Latest news with #TheNationalLotteryCommunityFund
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Paisley charity secures £300k to carry out lifeline work
The Star Project – which works to build resilience and supportive communities amidst the on-going cost-of-living crisis – has been awarded £327,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund The future of a lifeline Paisley charity has been secured thanks to a bumper £330k funding boost. The Star Project – which works to build resilience and supportive communities amidst the on-going cost-of-living crisis – has been awarded £327,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF). The money will be used to help cover the running costs of the Wallace Street charity over the next five years as it continues to support hundreds of local families. Sharon McAulay, chief executive of Star Project, said; 'We are absolutely delighted that TNLCF Scotland have chosen to continue supporting our work over the next five years. 'Their Fairer Life Chances award is towards our running costs, salaries and utilities, which have all increased due to the cost-of-living crisis. 'Core funding, such as this, is vital for us to continue being responsive to the needs of our community. We can't thank them enough for helping us to make a difference to the lives of thousands of people every year.' The award comes just months after Star Project celebrated its 25th birthday with a series of events including an amazing fundraiser in partnership with global superstar, and local legend, Paolo Nutini. It was initially set up in Shortroods in 1999 in a bid to address the impacts, and the associated stigma, of poverty and deprivation. It has grown exponentially and now delivers successful group, individual and community activities and supports that build resilience through themes of wellbeing, connections and creativity. In the past three years specifically Star has gone through a rapid period of growth, some planned, and some a legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent cost-of-living crisis; both resulting in unprecedented demand on their services. During this time staff worked with a total of 26,398 individuals in more than 300 different ways. Kate Still, Scotland chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: 'At the National Lottery Community Fund we are so proud to be able to support groups like the Star Project to make a real and lasting difference and help address the challenges their communities face. 'It's all made possible by National Lottery players and we're excited to see the outcomes of this project in Paisley over the months ahead.' The funding award comes as Star Project continues to make progress with its capital project. This has seen the charity take on the lease for its neighbouring property in a move that will increase floor space by 100 per cent. A winter garden between the two properties will also create a community growing and uplifting outdoor space. The increased space is becoming more valuable to The Star Project as it seeks to be able assist every person who walks through its doors. Its community fridge, which offers emergency food supplies to people in financial crisis, is already located in the new building, while additional rooms will provide space for its plethora of workshops and community groups.
The Sun
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
784 school clubs offer LGBTQ+ support and boost tolerance – thanks to £400k Lotto funding
GIVING young people a voice – that's what drives Laura Mackay, CEO of LGBTQ+ charity Just Like Us. And, thanks to over £400,000 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, those voices are only getting louder. 'If we listen to young people, there's so much kindness, passion and understanding there,' says Laura (top). 'We just need to give them the means to express themselves.' Just Like Us was founded in 2016 and its national network of LGBTQ+ lunchtime and after-school clubs, called Pride Groups, is one of its flagship programmes. The charity gives secondary schools all they need to set up and run a group – including online training for student leaders, posters, guides and fortnightly activity suggestions. Just Like Us now offers schools free Pride Groups resources, thanks to National Lottery funding. Laura – who became CEO of Just Like Us in 2023 after a teaching career – knows, from personal and professional experience, how vital this kind of empowerment is for LGBTQ+ young people. £98m: National Lottery funding towards LGBTQ+ projects 'When I was a pupil at secondary school, Section 28 – which banned anything that could be seen as promoting homosexuality in schools – was still in place,' says Laura, 39. 'Despite having supportive friends, without any positive role models, I felt very alone. 'Coming out in sixth form, which felt like a safe space, was a relief. 'Keeping a secret, like your sexuality, takes up a lot of energy and creates a sense of shame. 'Unsurprisingly, LGBTQ+ young people experience higher rates of mental health issues than their peers. 3 'That's why I'm so passionate about our Pride Groups – and so grateful to National Lottery funding.' Laura faced the question of when – or whether – to come out during her teaching career. 'I wanted to be known as the good teacher, not the gay teacher,' Laura says. 'But I was lucky to be in a supportive environment, with a staff working group focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion. 'So about 18 months into the job I plucked up the courage to start leading LGBTQ+ assemblies. 'I'm quite masculine-presenting so before I came out kids made homophobic comments. 'Afterwards all that stopped – I was owning my identity. Everybody deserves that freedom.' Coming out also allowed Laura, who rose through the teaching ranks to become assistant principal of a London academy, to advocate for LGBTQ+ students. 'A group of Year 9 girls told me their friend didn't feel she could come out at home because of her faith,' Laura says. 'They wanted to support her in school, so we came up with the idea of a Pride Group. 'We set out its values and rules and made a film of interviews with LGBTQ+ members of the school community. Young people have so much kindness and passion – we've just given them the means to express it 'It's how I first discovered Just Like Us. We were so inspired by their work, we organised a bake sale to fundraise for them.' Now, at Just Like Us, Laura oversees 784 Pride Groups across the UK – a figure that has climbed up from 250 at the start of the year thanks to National Lottery funding, which makes the resources free for every school. 'During School Diversity Week in June, we presented the student leader of the year award – handed over by our new patron, Dr Ronx Ikharia – to Aoife, who had just started secondary school when she set up a Pride Group,' Laura says. 'Year 7 and already a changemaker – she'll be prime minister one day! 'Pride Groups also create allies. One Year 10 boy felt too nervous to join his school's Pride Walk because he wasn't out yet. 'So a gang of his supposedly laddy mates walked with him – it was good to see allyship in action.' Next year, backed by National Lottery funding, Just Like Us will partner with disability charities to better support disabled LGBTQ+ youth and will continue working with parents to keep young people safe at home. 'The National Lottery team are curious and collaborative,' Laura says. 'They listen and are keen to track impact. 'But can I just say that I can't thank National Lottery players enough – every ticket sold helps make school a safer place for LGBTQ+ pupils.'
