Siblings Reunited provides supervised contact for children who have been separated in the care system.
A service which helps to reunite siblings who have been separated in the care system is set to expand thanks to a cash boost from the a National Lottery.
Siblings Reunited (STAR) will receive £60,000 to provide volunteer supervised contact for brothers and sisters separated through fostering, adoption, residential or kinship care.
The project, based on a farm near Cupar, has access to an animal enclosure, a beach and a range of outdoor activities, giving children opportunities to play and spend quality time together.
Welcoming the award, Eileen Black, STAR trustee, said: “Every time we see the look on these young peoples’ faces, the joy and anticipation of meeting their siblings, who they may not have seen for weeks, months or even years, is a reminder why STAR is so important.
“What they get out of these visits is immeasurable and having regular, positive contact with their siblings can have a profound effect on their behaviour and emotional well-being.”
The charity’s lead supervisor, Peter Melville, added: “In my role I get to witness first-hand the huge difference we make and thanks to National Lottery players we can continue to grow and reach out to more separated and estranged brothers and sisters throughout Scotland.”
The award is part of a £881,000 National Lottery Community Fund funding pot being shared between nine third sector groups.
In Lossiemouth, Friendly Access (SCIO) will expand their specialised programme of adaptive surf and swim group sessions for young people with hidden or physical disabilities after an award of £100,000. The funding means the group will increase the number of locations they work in across Moray and Aberdeenshire.
Glyn Morris, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Based in North East Scotland and serving everyone regardless of disability or condition, we are Scotland’s only adaptive surf school which, as it happens, is also delivering the world’s most northerly surf therapy programme.
“I’m just so excited for the team and all involved as we now find ourselves in very privileged position and capable of reaching our full potential.”
Announcing the funding, Maureen McGinn, chair of the National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, said: “Congratulations to the nine groups benefitting from £881,107 of National Lottery funding today. Among these are two projects providing the only services of their type available for children and young people in Scotland.
“One helps to re-unite siblings and offers a safe, supportive environment in which they can spend valuable time together. The other gives young people a chance to learn new skills and enjoy the exhilaration of being in the water. We are proud to be able to support work like this thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.”
