Big Lottery Fund
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Lottery support to help young care leavers achieve their dreams

The Big Lottery Fund Scotland today (30 JULY) announces its latest package of funding worth nearly £3 million to seven projects across Scotland. Young care leavers in Edinburgh will benefit from a grant of over £700,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Communities programme.

Announcing the awards, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Investing in Communities funds projects which help people in real need now, as well as projects which focus on prevention. It aims to support people at key times of change to make their lives better for the future. The groups funded today, including LinkLiving, reflect this ambition so we are delighted to award these seven projects which are making a big difference where it is needed most.”
 
Today’s grant of £720,862 for LinkLiving’s Positive Transitions Project aims to help young care leavers in Edinburgh aged 16 and 17 years old to develop the skills and resilience necessary to make the transition from local authority care to independent living. The project will provide the youngsters with supported accommodation in the form of ten independent flats and a central 'hub' flat which will be permanently staffed. The young tenants will have a key worker to help them with individual support plans, focused particularly on employability and independent living skills. Workshops will be also be held to help build confidence and prepare those who are on the point of leaving care and living independently.

LinkLiving Limited is part of the Link Group which has over 50 years’ experience in providing socially inclusive regeneration, housing and support services to communities across Scotland.

Director, Elaine Johnston, said: “‘We are delighted that the Big Lottery Fund has decided to support our young care leavers project. LinkLiving has been working with young people with experience of being in care for many years and we know only too well how much a new project is needed in Edinburgh. We are all looking forward to creating a more positive experience for young people when they move on from the care system and helping them achieve their dreams’.

Full list of Investing in Ideas awards.

Further Information

For more information regarding this release please contact:
Lorna McNiven, Communications Officer
Big Lottery Fund Scotland
0141 242 1451 |
lorna.mcniven@biglotteryfund.org.uk

For more information on Big Lottery Fund Scotland (including programmes and grants awards):
Visit the website:
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland
Ask Big http://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk/help/scotland
Or call Big Advice Scotland: 0300 1237110

Notes to Editors

  • The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
  • BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 BIG has awarded close to £6bn.
  • The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
  • Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £30 billion has now been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
  • The Scotland Committee has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007.  As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee, led by Chair, Maureen McGinn, has and will continue to play a strategic role in the future direction of BIG in Scotland.
  • The Big Lottery Fund is investing in Scotland’s communities through its Investing in Communities portfolio, as well as the small grants schemes Awards for All, Investing in Ideas, Communities and Families and 2014 Communities.


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