£945k National Lottery cash boost to kick off the new year

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The year has gotten off to a flying start for 143 arts, sports and community groups across Scotland, thanks to a New Year National Lottery cash boost of £945,298.

The funding comes from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland – a quick and simple way to access small National Lottery grants of between £500 and £10,000. See a full list of awards

A popular internet radio station in Edinburgh, produced and broadcast by adults on the Autistic Spectrum, today receives a boost of £9,124. SAM (Scottish Autistic Media) Radio will use the funding to continue to broadcast the radio show which provides people with new production and presenting skills and opportunities to make new friends.

Presenter, Joseph Cox, said, “This award will make sure our 23 presenters can produce and broadcast a one hour radio show every week.

“This will give them a range of practical skills which will help them to gain college or university placements in the media and creative industries. Our presenters not only face a lack of job opportunities but are inexperienced in social communication skills and often find it hard to make friends. It’s been great for people to meet up here, learn new skills and form new friendships.”

Dunbar Life Saving Club will be able to train a team of volunteers in outdoor water rescue, thanks to an award of £10,000. Currently there is no dedicated lifeguard or patrol service in place and the training means that the town’s busy beach will have a dedicated water safety response team for local swimmers and surfers.

Head Coach, Sally Harris, said, “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding from the National Lottery. We will now be able to put together Scotland’s first community-led voluntary surf lifesaving beach patrol team in Dunbar. The funding will also allow us to continue our preventative education programme, helping to reduce the national coastal drowning statistics.”

A National Lottery Awards for All Scotland spokesperson said: “This is National Lottery money making a real impact in communities across the country. The 143 groups receiving funding today showcases the range of projects that can be funded through this programme and the difference that the smallest amounts of money can make. We wish them all the best for the year ahead as they begin to put their plans into action.”

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland is open to applications on a rolling basis and can be received at any time. To find out what National Lottery Awards for All Scotland could do for your community visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland or phone 0300 123 7110.