Befriending group scoop £ 150,000

Cash will benefit isolated

Sarah Jane McDonald South Ayrshire Befriending Project had plenty to celebrate this week as they were awarded £ 150,000 over three years from the Big lottery fund to secure its future.

The project, which was established in 1996, supports over 50 socially isolated and vulnerable people each year by providing a befriending support system and group activities in and around Ayrshire.

The landslide award will now see young people in South Ayrshire become less socially isolated and provide opportunities to allow them to develop new skills and become more confident individuals.

Senior co- ordinator at the charity, Elaine Walker said: “We are delighted to have this support from the big lottery fund which will help support us for the next three years, allowing us to recruit, train and support local volunteers, enabling us to provide an invaluable service to the young people within South Ayrshire who need it most.”

The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK, helping people improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects.

It is responsible for giving out 40 per cent of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Every year it invests over £ 650 million and awards around 12,000 grants 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.

Big Lottery Fund Scotland chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted that The South Ayrshire Befriending Project has been successful in securing a Big Lottery Fund grant, the funding will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish South Ayrshire Befriending Project every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.”

To find out more about the South Ayrshire Befriending Project at 4A Citadel Place, Ayr, contact 01292 264000, email info@ bfriend. org. uk or visit www. bfriend. org. uk