Lotto jackpot helps older people LEAP into action
NIKI TENNANT
Cambuslang-based charity LEAP is celebrating after landing a fabulous fivefigure windfall for its leisure and learning programme for the area’s older people.
The charity – set up more than 25 years ago by older people in the Cambuslang area because of a lack of activities for them – is to receive more than £47,000.
Its founding principles are still the basis on which the charity works today and the award from the National Lottery Community Fund will allow it to continue its activity programme for a further two years.
There is something for everyone in the activity programme, including tango, new age kurling, IT courses, tai chi, Spanish classes and a singing group.
The funding will enable the charity to extend a wide-ranging programme of life-long learning classes and leisure activities for isolated older people aged over 50 in South Lanarkshire.
Over the next three years, the project will help about 1200 residents to make new friends and learn new skills and support them back into their community.
It is these changes to lives that Catriona MacGregor, LEAP’s learning co-ordinator, thinks are most important to South Lanarkshire residents.
“We see these changes in people in all of our activities. People come along because they want to fill their day, or feel they are becoming more isolated from their communities, and being in a group changes all that,” she said.
“The money from the National Lottery Community Fund means we will be able to continue to support these people for the next couple of years. And it will also allow us to develop our programme into other areas of South Lanarkshire and help even more people who might otherwise find themselves isolated and lonely. It’s absolutely great news.”
Maureen McGinn, National Lottery Community Fund Scotland chairperson, added: “I am delighted that LEAP’s learning and leisure programme has been successful in securing a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.
“The award will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish LEAP every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.”
For information about LEAP’s leisure and learning programme, or about volunteering with the charity, visit www.leap-project.co.uk or call 0141 641 5169.