National Lottery Community Fund – The NEN

Edinburgh youth charities to benefit from share of £2m Lottery funding

Organisations supporting children and young people in Edinburgh are to receive a share of a funding boost of more than £2 million announced today (Wednesday 21 January) by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Nearly £200,000 (£198,566) has been awarded to two Edinburgh-based organisations that support children and young people to reach their full potential through the funding programme Young Start, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund. It awards funds from dormant bank accounts to projects that will make a lasting positive impact on the lives of the young people that they support.

Children and teen led creative organisation, Lyra, based in Niddrie, will use their £99,331 share to continue running their Teens at Lyra programme to support at least 50 young people aged 12 to 18 over the next three years, living in areas of deprivation in the city.

The programme aims to help participants develop essential creative and life skills to improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

When asked how Teens at Lyra supports them, one participant, aged 15, said: “I take part at Lyra to have fun and express myself.

“Also, to build up skills to put stuff in my CV. I enjoy performing and meeting my friends after school because I may not have a chance to meet them otherwise.”

Anna Plasberg-Hill, Teens at Lyra Engagement Producer, said: “The support we receive from Young Start makes a huge impact on the teenagers in our community. Through Teens at Lyra young people can express themselves and gain new experiences in a safe, supportive environment, building skills that will see them into the future.

“I’m immensely proud of what our young people achieve – it’s amazing to see their progress throughout the year.”

Edinburgh-based ADOPTION UK received £99, 235 which will enable the continuation of their #E project, an award-winning service supporting care experienced adopted children and young people across Scotland.

The three year project will engage and empower 178 young people through age-specific social activities, skills workshops and personal advocacy opportunities.

This peer-support model will create a life-long support network for young people often facing health, educational and relationship challenges.

The programme has already evidenced positive outcomes around improved social/emotional wellbeing, increased self-esteem and skills development particularly in relation to self-advocacy.

Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “It’s a privilege to support such a diverse range of essential projects across Scotland through this latest round of Young Start funding.

“Organisations such as Lyra, play a crucial role in helping children and young people, from a variety of backgrounds build their skills, confidence and foster a strong sense of community, which they’ll carry with them throughout their lives.”

Young Start helps young people aged eight to 24 become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential. Funding of up to £100,000 is available for youth led projects.

Groups can apply by emailing advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling 0300 123 7110.                

Find out more at:

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/young-start        

See full list of projects.

YOUNG START AWARDS – Jan 2026 Download

Action Porty to buy former police station

We have HUGE news to share! Scottish Land Fund have announced that they will fund 100% of the price for Action Porty to buy the former police station building from Police Scotland via a Community Asset Transfer.

We at Action Porty are absolutely thrilled!!! (Actually, that’s an understatement. We were dancing on the tables when we heard the news!)

When Action Porty bought Bellfield on behalf of the community, Scottish Land Fund (SLF) awarded us 90% of the purchase price.

It’s partly our strong track record that led to this amazing result, but its mostly the incredible work, which has been happening behind the scenes, by a group of very dedicated volunteers: Frazer McNaughton, Mark Boggis, Justin Kenrick and Kieran Gaffney, with Kieran and the team at Konishi Gaffney architects and local structural engineer James Lewis, Hive Structural Ltd, providing pro bono services.

Background – what has led us to here?

Aug 2024: Police Scotland announced plans to sell the building. (Operational police officers haven’t been stationed there since 2016).

Oct 2024: 97% of Community Council survey respondents supported community ownership.

Nov 2024: Community consultation event overwhelmingly endorsed Action Porty’s proposal.

Jan 2025: Action Porty submitted the Community Asset Transfer request.

Jul-Sept 2025: Police Scotland agreed to request and price and Scottish Ministers gave their approval.

Dec 2025: with SLF deciding to fund the purchase, we are in reach of the finishing line!

The actual finishing line will be March 2026 when the sale completes.

To meet the funding conditions and complete the sale we need to get the necessary planning permissions and building warrants in place. There’s lots to do!

Watch this space – we’ll share more news as we get it.

What’s next for this iconic public building which has served the community for almost 150 years?

Find out here: https://www.bellfield.scot/heart-of-porty

Any questions, comments or feedback that you’d prefer to not post on social media? Email heartofporty@gmail.com

#ScottishLandFund

#communityownership

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland

Development Trusts Association Scotland

Edinburgh youth charities awarded over £450k in dormant assets funding

Young people in Edinburgh are set to benefit from a share of more than £3 million (£3,092,915) awarded today (Wednesday 29^th October) to 40 project across Scotland run for and by young people.

Seven youth projects from across Edinburgh will share a total award of over £450,000. These are Granton Youth, Multicultural Family Base. Passion4Fusion, Children in Scotland, Lothian Autistic Society, The Fruitmarket Gallery and Think Circus.

The dormant assets funding from Young Start and delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, helps 8-24 year olds build confidence, develop confidence and thrive in their communities.

Each organisation will use its share of funding to deliver projects that will boost wellbeing, encourage community involvement and equip young people with the skills to excel and champion their voices. See full list of projects.

Passion4Fussion receives £65,529 to develop and expand its sports outreach, volunteering and peer mentoring programme to support at least 180 children and young people in Edinburgh and West Lothian, helping them to build their confidence and leadership skills.

Vinomaandero Tjihumino, 22, joined the charity as a young person before becoming a volunteer coach.

He said: “When I first came to Edinburgh, I had no friends and felt isolated as an immigrant. Joining Passion4Fusion changed everything, I made so many friends, grew in confidence, and later became a volunteer.

“The organisation supported me through my coaching licence, and now I’m studying a sports programme at university! I’m so proud that I can give back to my community and help others overcome the same challenges I once faced.”

When asked what the Young Start funding means for the charity, Isaac Akhadelor, Project Coordinator, Passion4Fusion said: “This funding will be transformational for our sports programme.

“It’s empowering us to reach more young people across Edinburgh and West Lothian, using sport as a tool for inclusion, confidence-building, and community connections.”

Another organisation, The Fruitmarket Gallery, also based in Edinburgh will use its £57,286 grant to launch and run its Youth ART Connects project, which aims to engage young people aged 16 to 25 who are blind and or visually impaired, from ethnically minoritised communities, and or identify as LGBTQIA+, to create three bodies of work to be exhibited at The Fruitmarket Gallery.

The Youth ART Connects project will run over two years supporting young people through the creative process and providing career and access opportunities within the arts and culture sector.

Tracy Morgan, Community Engagement Manager, The Fruitmarket Gallery said: “Delivered by Fruitmarket in partnership with leading artists and youth organisations across Scotland, this programme aims to reshape how galleries engage with young people – creating lasting change by amplifying the voices and visions of those who deserve to be seen, heard, and celebrated.”

EDINBURGH AWARDEES:

Children in Scotland £62,250

This group will use funding to run the two year ‘My Rights, My Say. Building Bridges’ project, led by young advisors aged 12-15 year old with additional support needs (ASN), aims to empower and connect children and young people with ASN across Scotland while bridging the gap with education professionals.

Granton Youth Ltd £53,481

This group will use the funding to support up to 60 young people aged 14-25, in Granton, across two years. The young people will be supported to volunteer, peer mentor and work toward accreditation with recognised awards.

Lothian Autistic Society £99,518

This group will provide wrap around support and mentoring for 45 young people with autism and other developmental disabilities, aged 12-18 years old in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, over three years.

Multi-Cultural Family Base £65,785

This group will use two years funding to deliver and expand their Young Ambassadors programme, for 60 young people aged 12-15.

Passion4Fusion £65,529

This group will use funding to develop and expand their sports outreach, volunteering and peer mentoring programme for up to 200 young people from ethnically minoritised communities, aged eight-24 years.

The Fruitmarket Gallery £57,286

This group will use their funding to engage with young people from three underrepresented groups (blind and visually impaired, ethnically minoritised communities, and LGBTQIA+ young people), over two years, in Edinburgh within the arts sector to create three bodies of work to be exhibited at the Fruitmarket Gallery.

