[B]BC Children in Need has awarded a total of £147,965 in new funding to five local groups working with disadvantaged children and young people in Cumbria. The grants are part of the charity’s small grants programme and bring the total invested across Cumbria to more than £2.1million.
Recipients of the funding include SoundWave Cumbria which has been awarded £29,570, over three years, to deliver a youth club to children and young people in Workington. The project will provide a safe space for young people to meet with friends where they are able to take part in fun activities, explore issues that young people are facing, and participate in regular workshops in music technology and DJ’ing.
Elsewhere, Sandside Lodge Special School has been awarded £30,000, over three years, to deliver one to one music therapy sessions to children and young people with severe, profound or multiple learning difficulties. The sessions will be provided by a music therapist and enable the children and young people to explore their creativity and express themselves through music. The sessions aim to help improve their communication skills, develop their confidence and self-esteem and encourage them to reach their potential.
Donna Stretton, Headteacher at Sandside Lodge Special School said: “With this new funding from BBC Children in Need we’ll be able to give the children and young people that we work with the opportunity to explore their creativity through music. A huge thank you to everyone that has made this possible.”
In Ambleside, Brathay Trust has been awarded £28,512, over three years, to deliver support and wellbeing sessions to children and young people affected by poor mental health. The sessions will be child-led and will help the children and young people to build their confidence and self-esteem, develop coping strategies and encourage them to build positive relationships with peers and adults around them.
Prism Arts has been awarded £29,883, over three years, to deliver a series of drama, costume and music workshops to disabled children and young people in Carlisle. During each year of the grant the children and young people will devise, design and create a new performance to be showcased as part of the Carlisle Fringe. The sessions will be delivered by skilled artists and will enable the young people to learn new skills, develop their confidence as well as inspiring them to raise their aspirations for the future.
Catherine Coulthard, Director at Prism Arts said: “The BBC Children in Need funding will enable us to provide disabled children and young people with a unique experience in our area which equips them with the skills and confidence to design and create their own performance to be showcased to a public audience at the Carlisle Fringe. We’re delighted to have been awarded the grant!”
Additionally, Carlisle United Community Sports Trust has been awarded £30,000, over three years, to deliver weekly sports sessions for disabled children and young people. The sessions will be held at Carlisle FC and will enable the young people to enjoy sports such as football, cricket, basketball, tennis, dance and climbing as well as a range of indoor activities. The sessions will help to develop the young people’s confidence and self-esteem, improve their physical health and their relationships with other children.
Isabel Farnell, Regional Head of North at BBC Children in Need said: “We’re delighted to have awarded another round of grants for 2018. With this new funding Brathay Trust, Carlisle United Community Sports Trust, Prism Arts, Sandside Lodge Special School and SoundWave Cumbria will be able to make a tangible difference to disadvantaged children and young people’s lives.”
BBC Children in Need’s Chief Executive, Simon Antrobus added: “We’re delighted to be able to award these grants, thanks to the generosity of the British public. This funding will help to support disadvantaged children and young people right across the UK, giving them the chance to overcome the challenges in their lives and to reach their full potential.”
BBC Children in Need awards grants at seven points during the year and funds two types of grants, both of which are open to new or existing applicants. A Main Grants Programme is for grants over £10,000 per year to support projects for up to three years. Meanwhile, our Small Grants Programme supports projects for up to three years, and includes grants up to and including £10,000 per year. Both of these programmes are currently open to applications.
Alongside the main and small grants programmes, we are continuing to develop Curiosity – our partnership with Wellcome – which awards grants to organisations using inspiring science activities to create change for disadvantaged children and young people. 32 organisations have already been funded by the Curiosity programme and more information will be available this summer about further funding opportunities.
To find out more about any of BBC Children in Need’s grant programmes or for information on how to apply for funding visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants.
BBC Children in Need relies on the generosity and creativity of the thousands of supporters and fundraisers who raise millions of pounds for the charity every year. To date the UK public has raised over £950 million for children and young people facing disadvantage across the UK.
