Aberlour Family Service – South Ayrshire receives £150,000 in lottery funding
A GROUND-BREAKING project which helps adults with learning disabilities to become better parents, has received a National Lottery Award of £150,000, from The Big Lottery Fund.
Aberlour Family Service – South Ayrshire was awarded the funds for its work helping parents to increase their skills and self-confidence in taking care of their children.
Service Manager Sharon Swan (pictured) said: “We are over the moon to receive this National Lottery Award, which will help us to continue our life-changing work, reaching more families in South Ayrshire, over the next two years.
“At Aberlour Family Service, we recognise that parenting can be difficult for all sorts of reasons and parents with learning disabilities may struggle with things that others take for granted.
“But just because they need extra support, doesn’t mean they love their children any less, and they absolutely deserve the chance to provide safe, loving homes for them.
“Our dedicated family workers are able to identify where extra support is needed, and put strategies in place to help parents fulfil their potential.
“We are so grateful to The Big Lottery for all their ongoing support and recognition of this important work.”
Aberlour Family Service – South Ayrshire has been delivering the service in partnership with The Big Lottery and South Ayrshire Council since 2013.
There is evidence that without the service, more children would be placed in care.
An evaluation in 2016 revealed that the cost savings delivered by the unique, preventative approach are significant. These are estimated at £1.4m in savings from public funds in the first year and £10.2m over 10 years (Evaluation – Social Value Lab, 2016).
Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted that Aberlour Family Service – South Ayrshire has been successful in securing National Lottery funding.
“The award will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish the Aberlour every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.”
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Press enquiries: For more information, please contact Head of Marketing and Communications on marie-claire.jones@aberlour.org.uk or 07528970553
Not all children are born with an equal chance. Aberlour is there for Scotland’s hidden children, when others let them down. Because every child deserves a chance to flourish.
We help by:
- Offering a safe place to live for children who have suffered abuse and trauma
- Making life easier for families where a child has a disability
- Giving babies a brighter future by building confidence in their parents
- Helping families recover from drug and alcohol addiction, so their children can thrive
- Working with young people to prevent their problems from spiralling out of control
Our vision is to transform the lives of the children and families we work with and, through this, contribute to building a fairer and more equal society
www.aberlour.org.uk