TWO local groups have received funding in the latest round of lottery funding for projects across the South West.

Journey Therapeutic Counselling of Crediton receives £4,080.

The group will use the funding to set up a free counselling service for people in the local community.

This will increase provision of this service to people who are currently on waiting lists or facing economic challenges and are living with mental health issues.

Spreyton Bridge Club receives £1.837.

The group will use the funding to provide intergenerational social and recreational activities in this rurally isolated location.

This will enable all members of the community to meet together, socialise learn new skills and reduce their isolation.

Based at Okehampton, the North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team receive £10,000.

The group will use the funding to install flooring to enable them to provide a training room for volunteers. This will increase the organisations capacity to train more volunteers.

In total, more than £3.6 million from the Big Lottery Fund will be shared amongst 114 South West organisations including projects in Bath, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, Cornwall, Devon and Forest of Dean.

The funding will support local organisations to help improve their local communities and the lives of people most in need. 

Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund England grant making director, said: “So many local community organisations are enabling people and communities to grow together bringing positive changes to their lives and futures.

"It’s wonderful when we hear the stories of how through these great projects people have overcome barriers, learned new skills and improved their lives.”

The awards were made through the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All and Reaching Communities programmes. Awards for All provides grants between £300 and £10,000 to voluntary and community organisations and Reaching Communities awards larger grants of £10,000 and above.

For more information on funding available visit: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding .

Alan Quick