WIREDGOV

Two charities supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse in Fife and the Highlands are today (WEDNESDY 22 AUGUST) sharing in £252,723 of National Lottery funding.

The two projects are part of a wider package of grants, totalling £765,331, awarded to eight groups in areas across Scotland. (See below for the full list of awards).

Based in Kirkcaldy and working across Fife, Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project receives£119,817 to provide counselling to adults who have been affected by childhood sexual abuse.

Joy Patrick, Manager at Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project, said:

“We are delighted to be successful in securing National Lottery funding from the Big Lottery Fund, which will make a huge difference to those affected by childhood sexual abuse in Fife. 

“Kingdom Abuse Survivors Project (KASP) has consistently had a list of women and men waiting to access our services, but this funding will allow us to recruit qualified volunteers, which in turn will reduce our waiting lists and provide services when they are needed most.

“For many people who come to KASP, making that initial contact can take a lot of courage. For some, they have come to talk about a secret that they have carried for most of their adult life - a secret that has many repercussions on different aspects of their lives. Being put on a waiting list can often mirror the waiting for the abuse to happen, and can cause additional strain on the clients mental health, which is why reducing our waiting list is so vital.”

In the Highlands, Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH) receives a welcome cash boost of £132,906 to continue their support and advocacy for male and female survivors of rape and sexual violence. RASASH will provide weekly or fortnightly one-to-one emotional support on a face-to-face basis, or via telephone, email, Skype or text.

Cathy Christie, Chair of RASASH, said:

“We are delighted to hear that our application to the Big Lottery Fund has been successful. This will allow us to continue to provide support services for people aged 13 plus and living in the Highland Council area. We provide regular face to face therapeutic emotional support to over 225 survivors of sexual violence a year and last year also dealt with over 1000 calls on our support line.

“Support is tailored to meet individual needs and many survivors have described our service as a lifeline. Referrals are increasing every year and it’s fantastic to have secured this funding and to know that we will be able us to continue to provide this much needed service over the next two years.”

Announcing the funding, Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said:

“Congratulations to the eight groups benefitting from £765,331 of National Lottery funding today. Among these are two organisations supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse or violence through one-to-one support and counselling. These projects will help survivors to build their resilience, take control of their lives, and improve their health and wellbeing, and we are proud to be able to support work like this thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.” 

Other groups receiving funding today are:

Together for Better Life
Award: £93,964
Location: Glasgow
This group will use the funding to develop the skills and knowledge of African and Middle Eastern women in Glasgow who are socially isolated. Over the three year project they will run a series of skills and knowledge development courses that focus on different topics each year such as cookery.

East & Central Sutherland Community Care Forum
Award: £67,724
Location: Highlands
This group will continue and expand their current befriending service which supports isolated and vulnerable individuals in local communities. They will also increase the types of volunteer services they offer. The focus of the service provision is and will be to support clients and/or their carers with home visiting, telephone calls, respite opportunities, shopping and social outings.

Sistema Scotland
Award: £75,598
Location: Glasgow and Stirling
This group will use the funding to deliver their music sessions for children in Govanhill and Raploch. The project aim is to equip participants with confidence, ambition and transferable skills. Sessions will incorporate sectional and orchestral rehearsals, musicianship classes, choir work, performance opportunities, and group trips.

Carluke Development Trust
Award: £97,703
Location: South Lanarkshire
This group will use the funding to deliver ONECarluke, a community led and owned partnership to develop and deliver activities, services and support to the community of Carluke and the surrounding area. The main focus of this funding will be delivering the Healthier Carluke Programme, which includes healthy eating, cooking and physical activity, and delivering their Environmental Improvement Programme, which includes community gardening, growing and recycling.

Action for Children
Award: £92,496
Location: West Dunbartonshire
This project will continue its work supporting parents, families and children under the age of eight who are described as ‘just coping’. There will be a particular focus on families whose children are at risk of compulsory measures of care. This early intervention approach aims to reduce the ongoing need for statutory interventions. Support will be flexible, designed around the needs of each family and will continue for as long as necessary, but most likely for six to twelve months.

East Ayrshire Council
Award: £85,123
Location: East Ayrshire
This ‘Shortlees Health and Wellbeing Hub’ proposal will extend the club’s activities to support other groups in the area by providing physical activities for children who attend the local breakfast club, chair aerobics for older people, green gym activities including community walks for the mother and toddler group, and other indoor/outdoor community health activities, including evening diversionary activities for children and young people.

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1524
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGSCOTLAND #NationalLottery
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 and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes. 

The Big Lottery Fund Scotland is focussed on helping people and communities most in need throughout Scotland through its five-year £250m funding scheme as well as small grants scheme National Lottery Awards for All Scotland. 

Since March 2007 Big Lottery Fund Scotland has taken devolved decisions on National Lottery spending, the Committee, led by Chair, Maureen McGinn plays a strategic role in the future direction of the Fund in Scotland.

Since June 2004 we have awarded over £8 billion to projects across the UK that change the lives of millions of people. Every year we fund 13,000 small local projects tackling big social problems like poor mental health and homelessness.

Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £37 billion has been raised and more than 520 grants awarded.