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Whether it’s transporting vital medical supplies, bringing a popular book festival to life or spreading an anti-bullying message, National Lottery good cause cash is making a big difference to communities across Scotland.

Today (TUESDAY 29 AUGUST) £696,165 is being awarded to 92 arts, sports and community projects by National Lottery Awards for All Scotland which makes grants from £300 to £10,000 with funds raised by the National Lottery.

For more details on where National Lottery funding is making a difference near you and a full list of the latest awards 

Dumfries and Galloway Blood Bikes provides a free vital service which transports urgent medical supplies outside office hours.  Volunteers travel around 9,000 miles every month causing great strain on their motorbikes and an award of £10,000 means the charity can buy two new bikes to replace older models which have been worn down by the amount of mileage they have done.

Dave Hook, Chairman, said, “We are so pleased to receive this support from the National Lottery.  We are a charity that provides a free lifesaving service to the NHS and patients in our region. Our organisation is run entirely by volunteers who give up their time to make sure these deliveries are made.

“The funding we have received will be used to replace two of our older Yamaha FJR1300’s which means we have the most reliable bikes on the road transporting urgent samples, blood products and medical equipment.” 

Since it first started in 2006, Islay Book Festival has firmly established itself as a part of the island’s thriving cultural scene.  Now, for the first time, organisers will be able to take the festival to different locations reaching a wider and more diverse audience thanks to an award of £4,640 to Port Ellen Book Festival.

Isla Rosser Owen, Chair, said, “It’s a huge relief to receive this award as it means we can cover elements of the festival we were unsure we would be able to.  We will be able to organise a much livelier festival with an increased variety of authors and events which we believe will help us to attract a younger audience.

“Importantly, it allows us to send some authors to more isolated parts of our island and hold events on our neighbouring island of Jura for the first time. This is the start of a new stage in our planning where we can now increase community outreach and grow the festival in a way that will help our local economy.”

Buddy the Bear will be able to bring his anti-bullying message direct to families across East Lothian thanks to an award of £9,945 to Lead a Bright Future CIC based in Haddington. The group will be able to develop their Buddy Bear Beats Bullying Packs that can be used in the family home.

Fiona Ogg, Director, said, “We are delighted to get this award which will allow us to create a fun and educational range of materials and activities for local families. Sadly, bullying is something which touches most people’s lives directly or indirectly through someone they know but it doesn’t have to be that way.

“Buddy Bear’s mission is to stop the bullying before it starts by teaching children in their early formative years to “Be a Buddy not a Bully”. This funding will help families share acts of kindness and fun times together, supporting children to develop their friendships, wellbeing and potential.”

A National Lottery Awards for All spokesperson said: “This is National Lottery money in action, reaching into communities across Scotland making a real difference to the people who live there.  The 92 groups receiving funding today showcases the range of projects that can be funded through this programme and the difference that the smallest amounts of money can make.”

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland awards grants to community, arts and sports groups on behalf of Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland and sportscotland.

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland is now more straightforward to apply to and faster to get funding from. Applications are received on a rolling basis and can be received at any time. To find out what National Lottery Awards for All Scotland could do for your community visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk  or phone 0300 123 7110.

For more info contact Big Lottery Fund Media Team: Lorna McNiven 0141 242 1451 or Scott Oakley 0141 242 1524  
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: #bigscotland 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to Editors:

• National Lottery Awards for All Scotland is a joint awards programme from the Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland and sportscotland.
• National Lottery Awards for All Scotland makes grants to help people take part in arts, sport, social, environmental, health related, educational and other community activities.
• National Lottery Awards for All Scotland welcomes applications and focuses on funding smaller organisations with an annual turnover of less than £250k (except for schools).