Think Circus SCIO £49,415

This group will use the funding to support up to 65 girls from primary six to first year in high school in Edinburgh, over two years.

See below for full list of successful applications:

LOTTERY – YOUTH GRANTS Download

Announcing the funding Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “Organisations such as Passion4Fusion and The Fruitmarket Gallery empower young people to play an active leadership role in their local and wider community.

“Equipping them with the skills, network and confidence they need to unlock their full potential.

“We’re incredibly grateful to support them on this journey through this latest round of Young Start funding, that will improve the lives of young people across Scotland, through 40 inspiring projects.”

Young Start helps young people aged eight to 24 become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential. Funding of up to £100,000 is available for youth led projects.

Groups can apply by emailing advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling 0300 123 7110.                

Find out more at:

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/young-start        

Young Scots to benefit from £2 million in Young Start funding

LOTTERY FUNDING FOR STEPPING STONES NORTH EDINBURGH

Twenty-six- Scottish groups are today (WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE) celebrating a total cash boost of £2,049,812 from the Young Start fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund.

The projects, which are based all over the country, will see thousands of young people engaging in various activities, which will ultimately bring a brighter, healthier, and more connected future.

SEVEN Edinburgh-based groups and organisations received funding in the latest round of awards announced this morning. They are:

International Jazz & Blues Festival Ltd £93,000

The group would like funding to pay for a three year long, city wide, inclusive, multicultural youth arts initiative for children and young people age eight-24 years called ‘RISE’.

Edinburgh Napier University Development Trust £80,000

This group will use funding to support delivery of their student ambassador programme. The project will employ care-experienced learners to work as ambassadors as they are uniquely positioned to advocate and lobby for change across our partnership and beyond.

Inspiring Scotland £78,181

The group will use the funding to enhance and deliver the young persons group InVoice that sits within the wider intandem mentoring programme for young people looked after at home and in a kinship care arrangement.

Jack Kane Centre Community Wing £94,360

The group will use the funding to work alongside young men age 11-21 years in the community to delivering a 16 week peer education programme which has been co-produced with the young people on the theme of positive masculinity.

Marine Conservation Society £80,223

The group will use the funding to deliver skills training to young people within a marine and coastal environment (see below).

Stepping Stones (North Edinburgh) £61,740

This group will use three years funding to continue their support for young parents living in the North West of Edinburgh.

Delivery will continue to be a mix of group work and one to one support.

The programme encourages young parents to build confidence and self-esteem, develop new skills, reduce isolation and increase opportunities for further learning and employment for young parents.

YMCA Edinburgh SCIO £98,217

This group will use the funding to support up to 40 young people each year in Leith, Edinburgh. Through the three-year project, young people aged between ten and 13 years of age, will be part of a youth forum to campaign and advocate for a better environment and better local services. The young people as activists will take an active role in community issues helping to shape local services and developments.

The Marine Conversation Society will use their funding of £80,223 to run a programme of outdoor activities for young people in Central Scotland.

Katie Macfarlane, Youth Engagement Officer, Marine Conservation Society said: “Spending time in nature is proven to benefit young people’s development and physical and mental health.

“Equally, our blue planet needs young people’s passion and determination to protect it more than ever before. Funding given to the Marine Conservation Society’s youth engagement programme in Scotland will enable us to reach more young people across the Central Belt over the next three years.

“We will run youth events, coastal residentials, internships, educational workshops, and experiential outdoor fun – empowering and upskilling the next generation of ocean optimists to be a powerful force for change.”

Thanks to an award of £29,150, Lochview Rural Training will deliver a range of land-based learning, training and career opportunities to young people in Sutherland who will get hands on experience in a range of skills including peatland management, dry stone walling, fencing and conservation and biodiversity.

Cara Cameron, CEO and founder of Lochview Rural Training said: “We are deeply grateful to be awarded support from Young Start.

“This funding is not just vital—it’s transformative. It allows us to deliver meaningful land-based training and employability programmes tailored for young people in our rural community.

