Community projects share £3 million National Lottery win

23 Feb 2018 11:57 AM

Dementia friendly film screenings, therapeutic arts sessions for survivors of sexual violence and creative arts activities for people with mental health issues are just some of the latest community projects to benefit from a £3 million cash injection announced last Friday by the Big Lottery Fund.

Across Scotland, 17 groups are sharing in £2,990,417, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. They include:

• Argyll & Bute Rape Crisis will use art therapy sessions as a means of supporting survivors of sexual violence after an award of £93,484.  The award will reach out to people in remote or rural locations and use visual and creative arts to help them recount their experiences.
• In Glasgow, Plantation Productions will run a series of therapeutic art sessions for people who have mental health conditions, thanks to an award of £335,994.
• An Lanntair will run an arts project for people living with dementia and their carers and families living on the Isles of Lewis and Harris after an award of £103,536.  The accompanying programme of events will also include dementia friendly film screenings and creative sessions with local musicians and theatre and dance companies.

Maureen McGinn, Chair, Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said:  “National Lottery players are helping make a real impact across Scotland with this latest funding package of £2.9 million. 

Through a range of activities, people who feel isolated or alone will be able to find their voice, which will also give them the confidence and self-belief to share their experiences with others. And, for some, it might represent the first step in a journey which will help re-connect them to family, friends and the wider community.”

Other projects funded are:

Drumchapel Sport, Glasgow
£78,000
This project will bring the community together through a variety of physical activities for different age groups and abilities.

The Hidden Gardens Trust, Glasgow
£149,685
This project will bring the local community together through a variety of existing volunteering and learning activities centred around their community garden.

Bridging the Gap (Gorbals Ecumenical Project), Glasgow
£149,870
This project will bring people who live in the Gorbals, Glasgow together by a range of activities for local people and families who live in the area.

Hawkhill Community Association, Clackmannanshire
£150,000
The group will be able to run a wide ranging programme of activities for local people including a job club, homework club and a range of youth and community events which will run from the local community centre.

Volunteer Centre East Ayrshire
£138,266
The group will run an initiative to increase the community involvement of older, socially isolated residents living in Shortlees by providing a range of volunteering and social opportunities.

East Ayrshire Council
£149,859
The group will create a play area and outdoor gym for local people in Burnpark, utilising a key central open space within Shortlees which is currently underused.

East Dunbartonshire Association for Mental Health
£117,951
The group will provide a recovery support service for women aged 16 and over who have been affected by violence and trauma.

Signpost, West Lothian
£140,869
This project will allow the group to continue to provide a service offering information and one-to-one support to the families of young people with additional support needs in West Lothian. The project will focus for those people on the autism spectrum and people with physical and learning disabilities

Midlothian Voluntary Action
£104,018
The group will be able to continue to run their outreach programme which supports isolated, older people and carers in a disadvantaged area of Midlothian.

DRC Generations, Glasgow
£150,000
The group will be able to expand the range of support programmes they offer to young people aged between 11 and 19 years of age in North West Glasgow.

Community Links Scotland, West Dunbartonshire
£144,544
The group will be able to continue to run their ‘Volunteer in Progress Programme’ (ViPP) which provides people with training and volunteering opportunities.

Dumbarton Area Action on Alcohol, West Dunbartonshire
£389,172
The group will run a programme of health and wellbeing activities for people who are suffering, or recovering from, alcohol misuse. They will also be able to put together a volunteering programme for people who would like to give back to the project or who are interested in the field.

Falkirk District Association of Mental Health
£264,363
The group will be able to continue and expand their current programme, which supports people experiencing poor mental health to gain greater skills and confidence and give them opportunities to interact with other people and make new friends.

Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, Scotland wide
£330,796
The group will provide a range of specialist support for 85 children aged up to 14 years of age born with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus throughout Lothian, Borders, Fife, and Tayside. They will be able to expand this work throughout Tayside and support families, including siblings.

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.