A service supporting autistic adults to set up their own micro-enterprises, a project helping people with disabilities to find love and friendship and a family support project for those living with down’s syndrome are amongst 23 groups in the capital today sharing in £610,119 from The National Lottery Community Fund.
An Edinburgh business mentoring service supporting autistic adults to set up their own micro-enterprises today receives £9,500, IWORK4ME will deliver its service Scotland-wide via face to face and online meetings.
Artist Ruth Mutch trades as Penguin Parade. She continues to grow her business having increased her range of merchandise from just a few items to over 200.
Ruth, who is supported by her mother and IWORK4ME, said: “Trying out self-employment and running a micro business with the support of IWORK4ME and my mum has really given me a purpose in life and helped my mental wellbeing and self-esteem.
“I now feel I have achieved something and am successful whereas before I felt a failure.”
Sue Hope, Development Manager, IWORK4ME, added: “We are delighted with this National Lottery award.
IWORK4ME is a small charity which promotes self-employment as a beneficial career solution for autistic people like Ruth across Scotland. This funding ensures that we can continue our Business Mentoring service on Zoom and promote the service on social media to a wider audience.”
get2gether supports adults with disabilities to lead their own lives whist finding love and friendship.
Over the next three years, with an award of £150,000, they will provide a range of activities from party nights to exercise classes that reduce isolation and help people realise their full potential.
Marion Smith, Project Manager, get2gether, said: “A huge thanks to the National Lottery for continuing to support us. get2gether supports adults with disabilities to lead independent, self -determined adult lives.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ll be able to continue bringing members together through a wide range of activities.”
Based in Edinburgh, but supporting families across the country, Down’s Syndrome Scotland receives £197,214 to deliver essential information, advice and support through a new extended helpline, a live chat facility and other online platforms.
Chief Executive, Eddie McConnell, said: “We are so grateful to have received this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. It will allow us to continue to provide vital support for people with Down’s syndrome and their families across Scotland.
“Our Family Support team offer specialist support and information to families on a variety of topics via our helpline as well through video sessions.”
Families with disabled children are to benefit from an award of £9796 to Firsthand Lothian for a programme of one to one and early intervention support.
Bev Read, Director, Firsthand Lothian, said: “This National Lottery funding enables us to provide much needed support for families across the city of Edinburgh who have children with disabilities or are disadvantaged.
“Through our direct 1:1 work with children, engaging them in stimulating activities that both aids their development and are fun, we will help children and families become more resilient. Thank you so much to National Lottery players for making this award possible.”
Across Scotland, 184 community projects are today sharing in £4,435,695.
Announcing the funding, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “It’s great to see these community projects being funded in Edinburgh to help people as they recover from the pandemic.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how these projects improve communities and the lives of local as people as they start to come together again to re-build and re-connect.
“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raDOgetise is making such a difference to people’s lives.”
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.
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