Meet two inspiring groups that are keeping people moving thanks to National Lottery funding
Thanks to a helping hand from National Lottery players, two extraordinary groups are getting hundreds of people across the East Midlands moving, in a bid to create new friendships and reduce the impact of cognitive health issues. Rainbow Exercise Trail in Rutland and Harborough based BrainGYM are collectively receiving more than half a million pounds from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
The Academy for Dementia Research and Education’s project, BrainGYM, is being awarded more than £440,000 of National Lottery funding to support people with dementia over the next five years. According to research from the NHS[i] one in 14 people in the UK aged over 65 have dementia, highlighting the demand for BrainGYM’s work in South Leicestershire.
The vital funding means that the group can focus on supporting people by slowing down the advance of cognitive impairment such as memory loss, while reducing social isolation and creating and nurturing
friendships between members of the group and their carers.
Jane Beaumont, Project Lead at BrainGYM, said: “Thanks to the National Lottery players, we have been able to deliver a valuable service to our members. We have been able to open our premises and offer people a COVID-secure environment where they can take part in activities such as gardening, sitting yoga and much more. Without The National Lottery Community Fund this just would not have been possible for us.”
Meanwhile, in East Leicestershire and Rutland, Rainbow Exercise Trail, led by Inspire2Tri, recently received almost £60,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund. The funding will allow for structured and supervised outdoor exercise programmes for older people and those with disabilities and other mobility related issues to continue as the country recovers from the pandemic.
Since receiving its funding, Rainbow Exercise Trail has delivered its programmes to more than 300 people who are looking to stay active, while reducing loneliness and isolation. The group, which works closely with care providers from the NHS and private health care services in the local area, brings people together to exercise in a bid to improve health and wellbeing.
Coach and Founding Director at Inspire2Tri and Rainbow Exercise Trail, Mary Hardwick, commented: “We are thrilled to have received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. It has really helped us to grow and ensure that we can offer our exercise classes to even more people than ever before. The pandemic has really heightened loneliness and had a big impact on people’s health.
“Thanks to the National Lottery players we have been able to install a fit for purpose canopy and ensure that we are able to extend our service to people of all ages come rain or shine. Without the funding, we would not have been able to grow our exercise trail and allow for more people to join. We’re now able to take on more members from different age groups and abilities and that has helped people to develop relationships with those they otherwise would never have met.”
Charities and community groups across the East Midlands have been awarded almost £12.5 million of National Lottery funding throughout 2021 so far*, helping communities thrive and supporting them as they seek to overcome social and economic challenges raised by the pandemic.
The East Midlands isn’t alone in benefiting from National Lottery funding. Today it was announced that £200 million has been distributed to more than 4,500 community organisations across England so far this year* - all thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £36 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.**
Nicola Thurbon, Senior Head of Regional Grant Making for the Midlands at The National Lottery Community Fund, added: “I am incredibly proud to see the amazing impact that money raised by National Lottery players is having in communities across the East Midlands. Recent challenges have shone a light on the inspiring volunteers and groups, like BrainGYM and Rainbow Exercise Trail, who have been dedicated to helping their communities to thrive. This funding has given a much-needed boost to community spirit this year after what have been some extremely difficult times.”
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Thanks to National Lottery players, last year we awarded over half a billion pounds (£588.2 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK. Over eight in ten (83%) of our grants are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk