Lottery funding for Edinburgh Mela

A Special Olympic Games in Stirling, storytelling workshops for visually impaired people in Glasgow and a cultural festival in Edinburgh are amongst a range of events set to go ahead thanks to a National Lottery boost of £767k announced today. 

The funding comes from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland which makes grants from £300 to £10,000 to voluntary and community groups across the country.  

Among the projects funded today:  

  • Special Olympics Scotland will stage a 50th anniversary games at Stirling University thanks to an award of £9,000.  In August this year over 1,000 athletes with additional support needs will come together from across Great Britain and Europe to take part in a range of sports from badminton to cycling and table tennis. Over 500 local volunteers will be recruited to help deliver the Games.
  • Based in Glasgow, Terra Incognita, will run a project for adults who are visually impaired which will explore the city’s history and culture.  The award of £6,000 means they can deliver a series of workshops which will explore the theme of storytelling.  Tutors will support people to create their own artworks which will be exhibited to their friends, families and the wider public at the end of the project.
  • The Edinburgh Mela Limited will use its £10,000 award to organise this year’s event.  The week-long festival, which has been running for 22 years and brings together local and international groups, is a celebration promoting arts, food, sport and culture.

An Awards for All spokesperson said: “Today we are announcing over £767,000 that will help communities across Scotland to set up and develop projects run for and by local people.

“What is clear is that the smallest amount of funding can often make the biggest difference to people’s lives. All of these grants are a great way to show the variety of projects that can be funded through National Lottery Awards for All.”  

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland is now more straightforward to apply to and faster to get funding from. Applications are received on a rolling basis and can be received at any time.

To find out what National Lottery Awards for All Scotland could do for your community telephone 0300 123 7110 or visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland 

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