£1.3 million shared between five Scottish organisations including almost £200,000 for the Cleft Lip and Palate Association
Five Scottish organisations have been awarded a share of over a million pounds in the latest round of Big Lottery Fund awards.
The Big Lottery Fund announced the groups from across the country would share £1.3m from its Investing in Communities fund.
In Glasgow, Govan Home and Education Link receives £316,974 to expand its work including a new children’s befriending service and Glasgow East Womens Aid receives £289,000 to provide a tailored package of support for 100 families affected by domestic abuse.
In the east of the country, Forth Housing Association Ltd receives £253,795 to provide a new financial advisory programme for tenants in remote and rural areas of Stirling and the City of Edinburgh Council Economic Development receives £290,153 to create a new employability and training scheme for young people aged 16 to 24 who have autism or a learning disability.
Nationwide, the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (Clapa) receives £199,838 to offer additional support those Scots with a cleft lip and/or palate.
The award from the Big Lottery Fund will enable us to employ two new members of staff and expand our work for people of all ages
With approximately 7,500 people in the country having a cleft lip or palate Scotland has one of the highest incidences of cleft palate in the world.
People with a cleft can suffer from severe speech, hearing, and dental problems, as well as psychological issues such as low self-esteem.
Most babies have their first surgery when they are just three months old and they can undergo up to 20 complex surgeries by the time they turn 18.
The money received by Clapa will allow it to increase its network of volunteers and provide more support and advice to 700 families.
CLAPA’s Scotland engagement officer, Gillian McCarthy, explains what they will do with the funding: “My work with people in Scotland has revealed an urgent need for support, particularly from those who have had first-hand knowledge of the many challenges which cleft can present.
“Until recently Clapa has only been able to provide a limited number of support services in Scotland but the award from the Big Lottery Fund will enable us to employ two new members of staff and expand our work for people of all ages.
“Officers will work with Clapa volunteers to organise peer support, family support and a range of events and activities. We will also set up patient involvement groups so that patients of NHS cleft services and their parents can give feedback on their treatment to help improve the experiences of patients across the country.
“By the end of this project, we hope to have a thriving and welcoming cleft community in Scotland.”
Big Lottery Fund Scotland chair, Maureen McGinn, added: “I am delighted that our funding will enable Clapa to expand and grow its work in Scotland.
“Having a child with a cleft can put an immense strain on families when procedures take place over several years.
“With the assistance of additional volunteers, the project will now be able help these children and their parents face the future with greater confidence.”
Meanwhile, also announced today was £136,521 of funding to 15 projects, from Big Lottery Fund Scotland’s Investing in Ideas programme.
Details of those grants will be available on the Big Lottery Fund website.
