The New Year will bring more opportunities for Scots to learn and share new skills, thanks to £6,221,069 million of National Lottery good cause cash announced today. Among the big winners are Leith-based Saheliya, who receive over £700,000.
The cash from the Big Lottery Fund goes to 24 community groups in many parts of the country to deliver a range of stimulating activities that will boost peoples’ creativity, confidence and self-esteem.
Open Arms project, which aims to support up to 950 vulnerable minority ethnic women.
The other successful Edinburgh applicant was Community Enterprise Ltd (CE), which will use its £120,000 grant to work with Edinburgh Cyrenians on a project that will provide vulnerable young people with the opportunity to participate in a range of creative and digital activities, such as print and web design.
Others to benefit include:
- Lingo Flamingo in Glasgow will provide language workshops for older people in order to fight dementia and promote wellbeing, thanks to a grant of£66,000 Volunteers, who will also learn new skills, will deliver the activity in the community, day centres and care homes.
- Broadford & Strath Community Company on the Isle of Skye will teach people to grow their own food, and will introduce a men’s shed for people to learn and share practical skills, thanks to a grant of £142,060.
- Ardrossan Community Association receives £324,625 to upgrade their kitchen and café at Whitlees Community Centre thereby turning it into a training kitchen, running cooking classes and offering a wider range of work experience opportunities for local young people.
- Glasgow charity, ANYiSO, receives £115,440 to teach isolated African and other BME women a range of new skills through group activities such as bead making, cloth making, knitting, cooking and arts & crafts.
Maureen McGinn, Chair, Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said: “Because people play the National Lottery, then great things can happen in their communities. Today’s £6 million injection of funding is a perfect illustration, as it will create many new opportunities for people across Scotland to come together, learn and share skills.
“Thanks to this funding, thousands of Scots will have a stimulating New Year by being able to pursue a creative activity, acquire new skills such as growing and cooking or be able to take up volunteering opportunities.”