WIREDGOV

Much needed respite for unpaid carers is on the way with a grant today from the Big Lottery Fund to a London-based charity that helps people who are looking after disabled or sick relatives across England.

The £109,328 award comes from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, which supports projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged people in England. Across the country this month, 36 projects share in close to £7.3million.

Big Lottery Fund Chair of England Committee Sanjay Dighe said: “Carers do a very important job in supporting some of the country’s most vulnerable people, yet their needs and well-being can be overlooked. This fantastic project offers them much needed support and respite from their day-to-day responsibilities and is a great example of how BIG’s Reaching Communities programme is striving to improve the quality of life for people across England.”

The Kiloran Trust based in West Kensington receives the grant of £109,328 to organise residential breaks for unpaid carers of sick, disabled and older relatives, friends or other dependents. Carers from across England can come and stay at The Kiloran Trust’s premises for a five-day break, where they can rest, recuperate and pursue new interests away from their day-to-day caring responsibilities.

As well as providing carers with accommodation and food, The Kiloran Trust also has trained staff on hand to offer support and a listening ear for any problems and difficulties they may be experiencing.  For those who have not stayed in London before, the project staff will also join carers on day trips out in the capital and advise them on where to go and what to see, helping them get the most out of their stay.   

Noreen McIIvenna, Director, The Kiloran Trust, said: “The trustees and staff are absolutely ecstatic about this wonderful news, we cannot thank you enough, for enabling us to continue to make a difference in carer's lives by offering them respite from caring. Enabling them to take a short time out to concentrate on themselves for a change, returning to their selfless job of caring for a loved one, feeling refreshed and rested.”

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 250,000 grants given out across the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.