Lottery Boost for Thenue Students

The money provides much needed additional support to existing participants experiencing difficulties as a result of the health emergency. It will further allow the original project plan to be completed when it is safe to do so.

Choices for Change already has a substantial grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to fund the course and the additional money will cover costs associated with responding to the pandemic and its local implications.

Choices for Change – now delivering its seventh course since it began – improves people's health and well-being and supports them to make positive choices in their lives. We deliver it in partnership with Glasgow Kelvin College.

Government social distancing rules meant the course could not continue given its classroom learning structure so the original project plan had to be put on hold in order to ensure the health and wellbeing of participants.

The money will be used to fund the staff costs to enable the team to turn their attention, on a temporary basis, to provide much needed support to past and present participants.

The team will provide additional support using the Zoom video communications platform so they can interact with students plus WiFi dongles to allow students to get online.

Choices for Change has been delivered in various Thenue communities notably Bridgeton, Calton, Dennistoun, Cranhill and Castlemilk.

Course content includes computer skills, personal development, community achievement as well as fun, informal activities to promote both physical and mental health and wellbeing such as energy advice, stress management and visits to local places of interest.

Ruth Adam, our Community Regeneration Manager, said: “Choices for Change is yet another example of the work we are doing to help our communities – delivering real benefits at grass roots level and improving people’s lives.

“The National Lottery Community Fund is a generous funder of the course and this extra money helps mitigate the effects of the health emergency. It will allow people to complete two ongoing courses and reap the benefits it brings to their lives. We are immensely grateful for the money.”

Neil Ritch, Scotland Director, The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “In these uncertain times our priority is to ensure that National Lottery money continues to flow to charities, voluntary sector organisations and grassroots groups. I would like to congratulate Thenue Housing on the work they are doing. Theirs is an important project that will support people now during the current crisis, and in the future when they can physically come back together to make great things happen in their community.”

Over the next six months, The National Lottery Community Fund are prioritising grant application for community activity related to coronavirus. To find out more visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Celebration time……the photo shows the most recent Choices for Change awards ceremony for participants held in Cranhill prior to the health emergency pictured with Thenue staff.