The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland

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https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/about/newsletter

Belville Community Garden are growing community spirit with support!

Since 2014, they've been dedicated to bringing people together in the east end of Greenock, promoting healthier lifestyles through gardening, horticulture, and healthy eating. 🌱

Their garden offers vital activities that support mental health, combat isolation, and foster fitness and wellbeing. By getting people involved in community-based work outdoors, they;re not only tackling food insecurity but also addressing environmental issues. 🌍💚

Thanks to players, their recent award means they are able to continue providing a safe, inclusive space where people of all ages can learn, grow, and thrive.

Local volunteer Michelle, said: “The garden club gave me a sense of purpose. Something and somewhere to go every Monday and feel relaxed and at ease. I found myself enjoying it so much I wanted to leave the house. Belville Community Garden has given me a new life.”

Since the began 30 years ago, billions of pounds have made projects, like Belville Community Garden's, possible.

Today is , a day that acknowledges the importance of investing in young people, ensuring they have the opportunities and support they need to thrive.

We'd like to celebrate by sharing one of our groups creating opportunities for young people in Scotland.

Radio Skye have been bringing new opportunities to young creatives on the island with their youth mentoring scheme YouthSPACE. The programme gives the young people a chance to experience working in radio, capturing and editing short films, script writing and giving interviews.

Fifteen-year-old, Samuel Stewart is a huge advocate for the scheme.

“YouthSPACE is helping me to keep on the right path. I would never have imagined myself speaking on the radio a year ago!”

It’s given me great opportunities to improve my communication skills, from learning how to fill speech time to being more confident.

The photography and filming skills we have been learning have given me a greater appreciation for the local landscape and I’ve now chosen photography as a subject at high school.

YouthSPACE training scheme has changed me for the better and I really enjoy being a part of it.”

Using £20,000 worth of new funding Radio Skye plan to broaden their programme to include even more young people.

Our thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by the violent disorder, criminal behaviour and racist attacks over recent days.

We are humbled by the quick and compassionate response of the organisations and communities that we support with our funding, and thank them for calling for calm and unity.

We are reaching out to organisations we fund in communities across the country to offer our support in whatever way is appropriate to them. We are committed to be flexible and supportive at this challenging time, to allow them to respond to local needs in the best possible way.

We want you to know that we are here with you.

Do you want to hear some tips on how to engage more young volunteers? 📢

Join us at our next learning event to hear how charities and community groups have recruited young volunteers, including those who face barriers to taking part. 🤝

Our expert panel will discuss how they are engaging young people and share best practice on how to ensure young people are listened to and what type of support they may need.

📅- When: 11 September

⏰- Time: 2 - 3pm

Sign up now: https://ow.ly/pIX450SQZaH

I work at OPEN Shetland as Peer Research Development Worker, but I started off as a volunteer Peer Educator and Peer Mentor.

Peer mentoring really helps you expand those skills you're going to need in life, and doing this role in your late teens means you can hone your communication skills and it builds the confidence you'll need as you go into the next chapter of your life.

You get so good at giving your thoughts and feedback to your friends and people close to you, so it's easy to get into the habit of communicating in a certain way.

Peer mentoring really helped me expand my own people skills and I’m now able to communicate with anyone. It teaches you to be aware of how the other person is feeling and having a more personal approach.

Your role is all about helping your mentee set small achievable goals and getting them to that next stage. I helped someone who was looking at getting into college, I had another relationship with someone who wanted to get their fitness level up – so it can differ. It's that low level support that peer mentorship can give.

I've really flourished and grown in confidence. The thing that really lights me up inside is watching these young people come in and going through the same motions and watching them change and become really confident in themselves. By letting them know how well they're doing and believing in them, really makes that impact and difference.

My really sparkly moments is when I see a young volunteer really take the lead or see them do something which they wouldn’t have done a year ago. It's great to see them push out of their comfort zone but it's even more amazing when you see them get to the stage where they are confident to take charge and own a bit of work.

The project is just amazing and I’m now working at OPEN as a Peer Research Development Worker.

- Shannon Botson, Shetland

OPEN Shetland were supported by funding to expand 's only peer mentoring programme and youth cafe. They provide peer mentoring opportunities for young people aged 16-26, with mentors being matched based on their age and shared experiences.

6 ways to involve your community in your project! 💡

It's so important to get your community involved from the get-go. By building a sense of ownership and collaboration can empower your community.

After all, who knows the wants and needs of the community better than the community itself?

