£2 million lottery jackpot to help scots and their families thrive

Young people with autism in East Dunbartonshire, isolated older people in Edinburgh and families affected by domestic abuse in Aberdeenshire are amongst those benefiting from a £2 million National Lottery funding boost announced today (TUESDAY 16 JULY). See a full list of all awards made today here.

Amongst the 13 groups sharing in cash from The National Lottery Community Fund is Kirkintilloch based charity, EDICT. The group receives £126,319 to relocate its hub to Bishopbriggs where it will expand and develop its activities for children and young adults on the autism spectrum. This will provide a space for young people to make their own; which caters for their interests and where they can share those with other young people also on the autism spectrum.

The hub will also provide a resource for parents and families to share their experiences and to participate in events designed to raise local awareness of the issues surrounding autism.

Colin Campbell, Project Manager, EDICT, said: “This award gives us the ability to extend our support for our young people and involve them more fully in developing the kind of support they feel benefits them. As an organisation, the award represents validation of our efforts over many years to meet the needs of young people living with Autism in East Dunbartonshire.”

An outreach service offering one-to-one emotional support and practical advice to women and children experiencing domestic abuse in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire today receives an award of £218,412. Grampian Women’s Aid will work with around 300 women, 100 children and 40 volunteers over the two-year lifetime of the grant.

Aileen Forbes, Manager at Grampian Women’s Aid, said: “Grampian Women’s Aid are absolutely delighted that we have been awarded £218,412 for our Safer Together Project. This award has a vital part to play in supporting our organisation to sustain our outreach support to women, children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. Our on-going partnership working will make an enormous difference to the increased safety of women, children and young people in the area.”

An innovative befriending service helping to tackle isolation and loneliness for people over the age of 60 in Edinburgh receives £233,075. Cyrenians will use the funding to continue its Golden Years service which offers encouragement, companionship and support to help older people take part in social, leisure and community activities.

Pamela Shiels, Golden Years Service Manager, said: “We are overjoyed to receive support from the National Lottery Community Fund for the next three years. Their continued support means that we are able to build on the knowledge we have gained in the last three years and reach more elderly people in our community experiencing loneliness and/or social isolation, ensuring they have access to community groups, a listening ear, and more.

“Social isolation is an increasing problem throughout society, however we understand those who are elderly and may be without family connections or friends are more at risk of living on the margins of our community. With this funding we will be able to maximise the number of people we reach and ensure that everyone is included and able to live independent, active and fulfilling lives.”

Announcing the funding totalling £2,074,445, Maureen McGinn, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, said: “All of these projects are fantastic illustrations of National Lottery money reaching into communities and changing lives. Whether a befriending service for older, isolated people in Edinburgh, a welcoming hub for children and young people with Autism in East Dunbartonshire or an outreach support service for families affected by domestic abuse in Aberdeenshire, they have all been developed through people taking the lead in nurturing great ideas to ensure their communities thrive.”

Last year The National Lottery Community Fund gave out over £48m of National Lottery funding to community projects across Scotland. Over 1130 projects benefitted from this, enabling people and communities to bring their ideas to life. To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk