£1.2m Lottery Investment For North Of Scotland

13th September 2012

A new initiative aimed at preventing homelessness amongst ex offenders and their families in Aberdeen, Inverness and Perth has received Lottery funding worth £889,317, the Big Lottery Fund announced recently (TUES 11 September).

Also in the north of Scotland, over 100 young carers will benefit from the recent £1.2 million investment as Skye & Lochalsh Community Care Forum receives a grant of £358,054.

Announcing the funding, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: "The Big Lottery Fund supports projects across the length and breadth of Scotland that aim to improve the quality of life of individuals most in need and their families. In Aberdeen, Inverness and Perth, today's funding will help ex offenders and their families to find accommodation as a means of providing stability and preventing the revolving door back to prison. Across the wider Highlands region over one hundred young carers will also benefit from this investment giving them the time and space to explore their own ambitions and enjoy some well deserved respite."

An initiative that aims to break the link between a lack of stable accommodation and the cycle of reoffending today receives £889,317. Shelter Scotland, along with partner organisations, Sacro and Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey CAB, will provide housing support and advice to over 1,800 offenders from Aberdeen, Perth and Inverness before and after release over the next three years. Families of prisoners will also be supported with their housing and benefit needs.

A shortage of social housing, problems with affordability and the perception of ex offenders as risky or undesireable tenants are just some of barriers which lead to many becoming homeless on their release. This new project will support ex offenders to overcome these challenges and to reintegrate back into society.

Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: "We are delighted that BIG has decided to back this innovative project. The funding will enable us, along with Sacro and Inverness CAB, to provide high quality, comprehensive advice, advocacy and support on a range of housing issues for prisoners and their families.

"Preventing homelessness amongst prisoners helps prevent reoffending. Keeping people out of prison has not only social benefits but also economic benefits - reducing the burden on the public purse by £44,447 per prisoner, per year.

He continued: "This project will support prisoners to maintain their accommodation through their prison sentence, responsibly give up their accommodation where appropriate and help them access housing and support on release from prison. This project will play a vital role in helping prevent prisoners and their families from becoming homeless."

Young carers in the Highlands caring for loved ones who are chronically ill, have a disability or are affected by mental ill health are to benefit from an award of £358,054 to the Skye & Lochalsh Community Care Forum. The group will now be able to provide a range of training and learning opportunities, awareness raising sessions in schools, one-to-one support, respite breaks and social activities for 120 young carers aged between 5 and 18 over the next five years.

Marjory Jagger, Manager, Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this award which will provide much needed security and development opportunities for young carers in Skye and Lochalsh. The service is privileged to be led by young carers and with Big Lottery Fund support their creativity and enthusiasm to develop skills will be maximised to help them achieve their social and educational potential. This grant will allow us to develop our partnership working with support agencies and business networks to help promote the confidence, wellbeing and safety of our young carer community."