Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
£86,000 lottery boost for Moira foundation
News of a lottery funding award for the Moira Anderson Foundation has been welcomed by Airdrie’s parliamentarians.
The Advertiser told last month how the Airdrie charity – which works with people affected by childhood sexual abuse – had been awarded more than £86,000 from the Big Lottery Fund towards its Pathways to Progress project.
It aims to improve self-confidence and self-esteem, reduce health problems associated with abuse and build resilience.
The funding will help maintain the client support team, working with people when they first contact the service.
Alex Neil, the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, said: “This award is well deserved and I’m sure the funding will make a big difference to the lives of victims of childhood sexual abuse seeking assistance.
“The Moira Anderson Foundation is a wonderful organisation, helping people flee violence, suicide prevention, helping young people who have been the subject of sexual abuse, and providing advice to survivors.”
Constituency colleague Neil Gray MP added:“I know this funding will be a huge help to [founder] Sandra Brown and all the Foundation staff in doing everything they can to assist their service users.
“It’s a fantastic local charity and the work the staff do to support those who have faced unimaginable hardships at a young age deserves to be recognised.”
Foundation director Gillian Urquhart previously told the Advertiser how the charity had seen a 24 per cent increase in referrals last year, and said:“This had a direct impact on staff and we struggled to meet demand. This award will assist us in providing a vital service to people affected by childhood sexual abuse when they are most in need, and without unnecessary delays.”