“In a place like Sutherland, where opportunities can be scarce and challenges are real, this kind of support helps create pathways to brighter futures. It truly makes a lasting difference.”

Based in Dundee, Giving Back will use their award of £32,870 to run a three-year employability programme for young people in Broughty Ferry.

Havey Gay, 18 Peer Worker, Giving Back, said: “Giving Back employed me last year on their first pilot of the Youth Employability Programme for six months.

“I was given support from a Mental Health Nurse and worked in a cafe in the area. As a young person with ADHD and Autism I struggled to find work and this opportunity gave me the skills, time and financial support to build my confidence.

“I have now been employed by Giving Back to support the young people this year as a Peer Worker. This programme is amazing and really helped me to get into employment, have my voice heard, develop my confidence and encourage me to engage with the community.”

Announcing today’s funding, The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to continue funding such a broad range of vital projects for young people all over Scotland.

“We are always keen to support projects that put Scotland’s young people at the heart of the development and running of services. If your group has an idea how you would make this happen, then we’d love to hear from you.”  

  Full list of awards attached:

f8d283ed-2ac1-491a-83b5-7355786c8f42 Download

Find out more at:

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/young-start

Root & Rise: Edinburgh Climate Festival 2025

Inspiring climate action through this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival

As we take in the fearful effects of the worsening climate crisis and the uncertainty that takes hold of the many challenges we are facing around our planet today, looking ahead to a hopeful future can be a very daunting task.

For this, we find great importance & delight in announcing the return of this year’s Edinburgh Climate Festival, a free festival that aims to celebrate & inspirate climate action in our local communities. A day that brings together numerous climate related organisations, projects and individuals, all looking to help positively raise awareness & work towards creating a brighter future!

The festival will be taking place at the Edinburgh Meadows, Melville Dr EH9 1ND, on Saturday 28th June 2025, from 12 to 7pm.

During the day, attendees can find a variety of free lively performances, workshops, art installations & themed talks, as well as a bouncy castle and activities that welcome everyone of all ages.

The festival will also be welcoming stallholders that cover topics related to circular economy, mitigation, adaptation, climate education, transport, activism, conservation and more.

As a special feature to the ninth edition of the festival, this year the team have introduced an additional theme: Root & Rise.

The theme represents a call to root in ourselves by grounding in who we are, reconnecting with nature, and prioritising our well-being. The festival defends that just as strong roots support a thriving tree, a deep connection to ourselves and the earth can allow us to rise with strength and purpose.

By truly rooting in nature, we find the power to rise – to embrace new sustainable habits, take meaningful action, and stand together in the fight for climate justice and systemic change. This message is present throughout the event, through visuals and tailored activities encompassing this ethos.

As an additional attempt to become more sustainable as an event itself, this year the festival is also trialling a few new schemes in hopes to achieve better waste reduction & improve its practices overall.

A few to highlight, is their additional single use packaging fee that will be implemented by all food vendors as well as a free raffle that aims to encourage attendees to bring their own containers, rewarding their commitment by offering a chance to win one of three prizes (which are valued at £60, £50 and £40).

Franciele Sobierai, the ECF Event Coordinator said: “The climate crisis can be daunting, leaving us feeling powerless. However, when we unite, work together, and support one another, we can accomplish far more.

“This is the message the Edinburgh Climate Festival aims to spread — encouraging community-driven climate action and solidarity to tackle the climate emergency.”

The attractions and activities will include various artwork, free yoga, somatic movement, paper-making, dancing, climate stories, musical performances from Airdan Band, Fossilheads, Samba Sene, an energetic Ceilidh & much more!

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and celebrate our collective efforts towards a sustainable future! You can find the full programme here

Confirm your presence on the event here, with the option to give a donation here.

Volunteering: If you like to get involved in the delivery of the event, the ECF team is looking for individuals passionate about climate and community action to help on the day.

Learn more and apply here: https://forms.gle/uAmyQ4KoucLKkyFQ9

The Edinburgh Climate Festival is brought to you by Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) & Networking Key Services (NKS), through the Communities’ Reduce Reuse & Recycle (C3R) Project.

