National Lottery cash reaches into Scottish communities

14 Sep 2017 10:58 AM

Voluntary and community led groups in Edinburgh, Falkirk and Lanarkshire are today celebrating a share of £764,849 of National Lottery good cause cash from the Big Lottery Fund.

The funding goes to eight local projects, many of which aim to improve the health and wellbeing of local people, as well as supporting families and individuals who are experiencing social isolation.

Here’s what’s being funded today:

• Falkirk Family Support Community Interest Company, will use its award of £70,000 to expand its services for young children and families through activities such as breakfast and lunch clubs, sports activities, mentoring, mental health support and family mediation.
• Falkirk and District Association for Mental Health will use their £129,779 award to develop their Family Support Service which currently works with 100 families every year.
• Falkirk Council’s - Children's Services receives £38,000 to work with looked after and accommodated young people to develop their skills, confidence and wellbeing through a bespoke filming project.
• Elim Befriending Service will continue and enhance their befriending service for people suffering from isolation and loneliness in the Motherwell area, thanks to an award of £49,000.
• LAMH Recycle Ltd will use its £100,000 award to support adults who are feeling isolated to gain new skills and improve their health and well-being from its community based recycling facility in Motherwell.
• Agape Café and Wellbeing Centre in East Kilbride receives £90,000 to provide a variety of community based activities for local people including a baby box and clothing scheme, Knit and Natter groups and men’s groups.
• The Junction, based in Leith, picks up £149,765 to work with and support young people on the streets, in schools and within youth groups who have experienced adverse childhoods and have poor mental health.
• Positive Help receives up an award of £138,305 to provide a home support service for isolated people living with HIV or Hepatitis C, in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “Today we are awarding almost £770,000 of National Lottery funds to eight local groups, which provide great support to people and families facing challenging circumstances. These projects will help to improve people's health and wellbeing, while also addressing issues which can isolate people of all ages from their wider community.”

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 £8.5 billion to projects across the UK that change the lives of millions of people. We supported communities to deliver 13,000 projects across the UK last year, thanks to National Lottery Funding.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £37 billion has been raised for Good Causes funding over 510,000 projects.