WIREDGOV

The New Year will bring more opportunities for Scots to learn and share new skills, thanks to £6,221,069 million of National Lottery good cause cash announced yesterday (TUESDAY 16 JAN).

The cash from the Big Lottery Fund goes to 24 community groups in many parts of the country to deliver a range of stimulating activities that will boost peoples’ creativity, confidence and self-esteem. See a full list of awards.

Some of those to benefit include:

• Lingo Flamingo in Glasgow will provide language workshops for older people in order to fight dementia and promote wellbeing, thanks to a grant of £66,000 Volunteers, who will also learn new skills, will deliver the activity in the community, day centres and care homes.
• Broadford & Strath Community Company on the Isle of Skye will teach people to grow their own food, and will introduce a men’s shed for people to learn and share practical skills, thanks to a grant of £142,060.
• Community Enterprise Ltd (CE) –will use its £120,000 grant to work with Edinburgh Cyrenians on a project that will provide vulnerable young people with the opportunity to participate in a range of creative and digital activities, such as print and web design.
• Ardrossan Community Association receives £324,625 to upgrade their kitchen and café at Whitlees Community Centre thereby turning it into a training kitchen, running cooking classes and offering a wider range of work experience opportunities for local young people.
• Glasgow charity, ANYiSO, receives £115,440 to teach isolated African and other BME women a range of new skills through group activities such as bead making, cloth making, knitting, cooking and arts & crafts.

Maureen McGinn, Chair, Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said:  “Because people play the National Lottery, then great things can happen in their communities. Yesterday’s £6 million injection of funding is a perfect illustration, as it will create many new opportunities for people across Scotland to come together, learn and share skills. Thanks to this funding, thousands of Scots will have a stimulating New Year by being able to pursue a creative activity, acquire new skills such as growing and cooking or be able to take up volunteering opportunities.”

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1451
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter:@BIGSCOTLAND #BIGScotland
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.