The festival is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund and is supported by The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University.

Young Scots to benefit from £3.5 million in Young Start funding

A wide range of projects supporting young people across Scotland to develop their natural talents and make lasting connections within their local communities, are today sharing in £3,518,157 from Young Start.

Young Start funding, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, awards money from dormant bank accounts to projects that help young people reach their full potential.     

Young Start Table of Awards April 2025.pdf

Music youth charity Loud n Proud has been around for over twenty years, actively seeking out local young people, who might want to get involved in the music business.

Now, thanks to funding of £94,600 they will be able to run a community–based, performance event management training programme for young people from the Renfrewshire area.

Ethan Livingstone, 22 from Johnstone is one of the group’s oldest members and is more than happy to mentor young people who are new to the organisation. His day job, working in IT couldn’t be more different to his passion for playing the drums.

He said: “If you want to just learn new skills you can do that, but if you want it to be more social, it can be. I would say to anybody thinking about coming along, not to be nervous and just go for it. You’ll get the chance to learn new things and it’s fun.”

Tommy McGrory, Founder, Loud n Proud, explained: “Wherever possible we try to operate an open door policy because we understand that young people often have a lot going on in their lives, outside of the time they spend here and they can’t always commit to the same time every week or any kind of rigid structure.

“Thanks to the Young Start funding, our young people will not only learn practical skills but also skills related to the music business like putting on events. Even if they decide not to pursue this as a career, the skills they learn can be transferred to lots of different types of work.”

Another organisation working hard to engage with and support young people to develop their passion is Scottish Athletics.

An award of £60,310 means they can now employ a part-time Digital Content Creator and Marketing Officer to work closely with their Athletics Trust Scotland Young People’s Forum (ATS YPF). The ATS YPF is a voluntary group led by Scottish Athletics to give young people a voice in sport.

Working closely with the Forum to create engaging digital content and resources and promote them on platforms like – Tik-Tok, the new role will help the group reach a wider audience and increase awareness of topics affecting young people in sport, including athlete health, inclusion and retention of young people in sport.

Scottish Athletics CEO, Colin Hutchison, said: “We are delighted to have received funding from the Young Start Fund to support the work of our Young People’s Forum.

“This will have a significant impact on the lives of young people in our sport and allow us to reach a wider, younger audience which will help -our young people meet their full potential through physical activity and sport.”

Announcing the funding Kate Still, The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair said: “We are delighted to announce our latest Young Start funding, which allows us to support organisations like Loud n Proud and Scottish Athletics who are providing a safe and welcoming environment where the door is always open for young people to go and learn new skills and hone their talents.

“Through our Young Start grants we want to continue to support more projects like these which work so hard to encourage and develop the potential of young Scots.”

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

Young Start Table of Awards April 2025.pdf

Big wins for Edinburgh’s community groups as they celebrate National Lottery funding boost

MORE than seventy community groups across Edinburgh are shaking off the winter blues with the exciting news of their share of the latest round of National Lottery funding, announced today (Thursday 6th February).

Among the local projects celebrating this morning are Fresh Start, Living Rent, Granton Parish Church, Project Esperanza, LifeCare, Granton Youth and LIFT at Muirhouse Millennium Centre – who receive not one but TWO Lottery grants!

The Muirhouse centre recently launched an online fundraising campaign so today’s news of lottery success is a welcome boost.

LIFT receives £62,553 to continue delivery of their community support offering
within Muirhouse. Through support and advocacy LIFT aims to tackle child poverty, increase wellbeing for individuals and families, and allow them to move forward from poverty and crisis.

LIFT was awarded a further £23,187 to employ a staff member to work on and develop their ‘sharing shelf’. This is a space where members of the community can come, without a referral, to pick up some food essentials and acts as a link point to other services within the centre.

Hard-pressed community centres have done particularly well in this round of grants: as well as Muirhouse Millennium Centre there are big grants for Space at Broomhouse, Craigmillar’s Sandy’s Community Centre and Southside Community Centre.

This vital support will enable them to continue to bring together local people, deliver essential services, and provide much-needed support to their communities. 

