Over £10.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund will be shared amongst 140 Yorkshire and Humber organisations including projects in Bradford, Leeds, North East Lincolnshire, Rotherham, and Skipton.
The funding will support local organisations to help improve their local communities and the lives of people most in need. Some of the awards are detailed below:
The Riverside Group Limited Sheffield receives £493,583 for a new project based on the organisation’s current work supporting veterans. It will provide a range of basic life skills, confidence raising and job skills. The services will be aimed at veterans who have mental health issues and are vulnerable to unemployment, becoming homeless and misusing alcohol. The project will take place at supported housing schemes for homeless veterans in Aldershot and Catterick and enable a positive independent life which is sustained through stable employment.
Eccleshill Adventure Playground in Bradford receives £347,222 as a development of existing support delivered by Eccleshill Adventure Playground (EAP). It will target the most deprived areas of Bradford’s six districts and will provide a wide range of free play opportunities and support for disadvantaged children and young people, along with their parents and carers, to support their development.
Foresight are awarded £105,066 to run drama workshops for people living with dementia and their carers in North East Lincolnshire. The scheme will use reminiscence therapy for people with dementia to reconnect with themselves and their past. Drama workshops will support them to look forward, be creative and use their imagination, tapping into their skills, talents and experiences which may have been forgotten or been diminished as their condition progresses. The project aims to improve the quality of life for participants and their carers.
United 4 Communities in Rotherham receive £9,980 to deliver community events and tournaments, involving sports, arts and culture. This will also provide volunteering opportunities for young people, and help bring the multicultural community together to celebrate diversity, rebuild friendships and promote understanding and tolerance of other cultures.
Skipton Extended Learning for All are awarded £9,975 to set up a mentoring and befriending project for young people who are socially isolated and disengaged. This will enable young people to take part in activities that raise their aspirations to reduce social isolation.
Anatolian Society Ltd in Hull receive £9,300 to deliver English reading, writing, speaking and listening workshops, for local people who do not speak English. This will provide them with skills and knowledge to successfully integrate into the community, with the aim of reducing isolation and promoting cohesion.
Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund England grant making director said: “So many local community organisations are enabling people and communities to grow together bringing positive changes to their lives and futures. It’s wonderful when we hear the stories of how through these great projects people have overcome barriers, learned new skills and improved their lives.”
The awards have been made through the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All and Reaching Communities programmes. Awards for All provides grants between £300 and £10,000 to voluntary and community organisations, and Reaching Communities awards larger grants of £10,000 and above.