Scotsman
25-06-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Beatson Cancer Charity awarded £82,950 Young Start grant to support RadioTherapy podcast
Beatson Cancer Charity has received a Young Start award of £82,950 from The National Lottery Community Fund to continue the success of RadioTherapy – a podcast created by and for young people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The grant will support the production and marketing of the podcast over the next three years and also cover travel and accommodation costs for young people across Scotland who take part in the project. RadioTherapy is a powerful platform that brings together young people affected by cancer to share their experiences in their own words. The podcast has been praised for tackling difficult topics with honesty, warmth and insight – helping young people feel less alone during treatment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad RadioTherapy began as an idea from Julie Cain, Teenage Cancer Trust's National Lead Nurse for Scotland. When she brought it to Beatson Cancer Charity, we were delighted to support – and we're proud to continue funding the podcast as it grows, giving more young people the chance to share their stories and connect with others across Scotland. RadioTherapy Abby Maxwell, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 22, said: 'I think it has been so amazing that this podcast has brought us all together. I wouldn't have met any of the amazing people that I have met throughout the way if I hadn't been approached to do RadioTherapy. "When I was approached, I was only in remission a couple of months, so I really had no idea about the world. Having a group of young people that understood what I was going through really helped me. "So, I feel like the extra funding for the next three years is just going to open up a platform for so many young people to share their story, because cancer isn't linear and it doesn't affect everyone in the same way. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "Personally, I love listening to every episode because I love to hear other people that have experienced it as well – so I think that young people diagnosed may also find listening helpful.' Abby Maxwell Dana Maitles, from Glasgow, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at 18 and also featured in the podcast. She said: 'Being part of the podcast was such a memorable experience. Sharing my story, and hearing and understanding other people's fears and strengths has allowed me to understand my own – and has allowed me to get stronger without the feeling of guilt. "For me, it has been huge to connect with other people as well. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I think it is amazing we got the funding from the Young Start award from The National Lottery Community Fund – it's huge.' Dana Maitles Kate Still, Scotland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: 'We're thrilled to have been able to fund such innovative and inspiring groups through Young Start once again. "The skills, confidence and knowledge the thousands of young people will gain through taking part in these projects will be invaluable in building brighter futures with more opportunities. "We are always keen to support projects which put Scotland's young people at the heart of the development and running of services.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pauline Evans, Philanthropy Manager at Beatson Cancer Charity, said: 'Beatson Cancer Charity is proud to be one of the many organisations benefiting from The National Lottery Community Fund's commitment to empowering young people across Scotland.
Rhyl Journal
05-06-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Belfast Hills project helping young people with anxiety
It comes as more than a quarter of parents or guardians across the UK have said their child has struggled with anxiety, with access to nature and green spaces hoped to help. In a survey of more than 2,000 parents of children aged four to 17, conducted by Ipsos for the National Lottery Heritage Fund, over a quarter (30%) said their child struggled with anxiety or panic attacks in the past 12 months. Just under a quarter (23%) said their child struggled with stress and 18% said their child dealt with low self-esteem, while 22% of parents with a child as young as seven say their child struggled with anxiety over the past 12 months. Just over a third of parents said spending more time in nature would help their child's mental health, and more than a quarter (28%) felt being able to access green spaces, such as parks, would also help. In the Ipsos UK-wide survey, parents said their child seemed worried about a range of issues in the last year, the top three being judged by others (27%), body image (21%) and safety (18%). Just under one in 10 (9%) mentioned climate change. The findings were released on World Environment Day by The National Lottery Community Fund, which wants to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in projects linked to nature and green spaces. In the last year, The National Lottery Community Fund has supported more than 50 environmental projects in Northern Ireland to protect and restore nature, encourage recycling and save energy, thanks to over £2 million of funding generated by National Lottery players. It is offering millions of pounds of funding over the next 10 years to projects and charities across the UK specifically focused on restoring and regenerating nature. People across Northern Ireland can apply for National Lottery Awards for All grants of between £300 and £20,000 for environmental projects, through The National Lottery Community Fund's website. Belfast Hills Partnership is one of the projects in Northern Ireland that is supporting the mental health of young people, including 19-year-old Kai who has found getting out in nature life-changing. Kai is taking part in the National Lottery funded Trainee Ranger scheme at Belfast Hills Partnership. 'Growing up, my experience of being in a green space was in a football pitch. I didn't know the whole world of foraging and conservation existed. When having a rough time, I gave Belfast Hills Partnership's yearlong Trainee Ranger scheme a go,' he said. 