like the Big Lottery Fund to fund our research, development work, training, literature and campaigns we would be unable to support this essential service.

“Short break carers come from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. They share a love of children and a willingness to help a disabled child realise their potential. More short break carers are urgently needed to look after disabled children on a regular basis. This can be anything from a few hours a week to an overnight stay once a month. Training is given and an allowance is paid for expenses. Anyone interested  in becoming a short break carer can check the website www.sharedcarenetwork.org.uk or contact  0117 941 5361.”

In the north of England, a project offering vital support to victims of trauma and torture across West Yorkshire is set to continue for a further three years, after being awarded £457,249. Leeds based charity, Solace, will use the grant to provide one-to-one counselling and pain therapy to refugees and asylum seekers suffering from mental health problems as a result of terrors such as rape, torture, persecution and detention in their country of origin.

Andrew Hawkings of Solace, said: “We are very happy that we received the grant and grateful that the Big Lottery Fund recognises the value of the work we are doing. The grant will make a huge difference to our organisation and means we can build on the work we are already doing. We are really keen to start working with children and have a more family-oriented approach to our work. Up until now we have only been working with adults.

“Asylum seekers and refugees have suffered from multiple traumas and many continue to do so. We already know from the work we have done over the past three years that we really do make a huge difference to their lives and now we will be able to help even more people.”

 

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

 

Notes to Editors

  • Under Reaching Communities, the Big Lottery Fund awards grants between £10,000 and £500,000 to projects that offer people better life chances, build stronger communities, develop improved rural and urban environments and improve health and well being.
  • The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
  • BIG 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 June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
  • Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £23 billion has now been raised and more than 317,00 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.

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