National Lottery boost for South of Scotland groups

The National Lottery might be celebrating its 25th birthday in November but three groups working across the South of Scotland are celebrating early as they share in £223,582 of funding announced today (TUESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER).

The money, which will support families in Newton Stewart, Stranraer and Sorbie and isolated, vulnerable adults in Annan and Hawick is being given out by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Home-Start Wigtownshire will use their award of £99,106 to continue running family support groups in Newton Stewart, Stranraer and Sorbie for parents with children of pre-nursery age.

Mary Wilson, Senior Co-ordinator, Home-Start Wigtownshire, said: “Some families who live in the more rural locations find it difficult to access our services, but this award helps us to offer solutions to meet transport difficulties. Without this vital support we would not be able to offer this valued community resource to local families with young children so thank you to National Lottery players who make this possible.”

An award of £100,000 means that Kate’s Kitchen, a volunteer run café, will continue and expand its activities from its drop-in centre in Annan.

Hazel Thompson, Manager, Kate’s Kitchen, said; “This is absolutely brilliant news as it gives us some stability, takes the pressure off and allows us to actively develop our services for people living in poverty in Annandale and Eskdale.

“Now we will recruit more local volunteers to work alongside our cook in daily service and allow us to expand our range of social activity projects, including our very much in demand garden project. We are so grateful for this support, thank you.”

Hawick Congregational Community Church will use their award of £24,476 to run a programme of wellbeing activities for local people who feel isolated and cut off from their community. A community support worker will also be on hand to support people who are housebound by regular visits, accompanying them to appointments and doing their shopping.

Geraldine Strickland, Development Worker, Hawick Congregational Community Church, said: “This award will make a big difference in ensuring we can continue to deliver our many community-led activities, including our much loved Soupalunch.

“We are very grateful to the National Lottery for recognising the significant benefits that this will have for local people, especially those who are vulnerable, and we look forward to developing new approaches to help reduce isolation through a range of befriending activities.”

Announcing the funding, Maureen McGinn, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, said: “I am delighted to announce grants to three community projects in Dumfries and the Scottish Borders. They are part of a wider package of 21 grants across Scotland which will reach into local communities, changing the lives of individuals and families for the better.

“As the National Lottery prepares to celebrate its 25th birthday in November, we are proud to be able to support this great work across the South of Scotland, thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players.”

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