LD:NorthEast are delighted to announce that we have been awarded almost £400,000 of National Lottery funding through the Big Lottery Fund, which will support people who are growing older with learning disabilities / difficulties across North Tyneside.
The ‘Tomorrows’ project, which has already been running for five years, has received this new funding to continue to develop the project, supporting hundreds of people each year.
David Robinson, LD:NorthEast’s Chief Executive, comments “We are absolutely delighted to have received this fantastic endorsement from the Big Lottery Fund. This grant will enable us to continue to make a massive difference to so many people. Some of the people we support have previously led very isolated and lonely lives, which can have a significant affect on their health and wellbeing. The Tomorrows project will continue to have a big impact on people who often have very few people in their lives”.
The project supports people to do many of the things that people tend to take for granted in life. Things like having some fun, making friends and feeling good. It helps people with some of the smaller issues that can lead to bigger problems, like dealing with minor health ailments, or a problem with a bill or keeping safe in the community. The aim is to build resilience and to encourage people to live life to the full, challenging the stigma often associated with having a learning disability / difficulty.
Jacqui Thompson, Operations Manager at LD:NorthEast says “Our team of staff and volunteers know first hand just how crucial this project is. It has never been more important to support so many people who receive little or no social care support at all. For many, this project has been life changing and for some, life saving. I’m very proud of the work we do to keep vulnerable older people safe, happy and well and this grant will make such a massive difference.”
A range of activities are organised and led by staff and volunteers, in line with what people accessing the project want. These include community based social activities which bring people together, group based support with a focus on keeping safe, active and independent as well as one to one support to tackle specific issues that can affect an individual’s health and wellbeing.
Elaine Hill, Chair of Trustees at LD:NorthEast said “This is a fantastic achievement by everyone involved in the Tomorrows project and great recognition of the work of our staff and volunteers. Trustees are very pleased to be able to offer this important support as there is so much more to do to ensure people growing older with learning disabilities / difficulties lead fulfilling, inclusive lives, especially in times where so little support is available to them”.
James Harcourt, England Grant Making Director, Big Lottery Fund said: “We are proud to celebrate projects that make a difference to people and the communities they live in. It is great to think that National Lottery players have now raised £36 billion for Good Causes and it’s when you hear about projects like this that you realise the incredible impact that funding has had across England. Whether the grant is for £500, or £5m, our funding is used to run amazing projects led by local people. It really is life changing.”
For more informations about LD:NorthEast’s Big Lottery funded Tomorrows project, contact Projects Co-ordinator Julie Redpath on 0191 2622261 or email julie.redpath@ldne.org.uk
About the Big Lottery Fund
- The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It puts people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects. It is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes.
- Last year it awarded £583 million and supported around 12,000 projects across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes. Since June 2004 it has awarded over £8 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.
For more information visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk