Home Start's efforts boosted by National Lottery's Improving Lives Grant
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Across Scotland community projects are celebrating the news of a National Lottery cash boost including several in Aberdeenshire.
The National Lottery Community Fund made the announcement as it launched its new UK wide strategy ‘It starts with community’ which sets out its ambitions as funder of community led activity from now until 2030.
Home Start Garioch/Home Start Deeside (Medium Grants: Improving Lives) receive £184,112 to continue their provision of early intervention volunteer support for parents of children under five years of age.
Practical and emotional support will be provided to parents who are struggling to cope and over three years over 600 families will benefit from the service across two regions of Aberdeenshire from Ballater to Ellon.
Commenting Mhairi Philip, Scheme Manager for Home Start said: "Home-Start Garioch and Home-Start Deeside, Alford and Strathdon are delighted to be successful in their bid to The National Lottery Community Fund. for £184,112.
"The three years "Improving Lives" Grant will really help with sustainability and growth moving forward as the scale of needs continues to increase at an alarming level.
"With the support of almost 100 Home visiting volunteers, they provide one to one support in the home to families at a time when they need us most.
"Starting in the home, the charity’s approach is as individual as the people it helps, offering compassionate, confidential support, and helping parents to gain the knowledge, skills and resources they need to give their children the best possible start in life."
She continued: "The publicity which comes about with the award of this grant, brings what we do to the forefront, reaching families who would benefit from Home-Start support as well as attracting new volunteers who provide that support.
"As the number of families being supported increases so does the need for volunteers.
"The grant enables the schemes to expand and grow.
"For 28 years, the Home-Start Schemes in Garioch and Deeside have been supporting vulnerable families across the shire to prevent family crisis and breakdown.
"These families have at least one child under the age of five and are typically affected by poor mental health, social and rural isolation, illness, disability and financial hardship.
"For more information or receiving support or offering support, call the offices at Garioch on 01467 624801 or Deeside on 01330 824443."
From the Lottery Fund grants - Millbrex Public Hall near Fyvie receive £9950 to replace the original iron gutters, soffits and fascias to help eliminate leaks and protect the fabric of the hall building for future generations.
Ballater Victoria Week receives £8700 to deliver their annual Victoria week between the 5th and 13th August. This week hosts a wide variety of family events and activities for all of the family and surrounds the Ballater Highland games.
Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Pool receive £4419 Aberdeenshire to put on a fun filled season for the local community of Stonehaven and
visitors to the towns open air pool.
Glass Community Association receive £9750 to replace electric heaters, and paint and decorate the local hall facility and hire a storage unit.
