‘Essential’ Edinburgh groups share Lottery cash

Community groups in Edinburgh are sharing in £3.3 million of National Lottery funding to help them rise to the challenges of COVID-19 and beyond.

Thanks to National Lottery players, 141 projects across the country including 13 in Edinburgh are set to benefit.

October 2020 Awards

Lifecare Edinburgh Limited receives £79,990 to continue its Vintage Vibes service across the city for the next two years.

Andrew Ainsworth, Service Co-ordinator, Vintage Vibes, said: “Vintage Vibes tackles isolation and loneliness in over 60s (VIPs) across Edinburgh through one to one friendships with local volunteers, based on shared interests.

“Edinburgh is the loneliest city in the UK for older people – something we know has only been exacerbated through the current pandemic.  This grant will allow us to continue to support our current VIPs and many more over the next couple of years as we move through and beyond COVID-19. 

“We know what a difference their friendships make to our VIPs – one VIP, Norma told us that for her ‘it’s essential to have something like Vintage Vibes’.  Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund and to all National Lottery players for making it possible for us to continue to make a difference to our VIPs.” 

Thistle Health and Wellbeing receives £120,000  to deliver a programme which will support people who have been severely impacted by long term physical and mental health conditions.  The support will also help clients who are living with the longer term effects of COVIVD-19, including Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome.

The project will help many more people like Rafit Khan, aged 41, from Edinburgh.

Rafit said: ““I met different people which has made me feel good about myself, more confident to approach people. I think groups like this are very beneficial for people with mental or physical problems or with chronic illness. It gives them skills/tools to manage it throughout their life.”

Welcoming the funding, Mark Hoolahan, CEO, Thistle Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.  The grant will enable Thistle to support more people living with long term health conditions to live a life free of isolation and loneliness.

“Thistle supports people to feel more in control, ensuring that a health crisis does not become a life crisis, and so this funding will have a significant positive impact on the wellbeing of people in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

Announcing the funding to 141 projects across Scotland, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “These projects in Edinburgh are rising to the challenges of COVID-19 and supporting local people to stay connected with each other in these unprecedented times.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference across Scotland.”

National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for good causes in the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund in Scotland is currently focusing its funding on those projects that supporting organisations and communities to respond to the challenge of COVID-19.  

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk