Devon groups share Lottery millions
More than 70 community projects across the South West will be helping local people improve their communities after the Big Lottery Fund awarded a total of £1,987,817 to the region.
Projects in Exeter to receive funding include:
Ladysmith Junior School has been awarded £9,500 to install a timber play trail on the school field. This will improve the outdoor environment at the school and enable beneficiaries to access more outdoor play opportunities.
Devon Voluntary Action (DeVA) receives funding of £10,000 to deliver a mentoring, volunteering and learning project, tailored for people with physical and mental ill health, or learning needs. This will enable them to volunteer and participate in community activities, which will improve their skills and confidence.
Exeter Community Energy will also receive £10,000 to funding to deliver workshops and activities to raise awareness of energy issues and to promote community led solutions that address renewable energy, energy efficiency and fuel poverty. This will promote environmental awareness through an educational project.
Hollywell Housing Trust receives £7,635 to carry out a feasibility study that will focus upon the housing needs of people with learning difficulties, ill mental health and those who are homeless. This will much needed social support for vulnerable and at risk.
Tedburn St Mary Primary School is to get £9,797 to develop outdoor play facilities due to lack of facilities within the local area. This will increase the community usage of play facilities.
The Devon Federation of Young Farmers will receive £10,000 to install a kitchen at their new rural community centre. This will provide a facility for the organisation and other local community groups where they can hold training sessions and meetings.
Topsham School has been awarded £8,463 to create an all weather garden enabling extra-curricular activities to take place which will assist in the integration of parents and children where English is not their first language. This will provide an enhanced facility where the whole community can come together to participate in workshops.
Elsewhere in Devon
Sidmouth College will receive £8,090. The group will use the funding to provide extracurricular outreach sessions to help young people record video diaries to voice the pressures and problems they face living in the local area. This will enable young people to explore the causes and interventions available to prevent antisocial behaviour in the community.
Upstream Healthy Living Centre in Tiverton gets £8,576 which will allow them to offer cognitive stimulation therapy sessions to older people with moderate dementia and younger people with memory issues. This will enable them to remain engaged in community life for longer, providing supportive and non-threatening group experiences.
Devon Mediation Service Limited in Crediton has been awarded £1,500 funding to provide training for its volunteers and improve its infrastructure for the delivery of community mediation services. This will enable the organisation to enhance the way in which it meets its service users.
Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund, England Grant Making Director, said: “Whether it is working to reduce children’s vulnerability to abuse or supporting people with mental health issues to gain confidence, these projects will make a huge difference to the lives of many.
"These projects are excellent examples of people working together to help others in their community including supporting them to attain the skills they need to realise their potential.”
Today’s 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 for more long term projects.
For more information on funding available visit: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding
