Homelessness projects are today the focus of over £3 million in National Lottery funding, set to increase third sector led provision, helping prevent Scots losing their tenancies and becoming homeless.
Eight new partnerships have come together in Glasgow and Edinburgh, working with those with lived experience of homelessness to develop the new projects which have been funded today. This is part of a £7 million wider package of funding for 38 voluntary and charity groups across Scotland from The National Lottery Community Fund. Today’s funding total is £6,981,769.
Glasgow Homelessness Network and YPeople in Edinburgh are two of the projects focusing on making a difference to those at risk of becoming homeless, the other six are:
- Shelter – £345,306
- The Marie Trust – £499,332
- Glasgow Night Shelter for Destitute Asylum Seekers £150,000
- Community Law Advice Network – £348,180
- The Rock Trust – £500,000
- Crisis UK – £360k
YPeople receive £498,332 to work in collaboration across the sector to pilot a new way of working, avoiding segregating those at risk of homelessness from the people and places they are familiar with.
Joe Connolly, CEO, YPeople, said: “It’s time for a new approach for Scotland, one that breaks down silos and existing homelessness systems, and supports the sector to hold itself to a different set of rules and standards.
“We’ll pilot this service across the city, gathering evidence of what works with the aim of sharing our practice nationally and bringing more organisations on board.
“We have been encouraged by The National Lottery Community Fund’s approach to this funding because the voices of people with lived experience have been at the heart of this whole process and will be central to the delivery of all of the projects funded today.”
Other successful Edinburgh projects are Community Law Advice Network, who receive over £348,000 to partner with Shelter to deliver a specialist legal service to help prevent homelessness among children and young people.
The project will ‘add value by working collaboratively with existing services promoting an nderstanding of the legal framework of new housing initiatives, and of rights based approach, particularly as it relates to care-experienced young
people’. The project will engage with around 750 people over three years.
There’s £360,000 for Crisis UK, who will use the funding to embed clinical psychological support and peer support for people aged 18 and over, within its existing outreach services for homeless and vulnerably housed people in
Edinburgh and East Lothian.
People will also be supported to find sustainable housing and will also have access to tailored coaching. The group plans to support 200 people and 20 volunteers over 4 years.
The Rock Trust receives half a million pounds. This project will ‘complement strategic action plans on homelessness prevention by aiming to prevent
the crisis from ever occurring’.
It will do this by reaching young people much earlier in their journey and providing the targeted support needed to reduce that risk. The model to be used was developed in response to feedback from individuals with lived experience of homelessness, conflict and relationship breakdown.
The project plans to support over 700 young people and 14 volunteers from
across the city.
Leith Community Crops in Pots is awarded over £149,000. The group will use their funding to develop the former pavilion building on Leith Links as a hub for community activity on the ‘urban croft’ they have established there.
They will also be able to deliver a programme of activities around growing, food and sustainability which will be designed to foster a stronger sense of community.
David Ramsey, 46 from Pollok was homeless for two years and has helped to shape the Glasgow Homelessness Network (GHN) project which today receives an award of £490,705 aiming to help prevent homelessness in Gorbals and Pollok.
Part of this funding will support a Community Chest with the aim of testing low budget and targeted local ideas based on local evidence and shared decision-making with those living locally.
David found his most challenging times came once he had permanent accommodation in an unfamiliar area. He was isolated from his family and surrounded by people with addiction issues and his life spiralled out of control.
With the support of GHN David turned his life around. He began volunteering for GHN in 2014 and has gone on to full time employment there. Now Change Lead, David is at the forefront of delivering the project to help prevent homelessness in Pollok.
He said: “I’m a passionate believer that anyone, with the right support, can overcome problems and, if I can, anyone can. It’s also important to remember that it’s much, much easier when the correct support is in place and delivered in such a way that local people are aware of it and want to use it.
“It’s also really important to me that people who have been successful in turning their lives around are able to tell others about their journey, helping those who may still be struggling have the belief that change is possible.”
Maggie Brunjes, Chief Executive of Glasgow Homelessness Network, said: “All homelessness starts in a community. This award connects our expertise on homelessness with the experience of those who live and work locally in two communities – testing together different ways that could prevent people becoming homeless in the first place.
“The National Lottery Community Fund’s forward-thinking approach has been impressive. Granting us a ‘community chest’ allows creative use of funding based on local evidence and shared decision-making with people in those communities. This is innovative – we can’t wait to get started and to share what we learn along the way.”
Susanne Millar, Interim Chief Officer of Glasgow’s Health & Social Care Partnership, welcomed the National Lottery funding. She said: “We work in close collaboration with Third Sector partners to tackle homelessness in Glasgow.
“Homelessness is an extremely complex and challenging problem with many contributing factors including mental and physical ill- health, addiction issues and poverty.
“The strategic manner in which these National Lottery grants have been awarded, to tackle the underlying causes on a number of fronts, is welcome and impressive. It will help ensure the funding is used to best effect, to help those who need it most – preventing homelessness and supporting people to maintain tenancies.”
Announcing funding of just under £7 million across Scotland, Maureen McGinn, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, said: “There is a clear focus today on support for organisations working collaboratively to address the issue of homelessness in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
“We hope this funding will begin to support a wider change. By adopting a strategic approach and encouraging collaboration across organisations working in the homelessness sector we have looked to ensure that our National Lottery funds can add value and make a significant difference to tackling homelessness in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
“David’s inspirational story shows if people get the right mix of support at the right time then they are able to move forward and make real and lasting changes to their lives. These National Lottery funds really are life changing and will have a positive impact for people who need our help the most.”
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
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