Response to Big Lottery funding for adults with multiple needs
24 Jul 2012 01:52 PM
The Big Lottery Fund has announced a £100m programme to support the delivery of coordinated services for adults with multiple needs, including substance misuse, mental ill health, homelessness and repeated contact with the criminal justice system.
Responding to the announcement, Rick Henderson, Chief Executive of Homeless Link said:
“We welcome the funding announcement from BIG. We know that nearly half of people who have slept rough have a combined history of substance misuse and institutional care, while four in five report having mental health problems.
“The tragedy is that many of these rough sleepers will have approached services for help before ending up on the streets. Through our work with the MEAM coalition and our 500 plus members nationwide we have been campaigning tirelessly for services to work better together to ensure that those with multiple problems get the help they need.
“BIG’s investment will enable more adults with multiple, often complex problems to get back on their feet. We look forward to working alongside local BIG partnerships to achieve this.”
Oliver Hilbery, Project Director for Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM)* said:
"The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition welcomes the Big Lottery Fund's commitment to supporting sustained improvement in services and outcomes for adults facing multiple needs. Building on the experience and expertise of our members working in mental health, substance misuse, homeless and the criminal justice system, MEAM has been at the forefront on this agenda, influencing and formulating practical responses nationally and locally.
"The MEAM vision is that in every community people facing multiple needs are supported by effective, coordinated services to tackle their problems and reach their full potential. We believe that success is achievable, even at a time when budgets across-the-board are being squeezed. With careful planning, co-ordination, partnership working and a strategic approach to making the most cost-effective use of different national and local funding, local areas can improve outcomes for the most excluded individuals in our society.
"By building on and maximising the contributions of those with a commitment to addressing multiple needs, the Big Lottery Fund has a fantastic opportunity to help secure lasting change in all areas across the country. On behalf of our collective memberships, we look forward to working with the Big Lottery to support them and to enable this ambition to be achieved."
*The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition was formed in 2008 by Clinks, DrugScope, Homeless Link and Mind and is generously supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. More information can be found at www.meam.org.uk