Charity and Voluntary Sector

BIG:  Young people including young offenders and those associated with gangs are being given the opportunity to turn their lives around with the help of new Lottery funding.  More than £15.3m from the Big Lottery Fund is going to a range of projects, some of which will help steer young people on the right path and counteract negative behaviour such as that displayed by those involved in last month’s riots in London and other centres.  In total 58 organisations across England are taking a share of the funding which comes from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme.

Press release & links

AUK:  There are less than 3 weeks to go until the closing date for all little woolly hats knitted for the Big Knit 2011 to be in - 14 October 2011.  Age UK is calling on knitters of all ages to get out their needles for one final push to help raise over £160,000 to help older people stay warm this winter.

The little woolly hats will sit on innocent smoothie bottles in Sainsbury’s & Boots stores from 16 November 2011. For each ‘behatted’ smoothie sold, 25p will go to Age UK’s Spread the Warmth campaign, helping vulnerable older people this winter.

Press release & links

ScotGov:  Over 20 charities are set to receive a share of a £6.8m funding boost for vulnerable young children & families.  The Early Years Action Fund delivered by Inspiring Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government will invest in a total of 28 projects delivered by 24 charities across .

The funding, launched earlier this year, will support vulnerable children and their families to prevent any problems they face escalating into costly & difficult crisis situations.  The areas the fund aims to support include: parenting, play, childcare, child & maternal health and family support with the clear aim of helping parents & communities build better lives for themselves and their children.

Press release & links

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