'The Beauty of Hindsight' Project
Big Lottery Fund awards milestone funding to Leeds Asperger Adults
Leeds Asperger Adults is getting an early Christmas present as the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) awards £49,955 for its Beauty of Hindsight project.
Fifteen community projects across the UK are sharing in today’s special funding package to mark the 15th anniversary of the National Lottery. The money goes to support imaginative schemes that will enhance local facilities and help people enjoy their local area more.
As the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, the Big Lottery Fund rolls out around £600 million each year across the UK, bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of those most in need. In the past 15 years, BIG, and its predecessor bodies, have made over 5,500 awards totalling almost £535 million in the Yorkshire and The Humber region.
The Beauty of Hindsight! is aimed at people with Asperger Syndrome and other disadvantaged groups in Leeds. It will centre on a series of music workshops held at a local recording studio. Participants will learn about the history and origins of popular music as well as the different elements of composition involving song writing and playing musical instruments. Towards the end of the project participants will be able to showcase their creative talents by taking part in two live shows at a prestigious Leeds venue.
Margaret Marshall, Chairperson of Leeds Asperger Adults, said: “There is very little awareness and limited support for people with Asperger Syndrome which in turn means many of our members are unable to improve their social skills and become more independent.
“This project is different and unique as it aims to promote the capabilities of people with Asperger Syndrome. It will make a lasting impression as it is an opportunity for all those involved to recognise their own talents and build on their self esteem and any skills they have learnt as well as recognise the benefits of working with others.”
Vanessa White, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for Yorkshire and The Humber, said: “I am delighted that Leeds Asperger Adults has been selected to receive one of the Big Lottery Fund’s awards marking 15 years of Lottery support for good causes.
“The project has worked really hard to ensure wide-ranging support and involvement of the community and is a perfect example of how Lottery money has been making a huge difference to communities since 1994.”
Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £23 billion has now been raised and more than 317,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors
BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004.
The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £23 billion has now been raised and more than 317,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.