'I got to explore different parks and forests and learnt loads of new skills, like foraging for food and then cooking it outside, hiking in the Belfast hills and protecting animals and local habitats. We had full days of learning about bats and types of birds, which I was really interested in. 'The positive effect on my mental health was instant. Being out in the fresh air and having a purpose really changed my life. Meeting like-minded people my age and having something practical to look forward to, helped me start a better path, one I never dreamed I'd be on. 'I got my strimming licence through the project, and I'm now working as a gardener, as well as being a Volunteer Ranger for Colin Glen Forest Park. My days are all about being in nature and I love it.' John Rose, environment lead at The National Lottery Community Fund, said mental health is a complex area. 'While there is no one single solution, parents are telling us that access to green spaces and nature could play a part in helping their child's mental health and we know this is backed up by other research,' he said. 'At The National Lottery Community Fund, we know people are increasingly concerned about the environment but we can empower them to take action to improve it as we provide funding, from £300 for small grassroot organisations to hundreds of thousands of pounds for more established organisations.' He added: 'If you have an idea for a project that will restore or improve your local environment, whether that's a tree-planting project, a community garden or a recycling scheme we're urging you to get in touch and apply for a grant at
Glasgow Times
05-06-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Belfast Hills project helping young people with anxiety
It comes as more than a quarter of parents or guardians across the UK have said their child has struggled with anxiety, with access to nature and green spaces hoped to help. In a survey of more than 2,000 parents of children aged four to 17, conducted by Ipsos for the National Lottery Heritage Fund, over a quarter (30%) said their child struggled with anxiety or panic attacks in the past 12 months. Just under a quarter (23%) said their child struggled with stress and 18% said their child dealt with low self-esteem, while 22% of parents with a child as young as seven say their child struggled with anxiety over the past 12 months. Young people taking part in a National Lottery funded Trainee Ranger scheme at Belfast Hills Partnership. (Belfast Hills Partnership/PA) Just over a third of parents said spending more time in nature would help their child's mental health, and more than a quarter (28%) felt being able to access green spaces, such as parks, would also help. In the Ipsos UK-wide survey, parents said their child seemed worried about a range of issues in the last year, the top three being judged by others (27%), body image (21%) and safety (18%). Just under one in 10 (9%) mentioned climate change. The findings were released on World Environment Day by The National Lottery Community Fund, which wants to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in projects linked to nature and green spaces. In the last year, The National Lottery Community Fund has supported more than 50 environmental projects in Northern Ireland to protect and restore nature, encourage recycling and save energy, thanks to over £2 million of funding generated by National Lottery players. It is offering millions of pounds of funding over the next 10 years to projects and charities across the UK specifically focused on restoring and regenerating nature. People across Northern Ireland can apply for National Lottery Awards for All grants of between £300 and £20,000 for environmental projects, through The National Lottery Community Fund's website. Belfast Hills Partnership is one of the projects in Northern Ireland that is supporting the mental health of young people, including 19-year-old Kai who has found getting out in nature life-changing. Young people taking part in a National Lottery funded Trainee Ranger scheme at Belfast Hills Partnership. (Belfast Hills Partnership/PA) Kai is taking part in the National Lottery funded Trainee Ranger scheme at Belfast Hills Partnership. 'Growing up, my experience of being in a green space was in a football pitch. I didn't know the whole world of foraging and conservation existed. When having a rough time, I gave Belfast Hills Partnership's yearlong Trainee Ranger scheme a go,' he said. 'I got to explore different parks and forests and learnt loads of new skills, like foraging for food and then cooking it outside, hiking in the Belfast hills and protecting animals and local habitats. We had full days of learning about bats and types of birds, which I was really interested in. 'The positive effect on my mental health was instant. Being out in the fresh air and having a purpose really changed my life. Meeting like-minded people my age and having something practical to look forward to, helped me start a better path, one I never dreamed I'd be on. 'I got my strimming licence through the project, and I'm now working as a gardener, as well as being a Volunteer Ranger for Colin Glen Forest Park. My days are all about being in nature and I love it.' John Rose, environment lead at The National Lottery Community Fund, said mental health is a complex area. 'While there is no one single solution, parents are telling us that access to green spaces and nature could play a part in helping their child's mental health and we know this is backed up by other research,' he said. 'At The National Lottery Community Fund, we know people are increasingly concerned about the environment but we can empower them to take action to improve it as we provide funding, from £300 for small grassroot organisations to hundreds of thousands of pounds for more established organisations.' He added: 'If you have an idea for a project that will restore or improve your local environment, whether that's a tree-planting project, a community garden or a recycling scheme we're urging you to get in touch and apply for a grant at