This latest round of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund is shared amongst 549 projects across Scotland. A full list of projects is attached. 

Thanks to an award of £76,336, Craigmillar Literacy Trust will continue to deliver their programme of early and family literacy activities for families, parents and carers for the next two years.

Kara Whelan, Project Manager, Craigmillar Literacy Trust, said: “This funding will enable us to continue to deliver our literacy support programmes to families with babies and young children, specifically, early communication and family literacy through home visits and one-to-one support for individual families. ”

An award of £63,399 means that Living Rent will provide support and guidance around a range of housing issues affecting hundreds of people in Leith, Newhaven and Granton over the next three years.

Emma Saunder, National Organiser for Living Rent, said: “This will have a huge impact on our ability to continue to grow and empower our members.

“This award will support us to grow in the Leith area of Edinburgh, as well as building a thriving group in Granton. We can also continue our work, supporting members who are trapped in awful housing conditions through empowering them to know their rights and take action to receive compensation, repairs or stop evictions.

“The National Lottery funding is a continued source of strength and support for local communities helping us to support them to come together to ask for change.”

Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCiL) will expand their ‘Financial Wellbeing’ service for disabled people living in Edinburgh and the Lothians after an award of £25,000.

Florence Garabedian, Interim CEO, LCiL, said: “From our work, we clearly see the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the lives of disabled people, their families and carers.

“This funding will help us provide a targeted response to the current financial climate, help many more people who are struggling with day-to-day costs and offer accessible advice and information around welfare benefits, income maximisation and financial security.”

Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “At The National Lottery Community Fund we are so proud to be able to support local groups to make a real and lasting difference and help address the challenges their communities face.

“It’s all made possible by National Lottery players and we’re excited to see the outcomes of all of the funded projects across Edinburgh in the months ahead.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.        

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

LOTTERY-GRANTS Download

Young Start funding helps bright young minds across Scotland to thrive

LOTTERY SUCCESS FOR THREE CAPITAL INITIATIVES

Projects working to improve the confidence and wellbeing of young people across Scotland are today (WEDNESDAY 5th FEBRUARY) sharing in £1,271,922 of Young Start funding this Children’s Mental Health Week.

The funding, which comes from dormant account cash and is delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, is used to support thousands of children and young people annually all over Scotland, many of whom face mental health and wellbeing issues.

Three Edinburgh projects receive funding in the latest round of grants:

Big Hearts Community Trust receives almost £85,000 to support the expansion of their Welcome Through Football initiative, using football to engage young refugees, migrants and asylum seekers aged 15-24 facing trauma, hardship and social
exclusion.

Across the city in Leith, Hibernian Community Foundation also score with £95,000 to support neurodivergent young people aged 16-25 to develop essential life skills by delivering a structured programme of activities and community participation. Over the next three years 240 young people are expected to take part and supported by 40 volunteers.

Making it a hat-trick for the capital is Castlebrae-based Edinburgh Development Group, who receive £100,000 to provide a three-year project, supporting neurodiverse and disabled young people, who are working towards employability.

Founded in 2005, Lochaber Hope supports young people facing crisis periods in their lives. In recent years the charity has concentrated its efforts on a number of peer support projects and activity groups which focus on the well-being and improvement of young people’s mental health and from this the Bright Minds Project was born.

Bright Minds is a local youth initiative, created for young people and guided by a youth advisory board. The project offers events and training opportunities, as well as campaigning for changes in mental health culture and advocating for better support systems for young people.

An award of £54,220 means they can help more young people like 24-year-old Shaun Wallace from Lochaber.

Shaun previously worked with the charity as a project assistant but left to go to college and study to be a veterinary care assistant. When he was going through a difficult time, Lochaber Hope offered him seven free counselling sessions.

Shaun explained: “I’ve always struggled with my mental health, all the way through high school I was dealing with anxiety, depression and bi-polar disorder.

“This would, at times lead to suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self- harm and did result in an incident where I had to be taken to hospital. Thankfully I decided to seek out support and this was the beginning of me getting better and going to counselling sessions provided by Lochaber Hope. I owe so much to Lochaber hope and don’t know where I would be today, if it wasn’t for them.

