WIREDGOV

The Big Lottery Fund yesterday (28 March) announced the appointment of three new members to its Scotland Committee to help oversee how National Lottery funding is invested in local communities.

Every year the Big Lottery Fund awards millions of pounds raised by The National Lottery to good causes across the country. Lindsay Graham, Aaliya Seyal and Martin Johnstone have been appointed to serve on the Big Lottery Fund’s Scotland Committee, which oversees its major funding decisions and plays a strategic role in the direction of the Fund in Scotland.

Lindsay Graham is a leading UK expert on school food and health promotion. She was a founder and former director of two Highland children's charities that support families affected by disability. Lindsay is also a trustee of the Greggs Foundation, a trustee of children’s charity Dundee Bairns and a member of the Scottish Government’s Food Insecurity Delivery group.

Speaking about her appointment, Lindsay said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the Big Lottery Fund’s work in Scotland. It is a great privilege to be able to support local people in their efforts to improve the communities they live and work in. I am particularly pleased to be joining the Scotland Committee in the Year of Young People and look forward to learning more from our younger generation about the projects they care most about.”

Aaliya Seyal has over 16 years of senior management experience in voluntary sector organisations. She currently manages Airdrie Citizens’ Advice Bureau, chairs Fresh Start North Lanarkshire (a charity supporting minority communities in the area), is treasurer of Parent Network Scotland, and was recently appointed to the Scottish Refugee Council’s board of directors.

Aaliya said: “I am excited to be joining the Big Lottery Fund’s Scotland Committee. Having direct experience of the life changing impact the Big Lottery Fund can have, I feel privileged to be able to contribute towards how National Lottery funding is invested in communities across Scotland and empowering people to achieve their full potential.”

Martin Johnstone is a secretary of the Church of Scotland’s Church & Society Council and facilitates a network of Poverty Truth Commissions across the UK. He has previously chaired Glasgow’s Third Sector Forum, was a board member of Glasgow Community Planning Partnership and helped to establish the city’s Poverty Leadership Panel. More recently he chaired the Independent Working Group on behalf of the Scottish Government.

Martin said: “I am thrilled to be able to serve on the Big Lottery Fund’s Scotland Committee. Almost every day for the last 30 years, I have had the immense privilege of encountering extraordinary, wonderful people overcoming challenging circumstances in all sorts of incredible ways. I hope to bring a little of their wisdom and expertise to the important work of the Big Lottery Fund.”

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, added: “I am delighted to welcome three new colleagues to the Scotland Committee. Lindsay, Aaliya and Martin bring an impressively broad range of knowledge and expertise, including extensive experience of working in communities, to the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland.  Their contributions to our strategy, funding programme development and decision making will ensure that the Scotland Committee continues to invest National Lottery funding effectively, helping communities across the country to flourish.”

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 141 242 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, £35 billion has been raised and more than 490,000 grants awarded.