Burnham welcoms £20million lottery fund launched to help elderly in Wales (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Burnham welcoms £20million lottery fund launched to help elderly in Wales

June 9, 2010 9:15 AM

North Wales AM Eleanor Burnham has welcomed a £20million programme by the Big Lottery Fund to improve the quality of life for elderly people in Wales and urges North Wales local voluntary and community sector organisations that work with people over 50 and may be eligible to apply for support under the scheme.

The 'AdvantAGE' scheme aims to improve the quality of life of older people by providing access to befriending or advocacy services. Projects must meet this aim as well as two of the following outcomes:

•Reduced loneliness and increased wellbeing through improving social interaction

•Increased confidence and ability to meet the challenges and opportunities of ageing

•Increased understanding and use of rights and awareness and uptake of services leading to greater independence and choice for older people

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Eleanor Burnham states:

"AdvantAGE is an excellent initiative by the Big Lottery Fund, that will help some of the most vulnerable in our society to face the new challenges and changes that life after 50 can bring. At a time when purse strings are tight, schemes such as 'AdvantAGE' will be of key support to our many voluntary and community organisations that do such fantastic work locally. Projects that meet the outcomes could be eligible to apply for grants of between £200,000 and £1 million which is a substantial amount and would go a long way, so I urge all groups that work with the elderly and may be eligible for this scheme to apply."

Notes:

Grants of between £200,000 and £1m are available for projects, which either encourage befriending or social interaction, or represent the elderly and develop support services. The closing date for applications is 29 October 2010.

More information can be found online: http://www2.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_advantage