“I loved giving something back by helping at events and when the chance to get involved with the Bright Minds project came up, I was more than happy to. I might be the oldest in the group, but we all have big ambitions and I’m able to offer support and advice to the younger members of the group.

“We’re only small but we’re making a big impact. Ideally, I would love a lot more people to get involved and experience the huge changes in their lives that I have.”

Alyson Smith, Founder Manager, Lochaber Hope said: “Young Start has been a very special fund for Lochaber Hope.

“We can see how young people are better managing their mental health by building resilience and confidence, and we look forward to the events and activities they have organised that will be taking place over the coming months.”

Another organisation nurturing young people’s talent and wellbeing is Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre.

The north Glasgow based charity receives £100,000 to run its PROGRESS: Empowering Young People for Creative Careers project which provides a range of entry points and routes for training and employment for young people to enter the creative industries.

Jennifer Belle Baird, 25, from Glasgow, is a published writer but would never have dreamed of speaking in public before she joined Toonspeak three years ago.

Jennifer said: “I had gone through school living with anxiety and was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder at 14. Being part of the project I was able to get feedback in a supportive way, without criticism. It was so good for my self-confidence and helped rid me of imposter syndrome.

“There’s no pressure to perform because it’s not all about performance, they value all areas of creativity here. Being a writer can be so isolating and now I actually enjoy performing too. I’m a member of the Toonspeak performance collective, the Young Company and have even written a play for The Merchant City Festival.

“I now view myself as a working artist and hope to work in a theatre. I often think how lucky the younger people here are to have Toonspeak at their age, Hopefully I can continue being part of the organisation and my work can uplift younger people.”

Chi Nguyen, Funding Officer, Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from Young Start.

This funding allows us to create life-changing opportunities for young people to develop skills, confidence, and networks in the creative industries. Already, PROGRESS is helping them take big steps toward their future careers, and we’re excited to see the continued impact this will have.”

The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “We are so pleased to announce our latest Young Start funding, which helps enable organisations to directly support the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

“Shaun and Jennifer’s stories are two examples of the many young people who’ve benefitted from Young Start funded projects and we are always keen to support more ideas. If your group has a project that could improve the lives of young people in Scotland, then we’d love to hear from you.”

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

See full list of projects: – Young Start Table of Awards February 2025 (1).pdf

New multi million pound National Lottery programmes set to power up Scotland’s communities

The National Lottery Community Fund has opened a new £166 million funding stream that will give Scotland’s communities a much needed boost over the next five years.

With a focus on building the strengths of people and communities in greatest need, community groups across the country can now apply to share these life changing funds.

The two new programmes, Community Action and Fairer Life Chances, are aimed at helping communities to tackle poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination, three of the biggest barriers to people and communities finding their power and agency.

They will award bigger and longer grants than previous funds giving community groups more security over a longer term, and they will fund organisations of different sizes and levels of experience.

Both programmes will help The Fund to deliver its UK wide strategy ‘It starts with community‘ by focusing on four mission areas.

Community Action will support projects that help communities of all shapes and sizes, including those who are geographically dispersed, to come together around activities that matters to them, or which help communities to be environmentally sustainable.

Fairer Life Chances is for projects providing services that support children, young people and families, or that help people to be healthier or have better access to support.

Organisations applying to the new programmes will be expected to show how their project fills a gap, how it will reach and support people and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination and how it will involve their voices and makes use of their skills and experience.

They must also show how their project makes a difference and how they will measure that impact.

Announcing the news yesterday, Kate Still, Scotland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re delighted to open these new funding programmes which were developed with and for Scotland’s essential community and voluntary sector. Over the next five years we want to support activity that inspires community action and leads to fairer life chances for those most vulnerable in our society.

“That’s why our new programmes will invest most where the need is greatest, reaching people and communities across Scotland that are experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. We’ll do this by funding projects that build on the strengths within communities and which give people more agency and control over their lives and the activities and services that support them.

“None of this would be possible without National Lottery players who can take pride in knowing that their contribution will make a huge difference to the lives of people up and down the country.”

This year marks 30 years since the first National Lottery draw in 1994. Thanks to National Lottery players, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded £1.9 billion to over 46,000 charities and community groups in Scotland during that time.

*Jack preparing soup at The Usual Place*

One project already empowering young people with additional support needs is The Usual Place in Dumfries, which is using its National Lottery grant of £199,852 to run accredited training programmes in food, drink and hospitality.

Craig McEwen, Chief Executive of The Usual Place said: “We welcome these new funding programmes from The National Lottery Community Fund, which represent a transformative step toward sustainable support for third sector organisations.

“In today’s rapidly changing funding landscape, we are crying out for multi-year, equity-based funding to provide essential stability for organisations like ours. It would allow us to plan with confidence, reach more young people with additional support needs and make long-term investments in meaningful solutions for those facing poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination.

“This approach goes beyond financial security; it reflects the value of lived experience and the importance of amplifying community voices in shaping impactful, responsive services.

“We’re excited to see how they this new funding will empower organisations like ours to deepen our work, build on our strengths, ensure that every individual we serve has a voice in shaping their own future and help create a fairer future for all.”

Community Action and Fairer Life Chances opened to applications yesterday – Wednesday 27 November.

Groups with ideas for funding are encouraged to get in touch to discuss their idea by email at advicescotland@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk, or by phone on 0300 123 7110 (open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

For more information on all funding available from The National Lottery Community Fund visit https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/scotland

Art therapy and hands on training leads to brighter futures thanks to Young Start

Organisations supporting children, teenagers and young adults across Scotland are today (6th November) sharing in £1,371,545 from Young Start.

Young Start delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund awards money from dormant bank accounts to projects that help young people across Scotland reach their full potential.  

Full list of funded projects: Young Start Table of Awards November 2024

One of 15 groups who will benefit from a share of -the funding is Musselburgh based charity, Teapot Trust.

Through the gentle process of art therapy, Teapot Trust supports children and young people living with chronic illness who are struggling with their mental health. Thanks to funding of £50,700 they will be able to continue providing this service for another two years.

Sammy* age 9, who comes along to Young Voices said: “I like this group because it makes me feel calm. You can be who you are because there are other people with arthritis.”

Ally Lloyd, Participation Officer, Young Voices, said: “It’s incredible to have this support from Young Start.

“Over the last year we have been working with children and young people with chronic illness who have taken part in art therapy with us, to understand what help they need. They have told us that they need more support around transitions, chronic illness and grief and get more chances to meet peers.

“They’ve already got some brilliant ideas about what can be done next, involving others and making a difference. It’s brilliant to think that now, thanks to this funding, we can make this happen.”

Edinburgh-based national organisation YouthLink Scotland receives just under £100,000. The group will use the funding to deliver four national initiatives which will empower young leaders to influence change at a local and national level.

This will include continued support for the development of the iWill Ambassadors, as well as the implementation of a national YouthBank where young grant makers will participate in the distribution of a variety of funds.

Helm Training Ltd has been supporting young people across Dundee to gain education and employment for over 40 years. An award of £90,000 means that they can run a vehicle maintenance and work experience at their training garage, Helm Autocare.

This project means that young people will work alongside an experienced mechanic to gain hands on training and SQA qualifications that will help them secure an apprenticeship, job or progress onto further education.

Ally Calder, CEO, Helm Training Ltd, said: “We can continue to support young people into college and apprenticeships through our training garage, Helm Auto care.  

“The garage provides the opportunity to gain qualifications in a real work environment, meeting customers, dealing with suppliers and working on many different makes of vehicles. We are delighted that we can continue this project and support more young people into work.”

Announcing the funding, Kate Still, Scotland Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund said: “We are always delighted to support such a broad range of projects that are driven by what young people want and need from their communities.

“Organisations like Helm Training and Teapot Trust support young people to gain new skills and look after their own wellbeing and we’re delighted that Young Start funding will help them grow and develop this vital work. “

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

* not real name