A NUMBER of local projects are winners in the latest round of Big Lottery Fund awards.

The Crediton Turning Tides Project has been awarded £10,000 towards training workshops.

The group will use the funding to provide behaviour and assessment training for their volunteers living with a variety of disabilities and complex needs.

It says this will increase beneficiaries’ skills and confidence giving them the opportunity to become accredited trainers.

Another recipient of an award for £10,000 is the Wembworthy Centre at Eggesford Forest for a Naturally Learning scheme.

The group will use the funding to provide outdoor learning activities for young people with SEN and those with poor life skills.

It says this will enable beneficiaries to learn new skills, leading to improved confidence and self esteem.

Wren Music, which is based at Okehampton, has been granted an award of £9,960 towards “The Song Scrapbook” project.

The group will use the funding to make six visits to a local residence for people living with the effects of dementia and put on sessions related to reminiscence and memory through music.

It says this will improve the well-being of beneficiaries, reducing their social and mental isolation.

The Citizens’ Advice Bureau of Exeter receives £9,187 towards its “Even More Brighter Futures” project.

The group will use the funding to build capacity for its community information support services through the purchase of new equipment and delivery of training.

It says this will improve the way in which the organisation supports its service users.

The group Smile with Friends receives £6,725 and will use the funding to provide social activities for people experiencing mental health issues in rural communities.

It says this will improve beneficiaries’ confidence and well-being, reducing social and rural isolation.

Close to £2 million from the Big Lottery Fund will be shared amongst 74 South West organisations including projects in Devon, Bristol, Cornwall, Dorset, and Somerset.

Wessex Resolutions receives £440,827 to improve the quality of life, well-being and financial resilience of vulnerable people living on low incomes in rural areas of Torridge and West Devon.

The project will include drop-in surgeries, appointment-based services, and home visits for those hardest to reach.

It will offer advice, information and support on money, debt, welfare benefits, housing and homelessness, fuel poverty and budgeting.

Training will be provided for professionals, volunteers and frontline staff working with vulnerable groups in the community to identify the early signs of financial crisis, and there will be a range of public education campaigns and events dealing with financial capability, literacy and inclusion issues. The project will support around 2,000 people.

Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund England grant making director said: “So many local community organisations are enabling people to spring forward and make positive changes to their lives. It’s wonderful when we get to hear the stories of how through these projects people have overcome barriers, learned new skills and improved their lives.”

The awards have been 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