So in our latest blog, we've written our top 6 tried and tested methods that will help you to effectively involve your community in your projects.

Read it now: ⬇️

https://ow.ly/h8oS50SRSak

Fifty-year-old Mary-Anne Morrison from Inverness struggled with feelings of loneliness and a lack of confidence after sustaining a brain injury several years ago.

Determined to find support, she reached out to Headway - the brain injury association, a charity dedicated to helping individuals like her and their families.

Upon joining her local group, Mary-Anne experienced a transformative journey, quickly growing in confidence and forming new friendships. She now volunteers regularly at the charity’s allotment.

Mary-Anne shared her gratitude, saying:

“Headway Highland is a fantastic charity that has helped me so much. It is brilliant to be with people who do not judge you and are so wonderfully supportive. I have made some lovely friendships and taken part in so many great activities that I would not have been able to do had I not been part of Headway Highland.”

This week, the charity received £78,102 in funding to continue their programme of outings, and activities such as walking and gardening, providing invaluable support to more people in the community.

"When people come together with a shared vision, great things can happen!"

Nick Gardner, our Head of Climate Action reflects on a recent visit to a project that’s harnessing the power of partnerships to make real change.

Read Nick’s blog ⬇️
https://ow.ly/cUer50SIUkt

Final reminder for those applying to our Community Led, Improving Lives or Cost-of-Living Support Scotland programmes. ⏰

If you are in the process of applying, you must submit your application before noon on 21 August 2024.

These closures are in preparation of us opening new funding programmes later this year. Our National Lottery Awards for All, Young Start and Scottish Land Fund programmes remain open and unchanged.

Find out more: https://ow.ly/F5EQ50SMYZ9

Funding news: The programmes closing to applications on 21 August 2024 To prepare for the opening of our new programmes, we will close three of our existing funds – Community Led, Improving Lives and Cost-of-Living Support Scotland – to applications at noo…

Last month First-Step-Robotics celebrated their win at the Robotics competition in Cambridge! 🏅

The -funded organisation is dedicated to advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) education among young people in .

Their efforts have already seen success, with a team of young participants representing Scotland in the First Tech Challenge robotics competition at Cambridge University in June, where they received the "Judges Award". 🏆

Their recent funding means that they will be able to get essential equipment and tools to run more workshops; inspiring and supporting young people in STEM activities. 🤖

Edoh Agbenokoudji, the founder of First Step Robotics said:

"We are very thankful to The National Lottery Community Fund. We have run the organisation for months entirely through volunteering and without any financial support. More and more families are enquiring, and we hope to extend our support.

"Encouraging young people to participate in STEM opens doors to future careers. We are very thankful to the National Lottery.

"The funding will significantly help First Step Robotics in expanding our reach. We will be running robotics clubs in both primary and secondary schools and in the community during the term.

"We aim to equip young people with the technical expertise and soft skills necessary for success in technology-driven industries."

Congratulations once again to the winners! ⭐

"We want to be inclusive of everyone around the globe and not exclusive to those with Clan Heritage or men in kilts."

ReTweed, a textiles charity that diverts waste textiles out of landfill and repurposes them for educational purposes, is based in in the Scottish Borders – right in the heart of a vibrant wee fishing town that’s bursting at the seams with character and talent. 🌟

Eyemouth and Berwickshire are also however, like many places across Scotland, facing barriers such as lack of employment opportunities.

They're on a mission to bring people together and break down these barriers through their funded International Tartans project.

Hazel Smith, founder of Re-Tweed, who run the funded International Tartans project tells us a bit more about the project.

"Our workshop provides advanced tailoring training to women and young people who face multiple disadvantages.

"National Lottery funding has made possible the delivery of high-level textiles training for people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to gain any new skills or learning.

"Graduates of our training courses have started making products and are being well paid for the skills they are applying.

"We are busy everyday making beautifully handcrafted items from tartans woven by the best of weavers here in Scotland.

"We work with mills in Scotland that are committed to climate consciousness and provide skilled and well-paid employment to their workers – that stuff matters to us.

"International Tartans was a legacy passed onto ReTweed. David McGill who owned International Tartans loved the work of ReTweed and he wanted his work to be taken forward under the banner of ‘Tartans for social, environmental and humanitarian good.’ And that’s what we’re striving for.

"We’re using Scotland’s icon, Tartan, to promote interculturalism and multi-culturalism at its best.

"People worry they aren’t entitled to wear tartan or need some clan association or specific ancestry – not so!

Our Climate Action Fund is open to applications! 🌍

We know that climate change matters to communities, so it matters to us.

There's £20 million of funding available to inspire more people to take climate action in communities across the UK. 🙌

What we're looking to fund: 🔎

🚴‍♀️- projects that link climate action to everyday lives and interests of local communities.

🗺️- initiatives that influence communities at a regional or national level, linking up groups across locations.

This fund is here to support charitable organisations' working in formal partnerships to make a real difference in tackling climate change.

And, you don’t have to be a climate or environment focused organisation to apply!

Learn more and apply: ⬇️

https://ow.ly/PKVp50SF4Kg

My life in Syria before the war was stable. I lived with my family, and my friends. It was beautiful, but I lost everything, my home, my family, and my friends, and I was separated from my children.

I became a body without a soul.

I couldn’t stop weeping and I got very ill. But when I moved to Scotland, I found a difference.

I’ve found Scotland a very secure, happy, free and psychologically comforting place to be.

After I had stopped being afraid of my future here, I found myself wishing that I had lived here in my youth. I might have done many things.

When I left my country, we decided to go to Egypt because it is an Arab country, with the same language and almost the same customs.

But, although the country is beautiful, I did not feel safe. We were robbed several times and threatened physically. I was very afraid.

I died a thousand times every day.

We lived in Egypt for four years from 2013 until we came [to Scotland] in 2016. Here I feel safe and secure, and I consider myself one of you. I love the people here because they are kind and humane.

I first joined the [Trojan Women] project in 2018. Their workshops gave me a lot of positive things.

It was almost unbelievable, how much happier it made me, how much psychological comfort it gave me. To be listened to. I began to feel much better and hopeful and look forward to the future.

I began to love life and now I have hope after what I was missing.

The other people in the workshops are now my family, and my friends. I loved them very much. It was the most beautiful experience in my life, and I always loved being with them.

Trojan Women project was a new and wonderful experience for me. It gave me hope and to continue life for the better.

- Nidaa

-

Trojan Women were supported by funding to deliver a drama workshop project aimed at the refugee community resident in Stirling. Supporting women, like Nidaa, to feel more connected with their community. 🤝

Ivy, founder of HairDreams Glasgow, is on a mission to inspire and inform the community about the transformative power of hair care.

Growing up in Glasgow, she found getting her hair done to be a painful experience. There were no salons where a black girl could have her hair treated properly.

After a career in IT, she noticed there still was a noticeable gap in catering to the needs of individuals with textured and Afro hair and wanted to change that for the sake of her daughter. She retrained as a hairdresser specialising in Afro and textured hair and opened HairDreams Glasgow in 2020.

Ivy said: “At Hairdreams Glasgow, we are passionate about empowering individuals and celebrating self-expression. We wholeheartedly believe in the incredible transformative power of proper haircare and the immense well-being it can bring. Having access to support with haircare can bring joy to one's life. We focus on community well-being and empowerment.

Through support from funding, the salon and social enterprise run three community groups. The Braidy Gang, which is for 16 to 25-year-olds who train on each other’s hair, while the Parent and Child Group allows parents to learn how to style and maintain their child’s hair.

The Ladies group is where women learn how to maintain their own protective hair styling.

“In our community groups, individuals can share their own stories, breaking free from stereotypes and unrealistic hair care expectations to find their own lane and methods that work for them.” Ivy explains.

We’ve created an inclusive environment where people can connect and feel seen. Many individuals with textured hair often feel isolated in their hair care journey, but our community groups help our members to realise that they are not alone in their journey of self-expression.

“We’ve seen that through these connections within the groups, confidence is built and they want to be more expressive in trying different hairstyles. They also gain a greater understanding of one’s own individual hair care needs.”

There's only 1 month left to apply to our Community Led, Improving Lives and Cost-of-Living Support Scotland programmes. ⏰

If you are in the process of applying, you must submit your application before noon on 21 August 2024.

These closures are in preparation of us opening new funding programmes later this year. Our National Lottery Awards for All, Young Start and Scottish Land Fund programmes remain open and unchanged.

Funding news: The programmes closing to applications on 21 August 2024 To prepare for the opening of our new programmes, we will close three of our existing funds – Community Led, Improving Lives and Cost-of-Living Support Scotland – to applications at noo…

Today we’re wishing our Team GB good luck ahead of ! 🏅

We’re proud to be supported by players, just like many of the incredible athletes heading to the Olympic Games next week! 🤞

National Lottery Good Causes

Today we are awarding £17.3 million in funding to over 500 projects across Scotland!

