WIREDGOV

Up to £8 million of Lottery money is to be spent on supporting people affected by domestic abuse across Scotland through the Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Becoming a Survivor scheme.

Opening to applications today Becoming a Survivor will make grants from £10,000 to £1 million to help support people affected by domestic abuse and survivors of domestic abuse to be in a home of their choice and help them to move on with their lives both practically and emotionally.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Director, Jackie Killeen said, “Across Scotland there are almost 60,000 recorded incidents of domestic abuse each year and research shows that victims of domestic abuse often feel unsafe in their own homes. Through Becoming a Survivor BIG has up to £8 million in National Lottery funding available to support people affected by domestic abuse.

“We believe this funding will make a difference to many people who have been affected by domestic abuse helping them to feel both practically and emotionally supported and in the long term we hope it may help give them a brighter future.”

Becoming a Survivor will provide support to men, women and children who have been affected by domestic abuse which has long been recognised as a major contributory factor to homelessness. Through Becoming a Survivor the Big Lottery Fund will help to fund projects that help people who have experienced domestic abuse be in a home of their choice and provide them with the practical and emotional support necessary to make that choice successful and sustainable.

For more details regarding this release CONTACT:

Emma Whitfield Communications manager Big Lottery Fund Scotland
 0141 242 1415 / 07880 737157 emma.whitfield@biglotteryfund.org.uk

For public enquiries or if you think Becoming a Survivor is for you please read the guidance notes available here: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland or call 0300 1237110

Notes to Editors

• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% 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 June 2004. 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 £26 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
• The Scotland Committee, led by Chair, Alison Magee, has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007. As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee 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 and 2014 Communities.