One hundred community projects across the West Midlands, including projects in Birmingham, Coventry, Halesowen, Hereford, Leamington Spa, Lichfield, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Worcester will be helping local people improve their communities after the Big Lottery Fund awarded a total of £2,121,499 to the region.
Below are a few examples of some of the projects and a full list of today’s awards is attached.
Sandwell Volunteer Bureau receives £453,220 to expand a recent pilot project that will provide volunteering opportunities for people suffering with poor mental health and those living with physical and learning disabilities.
The project aims to improve mental wellbeing through the delivery of education and training opportunities, which in turn will up-skill the volunteers bringing them closer to the job market whilst also supporting their wider development. Training elements such as numeracy, literacy and food hygiene will be delivered with the support of Sandwell Workforce Enterprise & Development Agency (SWEDA).
Also receiving funding is GT Bridge Community Forum for the Farley Young Peoples project. They are awarded £104,846 to help improve their health, wellbeing and community participation. The project will provide support in an area with high rates of childhood obesity and deprivation, offering free sporting and physical activities to disadvantaged young people aged eight to 16 who would otherwise be unable to afford it. Healthy eating workshops will also be offered to them and their parents/carers.
Whilst Asha Women’s Centre in Worcester will use £255,558 for a new project, to engage women in active volunteering to help improve their lives, and those of their families and communities, and open up new opportunities for employment. The project will provide volunteer and mentoring support for hard to reach women from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund, England Grant-making Director said: “There is a great mix of projects being funded across the region that are working hard to make a difference to the lives of people in their local communities. The Big Lottery Fund is proud to support those who are taking a lead in making these positive changes.”
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.
