National Lottery Community Fund – Page 4 – The NEN

A beating Heart for Newhaven!

£792,000 for Victoria Primary School community project

A primary school in Newhaven, which was about to fall empty, is set for a new role at the centre of the community following an award £792,000 from the Scottish Land Fund.

On hearing news of its successful application, Rodney Matthews, Chair, Heart of Newhaven Community, said: “This grant will cover the purchase price of the property and help with initial development costs.

“While the date when the children will move into their new school in Western Harbour is not yet known, we are now able to move forward confidently with our plans for what is a much-loved icon of Newhaven.”

In the project’s latest newletter, released this morning, The Chair told Heart of Newhaven supporters: “The site of Victoria Primary School IS going to be the Heart of Newhaven Community!

“This time last year the City of Edinburgh Council approved our request to take over the school and reduced the valuation price by £85,000 because of what we’ve promised to do, especially for the very young, the elderly, isolated and most vulnerable. Provided we could pay them£700,000, they would sell the site to the community.

“The Scottish Land Fund (SLF) has just given us that whole amount – and more!

“This SLF was set up by the Scottish Governmentto help charities just like ours working to improve local communities in the ways we have set out for the site, in order for it to become a vibrant hub of activity of people of all generations working and playing together; as we have often said, ‘the beating Heart of Newhaven’.

“All approved. We are now poised to sign two contracts: one with the SLFand the other with the Councilfor vacant possession of the site on a date yet to be announced, dependent on the completion of building works across the road. When we do get the keys, there will be much work to be done to get the building safe and ready for use, so bear with us. We will go as fast as we safely can.

“There will be plenty of exciting things to share to take us on through the challenge of the months ahead right through the inevitably unknown autumn and winter to come and into the spring of 2022 – when you will really begin to see things happen.”

The Heart of Newhaven funding announcement – and welcome news for three further community projects – was made yesterday (29 July) by Environment and Land Reform Minister, Mairi McAllan (below), while visiting EATS Rosyth.

Last November EATS Rosyth received £284,500 from the Scottish Land Fund in order to purchase a disused Clydesdale Bank Building in order to relocate and expand its community activities around cooking and food.

Ms McAllan said: “Communities across Scotland are achieving great things with support from the Scottish Land Fund. These awards will be a boost to the four communities who’ve worked so hard to keep their projects going through all the challenges of the last year.

“Visiting the Rosyth Community Garden and Orchard has shown the value of placing ownership and decision-making in the hands of local communities.

“By relocating the community hub to the new premises acquired through the Scottish Land Fund, EATS Rosyth aim to expand their existing services and offer a suite of new activities aimed at growing and sharing food, reducing waste, helping the environment, and improving food education.

“These projects will make a big contribution to their communities, to local resilience and recovery.”

Stephen Lynas, Chairman of EATS Rosyth said: “We’re grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for their assistance in helping us purchase the building. Following a successful round of fundraising and getting in place the various consents required, we will be starting the renovation works for our new hub premises in the very near future.

“We’re looking forward to providing a brand-new community facility that will give us with a fantastic platform to grow our services and support our local community in Rosyth and Southwest Fife.”

Other projects benefiting during the current round of funding include Forgan Art Centre, which has been given £292,800 to buy the Leng Home, a disused care home in Newport on Tay and turn it into a space for social and economic activities and to increase social interaction.

Forgan Art Centre Chairperson, Gillian Burch, said: “The management team at Forgan are really delighted that we have secured the funding to buy the Leng Home and take the Forgan Arts Centre forwards onto the next phase of its journey.

“The continued support from our local community, who want to see the Leng Home kept for community use, has encouraged us to keep going and we now look forward to expanding the Forgan Arts Centre in its new home.”

Carluke Development Trust has been awarded £112,000 to buy a two-storey house adjacent to Carluke High Mill, which the Trust already owns. This will allow it to continue its project to reduce dereliction and promote regeneration in the town.

Bill Anderson, Carluke Development Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive support from the Scottish Land Fund for the acquisition of the former Millers House that sits within the Carluke High Mill and ONECarluke Community Growing & Learning Garden site.

“The acquisition of the house will complete the community ownership of the whole site and allow the project to create a larger Community HUB and move into an even more exciting period of delivery and further development.”

And Edinbane Community Company on Skye has been given £135,000 with which to buy three serviced building plots on which it plans to erect six affordable homes that will be rented to the community.

Alistair Danter, Chair, Edinbane Community Company, said: “This is great news for the community who have been working for over three years to tackle the lack of affordable housing in Edinbane.

“We are immensely grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for its support of our community initiative, and we look forward to working with the private developer SLL to deliver six new affordable homes in 2023.”

The new Chair of the Scottish Land Fund, Cara Gillespie, said: “We are delighted to make these awards, the first for our new Committee.

“It is a privilege to support communities with their efforts to improve where they live. These awards will make a positive difference, strengthening communities and empowering local people.”

The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “It’s great to see more dynamic communities taking control of resources for the long-term benefit of their local areas and people.

Having greater control over such assets will help ensure their long-term future. I am delighted we have been able to provide Scottish Land Fund support and wish all the groups the very best in their new ventures.”

Edinburgh disability groups amongst those to benefit from £610K Lottery cash boost

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.

Stroke charity’s Lottery award set to benefit hundreds of survivors

The Stroke Association in Scotland is planning to support hundreds more people affected by stroke as they recover from the effects of their stroke and impact of lockdown in the aftermath of the pandemic.

The charity has received a Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund to help develop and expand its peer support offers to help people affected by stroke, rebuild their lives again.

John Watson, Director Scotland of the Stroke Association said: “As well as the physical disabilities caused by stroke, there are many other stroke related difficulties less visible but just as important. For example, a third of stroke survivors in Scotland will experience depression.

“We are delighted to be granted this award from The National Lottery Community Fund who has recognised the value of our support services and need for them to grow – particularly at this time. Our Recoveries At Risk survey last year highlighted that just under half of people affected by stroke felt less able to cope with the impact of their stroke during lockdown.

“In response to the pandemic, we are delivering new support offers in Scotland that aim to address the psychological impact of stroke – particularly the emotional needs of people affected by stroke.

“We will use the funding to continue and expand the support options for people recovering from stroke throughout Scotland. That support will help stroke survivors connect with local groups, facilitate Zoom meetings, and run face to face support groups. They will also receive vital information to help with their own self-management.”

Heather Melville-Hume from Galashiels, was only 43 when she had her stroke two and a half years ago. It came completely out of the blue. In an instant, her life changed as she knew it.

Heather was unable to walk confidently or use her lower right arm and dominant hand. The fatigue that came after her stroke was overwhelming. Everything felt like a huge mountain to climb – both physically and emotionally.

And as if that wasn’t hard enough to deal with, Heather then lost her husband who she had been with for seven and a half years.

She said: “Nobody around me had been widowed at such a young age and there was no one I knew my age, dealing with the impact of a stroke. I was in a very lonely place.”

Heather heard about the charity’s stroke café via social media. And although initially anxious to join online and talk to people, something made her do it.

“I was delighted to feel at first like I didn’t need to say anything. People were just talking normally about everyday things, and it was very relaxed with a warm welcome by volunteers involved.

“After a while people started to talk about what sort of a week they’d had. And that’s when I heard some fascinating stories about peoples’ stroke experiences and how they were coping/had coped. I realised I was not alone, that every stroke comes with its challenges, but there is hope and you can get back to a new normal.

“I am delighted the Stroke Association in Scotland is receiving support from The National Lottery Community Fund. There is so much value in connecting with strangers with shared experiences in lifting your mood, spirit and importantly raise a smile on the hardest of days.”

ANOTHER BIG WINNER announced this morning was ELREC (Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council), who received almost £100,000.

The Forth Street-based organisation will use the funding ‘to continue supporting isolated women and activities will include exercise classes, arts and crafts workshops, a women’s health forum, and opportunities to practice talking and writing in English.

‘Participants will meet new friends and will benefit from a supportive network, improved wellbeing and increasing social interaction.’

The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still: said: “In these unprecedented times, it’s heartening to see the way Scottish communities are coming together to provide each other with support.

“I would like to congratulate the Stroke Association in Scotland on their award which is testament to the incredible efforts of their staff and volunteers. National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference.”

£1.5 million Lottery support helps Edinburgh community groups adapt and recover from Covid-19

Edinburgh-based groups helping older people to re-connect, new parents feel less isolated and those with sight loss more empowered are amongst those today sharing in £1,483,518 of National Lottery funding.

The cash from The National Lottery Community Fund is being shared by 30 groups in the city helping local communities adapt and recover from COVID-19.

As lockdown restrictions begin to lift members of the Royston Wardieburn Community Centre’s Spring Chicken’s group are hoping to reconnect in person and get back to the things they love with an award £9,940.

