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Big Lottery Fund

BIG is the largest distributor of Lottery money. This year Big will hand out £630 million to community organisations and to projects for health, education and the environment.

Young people in South Shropshire are brimming with enthusiasm as £331,945 from the Big Lottery Fund gives them an opportunity to bring real changes to their communities.

The project is one of two Shropshire based schemes sharing a £602,607 from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, which is also funding a county-wide outreach project to support victims of domestic abuse.

A £331,945 award is helping South Shropshire Youth Forum (SSYF) respond to a local consultation that found young people don’t feel the community values them and would like to have more input into the areas where they live. The five-year Young Community Volunteers project will provide a coherent programme of skills development and community involvement to help young people improve their communities.

The project will recruit young people aged between 14 and 25 years old to get involved in a range of community initiatives such as a peer information network; a personal development project to improve teamwork, communication and core skills; and a programme of supported community volunteering opportunities. A peer-led consultation will also take place to identify the needs and concerns young people have within their community.

Richard Morley, Chief Executive, South Shropshire Youth Forum, said: “The Reaching Communities award will have a huge impact in the district of South Shropshire. It will enable us to help build capacity and to help groups within the community to identify common goals and work together using practical ways to solve local issues.”

Heather Kidd, member of District Council and Trustee for eight years, added: “This is really great news. The Youth Forum has huge expertise and experience in dealing with the young people of South Shropshire. This funding will mean that they can go on now from strength to strength, doing invaluable work and over the next five years now! This will give a stability we have not had in the past.”

West Mercia Women’s Aid has also been awarded £270,732 to set up a new three-year outreach project across Shropshire. By visiting homes and offering drop in sessions at local doctors surgeries, the Shropshire Women’s Aid project will make itself available to women and children affected by domestic violence.

Jan Frances, Chief Executive, West Mercia Women’s Aid, said: “West Mercia Women’s Aid is delighted to have been awarded funding to develop and deliver outreach support services for women and children affected by domestic violence in Shropshire.  

“The three-year funding of £264,132, together with £126,281 from Shropshire County Council, will enable Women’s Aid to employ three full-time staff to work in collaboration with existing services and offer a comprehensive county-wide support service.

“Abused women and children are amongst the most disadvantaged groups in our society, and we are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for the opportunity to reach and support many more of them in the county of Shropshire.”

John Taylor, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the West Midlands, said: “These projects are working to improve lives and make communities in Shropshire better places to live. Getting young people to play a part in improving their local area will instil a sense of pride, making them feel more valued members of the community.

“The Shropshire Women’s Aid project will help women and children find a way out of a difficult life situation and away from violence. By offering access to services that can break the cycle of domestic violence, those affected will get the help needed to get their lives back on track.”

http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/