These groups are supporting their communities in a myriad of ways, from helping isolated people experience friendship and connection, to giving young people the skills and confidence they need for a bright future.

Projects such as these are a life-line for thousands and we’re proud to support their amazing work! 👏👏👏

A huge congratulations to these projects including: Sustainable Selkirk, Remake Scotland, Fixing for a Future, Lothians Veterans Centre, NKS - Networking Key Services, Grassmarket Community Project, Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust, Fox & Friends - Highland, Headway - the brain injury association, Hear My Music, Space at The Broomhouse Hub, The Period Place UK, Boogie in the Bar - Aberdeen, Royston Youth Action, Glasgow Disability Alliance, Nurture the Borders SCIO, YouthBorders, Home-Start Kirkcaldy, Hyperclub, and Differabled Scotland.

“I was introduced to Ando Glaso when I was 16, by my friend’s older brother. He knew I was into music, so he brought me along. At the time I was still listening to the newest pop songs. I wasn't listening to the old, traditional songs of my culture. But since I've been coming here, I've been learning more and more and realising how much I love Roma music.

We have a lot of younger kids joining the group. It's definitely a journey of discovery for them as not every younger person knows a lot about their own culture. We try to educate them and help them reconnect. Many of them don’t have any role models so that's where me and the other mentors come in, we give them a space where they can learn. When I was younger, I didn't have a mentor either, I had to learn everything by myself. Now I feel great that I am able to help these young people find their way.

Through Ando Glaso we are showing everyone what our culture means to us. Our door is always open for people to come and learn more. We are proud to be Roma and we show the young people that they can be proud to be Roma as well.”

- Matus Jaco, 20, Glasgow

Ando Glaso were awarded £100,000 of funding to establish a creative hub for young Roma people in Glasgow. The group helps the young people connect with their culture and heritage through music and dance to dismantle barriers that many young Roma often face in accessing creative industries. 🎼🙌

Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear our latest funding news and stories.

What to expect:

⭐️- Hints and tips about applications, reporting and more
⭐️- Success and good news stories from our grant holders
⭐️- The latest changes and updates about our funding programmes

Sign up now: 👇

Newsletters | The National Lottery Community Fund The National Lottery Community Fund gives grants to organisations in the UK to help improve their communities. The money awarded comes from the UK National Lottery.

I've been battling addiction for a number of years now. Then COVID hit and things went through the roof. My cousin was dying, I was waiting for an operation at the time that got cancelled and I was stressed at work. I took early retirement and that's when I no longer felt in control of my addiction; I felt like when I worked I could control it more.

My way of coping with the stress was through drinking alcohol, but I wanted to change that. It's not just about putting the drink down, it's about what you do once you've done that. You're left with all these feelings and emotions and exercise is a brilliant way.

When I'm in Hot Scot Yoga and Fitness' HIIT class or trauma sensitive yoga class, my mind is taken off of things completely.

I've been coming here for a while now. It's really important to firstly get myself out of the house and secondly to be doing something that actually I really enjoy. I've never missed a class.

Coming here has changed my outlook on life and helped me cope in other areas of my life.

My son has autism and I now have more energy to do things with him. I didn't do much with him for about four years but now I'm getting out and about more with him. This is my new life.

The best feeling was breaking through the feeling of "I can't do it". When you're an addict your self-esteem is rock bottom. So gaining confidence again meant everything to me.

The benefits it's had on me are indefinable but they have helped my mental health tremendously, they've helped my physical health. I've now got something to look forward to and I've now got a group of friends.

Lou and Andy who run the classes are great – they give us the support we need and go above and beyond. Lou makes herself available and goes the extra mile. It feels like a proper community.

I feel the healthiest I've been in about 10 or 15 years. If I didn't come here I really don't know where I'd be.

- Karen.

Hot Scot Yoga and Fitness has been supported by funding to deliver Trauma Sensitive Yoga and HIIT classes to those in recovery from addiction and/or affected by ill mental health.

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Awarding funds from The National Lottery to projects that strengthen society and improve lives.

Sign up to our newsletter to stay updated: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/about/newsletter

“I first heard about Oi Musica’s Brass Blast when my friend's brother was playing there, and it looked like a lot of fun. So, my mum signed me up for it as soon as I was old enough to go.

Never in a million years would I have imagined playing the drums, but I tried it and absolutely loved it. Being partially deaf, I never saw myself being involved in music or playing an instrument, but Brass Blast is so inclusive and it’s never a problem.

