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NINE projects aimed at helping those most in need across the capital are benefiting from more than one million pounds of Big Lottery Funding.

The money is handed out through BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, dedicated to improving the lives of the most vulnerable people in the country. Good causes this month include supporting carers in Redbridge and opening up opportunities for disabled children in Greenwich.

Debbie Pippard, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of Region for London, said: “Groups receiving funding today are carrying out wonderful work in their communities. Whether providing vulnerable and isolated people with basic skills, or giving carers much-needed respite, these projects will help people to lead happier, healthier lives.”

Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s One Goal 4 All project received £117,302 encourage disabled children and young people with mental health issues to develop numeracy and literacy skills through sport.

Barry Simmons, Disability and Mental Health Officer for the Trust, said: “Many of the youngsters we work with suffer from isolation, difficulty developing social skills and learning difficulties. It’s proven that physical activity is beneficial to a person’s physical and mental well being, so we’re using this technique as a tool for engaging youngsters in order to help them to develop some important basic skills.

“We have built up connections with employment and education providers in the area with the long-term goal of getting these young people into full-time employment or education.”

The project hopes to support around two to three hundred youngsters over a three-year period, using sporting activities including football, athletics, basketball and cricket as an engagement tool.

Providing carers with much-needed respite is the aim of Redbridge, Epping and Harlow Crossroads' new project. A £247,889 grant will enable the Caring for Carers, Dementia and End of Life Care Project (DELCAP) to get underway, allowing dementia sufferers to remain at home during their final two years of life.

Ms Eluned Santos, Director of Redbridge Crossroads, said: “People with advanced dementia who have previously been cared for in their homes often end up in residential care or making regular trips to hospital in their last few years of life. If the carers of dementia sufferers are given more support and the opportunity to rest they are better able to cope with the extra pressures resulting from their cared for’s deterioration.

“Our project will provide five families at a time with support, allowing them to get on with things they need to do for themselves or simply to have a sleep.”

Ms Eluned Santos continued: “There are six million carers in the UK who save the economy £86 billion per year. These people are doing 24/7 jobs – some dementia sufferers can wake hourly, requiring their carers help. They really need support and that’s what we’re here for.”

The project will provide five Redbridge families at a time with 10 hours support per week. It will also fund an Admiral nurse (specialist dementia nurse) to work one day per week to train and support family caregivers and staff, as well as offering activities for dementia sufferers and bereavement support for carers.

Also awarded good cause cash this week is the Creative Routes Project for CR Records. A £94,664 grant will allow weekly workshops in creating music, sound and technical production and design for people suffering severe and enduring mental health problems in and around Southwark.

The project will enable beneficiaries to play in a band, rehearse music, record a CD and create CD cover artwork.

To View other awards in London this month click here.

Further information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102 030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• The Big Lottery Fund rolls out close to £2 million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours which together with other Lottery distributors means that across the UK most people are within a few miles of a Lottery-funded project.
• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to Good Causes. As a result, over £20 billion has now been raised and more than 280,000 grants given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.