Neil Saddington, Equalities and Inclusion Worker with the group, said: “Most of the Spring Chickens group are elderly people who experience a variety of different health issues and disabilities.

“This essential National Lottery funding has enabled us to do valuable work to combat isolation and loneliness during the most recent lockdown. Now that restrictions are slowly being lifted, we are looking forward to one to one outdoor meet ups to support some of the most isolated members of the group get out and about again.”

There was more good news for another North Edinburgh project as FetLor youth club has also received National Lottery support.

The club said in a statement: “FetLor are delighted to have received an award from The National Lottery Community Fund. We plan to use this funding to support our young people as they return to the Club after lockdown.

“FetLor is a club at the heart of the north Edinburgh community and this funding will support the young people from that community as they make a return to what’s important; being with friends in a safe and supportive space.”

FetLor Director, Richie Adams said, “This last year has been challenging both for our members and for our community. As we move out of lockdown, we are delighted to be welcoming young people back into their club.

“We are looking forward to supporting our members build resilience, achieve their potential and have great fun doing so! The support from the National Lottery enables us to do all we can to make sure our members have a fun time thriving and growing at FetLor”

Based in Edinburgh and working Scotland wide, Sight Scotland offers support to anyone impacted by sight loss, as well as their relatives, friends and carers.

Thanks to an award of £150,000, its Family Wellbeing service will providea range of support to address the loneliness and mental health impacts of sight-loss, and the additional impacts of Covid-19.

Mark O’Donnell, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland, said: “A huge thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for this funding. It will enable us to provide practical and emotional support to even more people affected by visual impairment in communities across Scotland via our recently established Family Wellbeing Service.

“With the number of people with sight loss in Scotland set to increase by 30,000 to over 200,000 in the next decade, it is vital that Sight Scotland is there for people with sight loss and their loved ones whenever and however they need us.”

An award of £107,000 goes to Passion4Fusion to deliver a health, wellbeing and support service for Black African people in Edinburgh and West Lothian.

Welcoming the award Jonathan Ssentamu of Passion4Fusion, said: “We are very excited and really grateful for the support of the National Lottery Community Fund to enable us to develop this much-needed project which will help to address the complex issues and needs that Black Africans are facing.

“Experience has shown us that many Black Africans living in poverty and deprivation would choose to be ‘invisible’ rather than admit to needing help and in turn seeking the help they need. Our Project will support people directly within their local community, making it as easy as possible to access culturally sensitive services that will allow them to thrive in life.”

Dads Rock will deliver group sessions to fathers on topics such as parenting advice, health and safety and mental health, thanks to an award of £9,950.

Lisa Holder, Fundraising Manager, said: “This funding will help us give online support to around 1000 parents across Scotland over the next year, helping them to feel less isolated and learn new skills.

“It will enable them to become more confident and resilient and their children will feel safe, loved and supported.”

Networking Key Services Limited is a community organisation working closely with South Asian and other ethnic minority communities in Edinburgh.

Welcoming their £103,840 award, Naina Minhas, Manager, Networking Key Services Ltd, said: “The National Lottery funding we have received in the past has enabled us to set up a forum for South Asian female carers in Edinburgh.

“This new award will go a long way to address the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on South Asian communities and will enable us to support communities in their recovery from the challenges that have further widened pre-existing inequalities.”

Across the country 246 community projects are today sharing in £10,922,832.

Announcing the funding, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “It’s great to see such a variety of projects being funded in Edinburgh to help local people adapt and recover from the physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference, connecting local people to others in their communities.”

National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for good causes in the UK.

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

Link Up: Working Better Together in Place report released

The Place-based Programme Learning Exchange, a collaboration of national organisations that champion ‘place’ in their practices, has released a report highlighting what works and what doesn’t in place-based approaches.

This report aims to share these key learnings to enhance both the scale and quality of place-based working across Scotland, and draws on over 50 years of combined organisational experience and learning across dozens of urban and rural place settings.

Working-Better-Together-in-Place_PBPLExchange_FINAL_290321 Download

Million-pound Lottery boost to improve the health of Young Scots

PROJECTS supporting young Scots with their physical and mental health and are today sharing in almost £1 million of dormant bank account funding.

The cash from the Young Start fund goes to 12 groups across the country including West of Scotland based Able2Sail which offers sailing voyages and qualifications for young people of all abilities, Feeling Strong, a youth mental health charity giving a voice to young people in Dundee and to three Edinburgh projects.

There’s £100,000 for Friends of the Award in Edinburgh & The Lothians. The group will use the funding to support young people with mental health issues in partnership with NHS Lothian.

Young people age 14 – 24 years will build their confidence, learn new skills and gain accredited awards using the Duke of Edinburgh Award structure. The project will involve 140 young people and 15 volunteers over 3 years.

Edinburgh & Lothian Greenspace Trust receives £60,474 to develop and deliver ten woodland activities and skills programmes across three years for young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians, beginning in Craigmillar but expanding to other areas in subsequent years.

The programme is for 16-24 year olds who have left mainstream education and will lead to a Saltire Award. The project will work with around 120 young people and involve 5 volunteers.

Last but not least, Edinburgh-based Love Learning Scotland receives £25,000 to support young people facing challenging circumstances, those excluded from mainstream education and those with limited support networks.

This will be achieved by providing young people with the opportunity to design, develop, and deliver farm and food activities and through personalised learning pathways where young people can achieve accredited qualifications through online learning. 150 young people will take part, supported by 15 volunteers.

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

Originally set up in 2006 for people and families affected by disability, Able2Sail runs a Youth Forum where young people develop their sailing and teamwor kingskills while working together towards a sailing qualification.

Today the group receives an award of £51,448 to enable members of its youth forum to take part in yacht, dinghy and powerboating sessions when restrictions allow.

Welcoming the news, Gordon Tatnell, Chair of Able2Sail, said: “This Young Start award is wonderful news.

It means we can continue our Youth Forum project over the next three years. Our young people are absolutely delighted and cannot wait to get back on the water and into training.”

With an award of £99,911, Feeling Strong will deliver a recovery-focused mental health service for young people in Dundee.

The service will include peer mentoring, advice and support with employment and training opportunities and access to therapeutic activities such as sports and arts sessions.

Brook Marshall, CEO of Feeling Strong, said: “We’re so excited to be running our new range of projects, enabled by the Young Start fund, for the benefit of some of Dundee’s most vulnerable young people.

“These projects will work with young people with mental health and wellbeing challenges to support their recovery journeys and give them the holistic, wraparound support that’s needed to make sure they’re able to move forward in a positive and meaningful way.”

Announcing today’s awards totalling £946,347, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “This funding will give a huge boost to hundreds of young people across Scotland who now more than ever need a focus and something to look forward to when restrictions allow.

“Whether it’s a project supporting young people with their mental health or a sports activity leading to a recognised qualification, each one will provide a fantastic opportunity for young Scots to build key skills and confidence for the future.

“We are always keen to support projects which put young people front and centre in the development and running of services. If your group has an idea for funding, then we’d love to hear from you.”

Groups wanting to know more about Young Start, and how it can support them during these unprecedented times should visit:

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/youngstart

or telephone 0141 846 0447.

An early Merry Christmas for local community projects

As a difficult year draws to a close, 20 community groups in Edinburgh are ending 2020 with some good news: a £328,583 cash boost from The National Lottery Community Fund!

Among the local organisations receiving early Christmas cheer are Ama-Zing Harmonies, Muirhouse Millennium Centre and North Edinburgh Arts.

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‘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      

Young Scots benefit from £660,000 to break down barriers

Projects helping young Scots overcome barriers to employment and education during the pandemic today celebrate over half a million pounds in new funding.

Intercultural Youth Scotland and Forth Valley Disability Sport are amongst nine youth-led groups that will help young Scots build confidence, develop new skills and realise their full potential, sharing in £659,935 from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Young Start Fund.

Thanks to £98,710 in funding the future of Intercultural Youth Scotland’s Restless Natives programme is assured for the next three years.

This work supports young Scots from minority ethnic backgrounds to overcome the challenges they face in accessing employment, education and volunteering.

Restless Natives will help more young people like Nisha Singh, 17, from Edinburgh, who has found the programme was a vital source of support during lockdown.

On leaving college this year Nisha had hoped to take on an apprenticeship as she left formal education. The COVID-19 crisis threw those plans into jeopardy leaving Nisha worried and stressed for her future.

Nisha said: “The help I’ve got from Restless Natives has made a huge difference to me. They stepped in and offered support with applications, online interviews, updating my CV, and from my mental health perspective it really helped as well.

“The youth practitioners are young and have experiences of struggling to get support through their education and employment too – so they really listen to young people’s needs. I felt supported and I knew where to go when I had any questions.

“It’s thanks to the help I’ve had from Restless Natives I have been accepted on to a graduate apprenticeship in my chosen field, software engineering, which starts this month.

“I’m so thankful this service exists. It’s so different from schools and is more accessible and comfortable to young BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Colour) Scots like me.”

Forth Valley Disability Sport (FVDS) also picks up £51,000 in funding today to expand its Step Out project supporting young people living with a physical, sensory or learning disability across the Forth Valley area.

The project uses sport and physical activity to help disabled young people make friends, develop life skills, and gain qualifications.

Welcoming the award is FVDS youth volunteer, Caitlyn Ross, from Denny, who started taking part in disability sport when she was just ten years old: “Over the years disability sport has truly changed my life for the better.

“I feel like I have found where I belong, and I am a part of something where I don’t feel judged and can just be me, so I’d like to say thank you to Young Start.

“Coming to Forth Valley Disability Sport has helped develop my confidence and self-esteem and I have made so many friends. It also led to me volunteering both here and with several other local organisations. I have also gained qualifications and expanded my knowledge in so many different sports.

“I’ve also had great opportunities to share my story around sports volunteering and I have my voice heard in the Forth Valley Disability Sports Youth Committee, the Scottish Disability Sports (SDS) Youth Panel and the SDS Young Start Programme.”

Graham Harvey, FVDS Branch Coordinator, said: “This grant from Young Start will allow us to continue to develop a wide range of opportunities within the Forth Valley area. FVDS greatly appreciates the support of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Young Start Fund to help the charity to change lives through sport and physical activity.”

Young Start awards dormant bank and building society cash to youth-led projects across Scotland and is delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Announcing today’s funding totalling £659,935, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Director, Neil Ritch, said: “Young Start funding helps to support young people to build confidence, develop new skills and realise their own potential. Each project awarded today has made an incredible impact in the lives of the young people they support.

“They are great examples of how the youth sector has stepped up during the current crisis offering support in new ways. At a time when young people are concerned about their futures, I’m delighted that Young Start is working with projects like Intercultural Youth Scotland, and all these projects, offering renewed support into employment and education.”

Groups wanting to know more about Young Start, and how it can support them during these unprecedented times should visit

https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/youngstart or contact 0141 846 0447.

HUGE Lottery boost for North Edinburgh Childcare

An award of £770k announced today to North Edinburgh Childcare means they will be able to transform and expand their existing premises allowing them to increase the services they already provide and support even more families across the city.

The award is one of 32 groups across Edinburgh sharing in £1,299,743 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Welcoming the award, Theresa Allison, General Manager, North Edinburgh Childcare, said: “We are absolutely delighted at this award which will go towards a new build and renovations of our existing building which will enable us to create an additional 84 full-time equivalent childcare places.

“Once built this has the potential to support approximately another 200 parents/carers to lift themselves out of poverty. We are so excited about the new build and refurbishment but even more excited that, for the first time ever, we will be able to offer a number of places to people aspiring to get into work or training. This is all possible thanks to people who play The National Lottery.”

Another capital organisation celebrating this morning is Leith’s Multi Cultural Family Base (MCFB), who receive £233,000 to deliver support services to vunerable children and families from primarily minority ethnic communities.

A spokesperson for MCFB said: We are thrilled to receive continued funding from the The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland to continue supporting children from minority ethnic communities in Edinburgh with the important transition from home and nursery to school via our 4-2-7 project.

“As well as supporting children one to one and, when possible, within school settings, this will include our continued work supporting parents by providing them a space to meet once a week to build confidence, make friendships and share experiences.

“We look forward to continuing to work with schools and families both virtually and, when we can, face to face at our offices and within schools.”

There’s also £8750 for Blackhall Playgroup, who will use their award to prepare for the easing of lockdown, putting measures in place to enable the return of some children and also provide resources to those who cannot.

And Granton Parish Church will be cooking with gas – the church on Boswall Parkway receives £10,000 for a new kitchen in the church hall, supporting numerous community groups who use the popular local facility.

Announcing today’s funding to 311 projects across Scotland, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “These awards, made possible by National Lottery players, recognise the incredible work happening across Scotland to create stronger, more connected communities.

“I am delighted that some of this funding will be used to transform existing buildings into vibrant community hubs that will carry on the strong community spirit that has been so evident in recent times.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that money they raise by buying tickets is continuing to make such a difference.”

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