The difference between Brass Blast and any other orchestra or band is that it’s so youth driven. We get so much control over what songs we play, how we play them, and we even get opportunities to lead the band.

Fast forward five years and I’m still playing the drums to this day. Music is a massive part of my life and I owe that all to Brass Blast. When I’m playing, I feel so happy, surrounded by people - bonded by our love of music. I couldn’t imagine my life without it.”

- Martha Evans, 14, Portobello

Oi Musica received £77,394 of funding to provide free music sessions for local children and young people in Edinburgh. 🙌

Here in , The National Lottery Community Fund has embraced an approach to community engagement through its place-based teams. 🌟

Our regionally focussed funding teams cover the length and breadth of Scotland allowing us to deepen those local connections that help us make better funding decisions.

So what does that mean for you? 💭

This approach means you'll be assigned a Funding Officer who will be able to offer advice, support and feedback throughout the application process and during your project if you are successful in your application.

Read our blog to find out more about our place teams: 👇

https://ow.ly/hwnk50RHZ3Y

Important information for grant holders 📢.

The announcement of the General Election may impact how you can publicise your funding over the next six weeks.

Please read our latest article to find out more about what this means for your organisation: https://ow.ly/4LBZ50RTOy6

We're excited to announce the latest projects to recieve funding! 🎉

The 22 incredible projects, aimed at empowering young people, are sharing in over £1.8 million in funding!

From boosting confidence to unlocking creativity, these groups are paving the way for brighter futures. 🌟

Congratulations to: Get Active Coaching CIC, The Playcentre, Liber8 Ltd, Make and Create Arts, Connecting Carers, Create Paisley, Growing2gether, Ando Glaso, Fire and Peace Recovery Registered Charity sc050662, Touch of Love Outreach, Space at The Broomhouse Hub and more!

For a lot of my life I have been battling addition. I was first into drinking alcohol as a teenager and I progressed onto harder drugs, using he**in, street va**um and a high prescription of methadone.

My life was just chaotic, I lost everything through my addiction. I ended up homeless and lost care of my son as well. It was a daily battle.

I was very isolated towards the end of my addiction. My daily routine was basically get out of bed, get my prescription, source some money and score my drugs then go home. I didn't want to be awake anymore.

I was attending mutual aid meetings and I had tried to get into rehab, but because I was still using they told me they couldn't help.

There was still something inside of me that told me to keep trying. I kept attending meetings and I remember somebody saying to me "have you heard of Steps to Hope SCIO?"

I reached out to them because what have I got to lose. I had a call with Richie and I explained everything to him, it wasn't even a week later he phoned me and offered me a place.

I just celebrated 2 years sobriety this year.

Going into Steps to Hope, I had wrap around support. For the first time in my life, I got love and support.

I got a job with Steps to Hope in 2022 as a Recovery Support Worker. So I was helping to facilitate group work, one-to-ones and community meetings and activities. Because I've been through the programme I can identify with the people we support, which I think is a massive help for them.

Steps to Hope loved me until I could love myself.

I now have my own flat and I now have a brilliant relationship with my son.

If I had any advice for anyone who is struggling with addiction and considering seeking help from Steps to Hope - just go for it, give it your all and watch the magic happen.

- Mel, 33.

Steps to Hope SCIO have been supported by funding to support people like Mel who are struggling with addiction and homelessness across Edinburgh and West Lothian.

Reminder: 3 months until closure ⏰

Later this year, we will be opening our new Scotland funding programmes. 🤝

In preparation, we will close three of our existing programmes – Community Led, Improving Lives, and Cost-of-Living Support Scotland – to applications at noon on 21 August 2024.

Find out more:
https://bigblogscotland.org.uk/2024/03/21/funding-news-the-programmes-closing-to-applications-on-21-august-2024/

Job Alert. 📢
Role: Part-time Communications Officer
Salary: £25,019 Pro-rata

Are you a confident communicator with a knack for telling stories?

Does talking to young people about their future ambitions excite you?

If so, we have an exciting part-time (0.5 FTE), 12-month fixed term contract within our Scotland Communications and Engagement team.

You'll be responsible for delivering communications specifically for our Young Start fund.

Your role will include leading on regular announcements for Young Start funding to the media and interview young people behind the projects to produce content for media features, case studies and our social channels.

Applications close 19th May.

Apply online now: https://ow.ly/yhVq50RhU6k