National Lottery money puts children first

Projects supporting children and families across Scotland cope with the most challenging of circumstances are at the heart of today’s (Thursday March 11) funding news from The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland.

Across the country 224 community projects are sharing in £9,159,036 all possible thanks to National Lottery players. Details of all awards are available here.

Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (known as CHAS) can now expand their ‘CHAS At Home’ service thanks to £100,000 in new funding. Staff formerly based in one of CHAS’s two hospices will work with families across the country providing support wherever and whenever required.

The service will support more families like Lynn Easdale and her four-year-old son, Jayden, who has Tay Sachs disease, a very rare, incurable condition which progressively destroys the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Lynn said: “This money will make a real difference to so many more families across Scotland like ours and allow them to access specialist care in the comfort of their own homes. This has been made possible by everyone who plays The National Lottery – thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Rami Oshaka, Chief Executive, CHAS, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been awarded this funding by The National Lottery Community Fund for the next two years. This incredible generosity will allow us to continue to extend our work in communities across Scotland, bringing vital care for children and their families into the home. I’d like to extend a big thank you to everyone who plays The National Lottery for making this possible. It’s because of people like you that help us reach every dying child.”

An award of £150,000 to Children 1^st means their national telephone helpline and digital family support service has an assured future.

Mary Glasgow, Chief Executive of Children 1st, said: “This grant will help us be there for more families, offering a lifeline of support to keep children safe and well at what is an incredibly difficult time for everybody. The funding will be used to offer practical, financial and emotional support to parents and carers through our national family support service ‘Children 1st Parentline’, available online at www.children1st.org.uk/parentline, or over the phone for free on 08000 28 22 33.”

Children and young people who have experienced loss and bereavement across Aberdeen will continue to be supported thanks to £107,000 for Sunrise Partnership SCIO.

Michelle Southgate, Support Service Manager, Sunrise Partnership, said: “This is fantastic news and we look forward to working in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund over the next three years. I know our children and young people will benefit greatly from this, enabling them to come to terms with their loss and realise their full potential.”

Ruby,16, from Central Aberdeenshire, said: “Sunrise has taught and given me strength to see the light as each day comes but to also live with the love our lost ones left behind. I’m forever grateful.”

Announcing today’s funding totalling £9,159,036, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “Many of today’s funded projects will provide specialist support to children and families experiencing the most stressful situations and will help to ease pressure and build resilience as they face the future.

“These projects will make a life changing difference to thousands of children and National Lottery players can be proud that the money they raise is making such a difference across Scotland.”

National Lottery players raise £30 million every week for good causes in the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk