The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland

Final reminder for those applying to our Community Led, Improving Lives or Cost-of-Living Support Scotland programmes. ⏰ If you are in the process of applying, you must submit your application before noon on 21 August 2024. These closures are in preparation of us opening new funding programmes later this year. Our National Lottery Awards for All, Young Start and Scottish Land Fund programmes remain open and unchanged. Find out more: https://ow.ly/mko850SMYZa

Last month First Step Robotics celebrated their win at the Robotics competition in Cambridge! 🏆 The #NationalLottery funded organisation is dedicated to advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) education among young people in #WestLothian. The £20,000 grant over two years will enable the organisation to acquire essential equipment and tools, enhancing their ability to inspire and support young people in STEM activities. 💻 The project, run primarily by dedicated volunteers from diverse backgrounds, focuses on engaging young people through robotics. Their efforts have already seen success, with a team of young participants representing Scotland in the First Tech Challenge robotics competition at Cambridge University last month, where they received the "Judges Award". The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still said: “Every day National Lottery funding is changing the lives of thousands of people in communities across Scotland. "This project delivered by First Step Robotics CIC, is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others. “National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work which is making a real difference to so many.” Edoh Agbenokoudji, the founder of First Step Robotics said: "We are very thankful to The National Lottery Community Fund. We have run the organisation for months entirely through volunteering and without any financial support. More and more families are enquiring, and we hope to extend our support. "Encouraging young people to participate in STEM opens doors to future careers. We are very thankful to the National Lottery. "The funding will significantly help First Step Robotics in expanding our reach. We will be running robotics clubs in both primary and secondary schools and in the community during the term. "We aim to equip young people with the technical expertise and soft skills necessary for success in technology-driven industries." Thanks to #NationalLottery players' support, First Step Robotics is poised to make an even greater impact, providing young people with the tools they need to succeed in the future and creating a more inclusive and diverse community.

ReTweed a textiles charity that diverts waste textiles out of landfill and repurposes them for educational purposes, is based in #Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders – right in the heart of a vibrant wee fishing town that’s bursting at the seams with character and talent. 🌟 Eyemouth and Berwickshire are also however, like many places across Scotland, facing barriers such as lack of employment opportunities. They're on a mission to bring people together and break down these barriers through their #NationalLottery funded International Tartans project. Hazel Smith, founder of Re-Tweed, who runs the #NationalLottery funded International Tartans project tells us a bit more about the project. "Our workshop provides advanced tailoring training to women and young people who face multiple disadvantages. "National Lottery funding has made possible the delivery of high-level textiles training for people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to gain any new skills or learning. "Graduates of our training courses have started making products and are being well paid for the skills they are applying. "We are busy everyday making beautifully handcrafted items from tartans woven by the best of weavers here in Scotland. "We work with mills in Scotland that are committed to climate consciousness and provide skilled and well-paid employment to their workers – that stuff matters to us. International Tartans was a legacy passed onto ReTweed. David McGill who owned International Tartans loved the work of ReTweed and he wanted his work to be taken forward under the banner of ‘Tartans for social, environmental and humanitarian good.’ And that’s what we’re striving for. "We’re using Scotland’s icon, Tartan, to promote interculturalism and multi-culturalism at its best. People worry they aren’t entitled to wear tartan or need some clan association or specific ancestry – not so! "We want tartan to be inclusive of everyone around the globe and not exclusive to those with Clan Heritage or men in kilts."

Our Climate Action Fund is open to applications! 🌍 We know that climate change matters to communities, so it matters to us. There's £20 million of #NationalLottery funding available to inspire more people to take climate action in communities across the UK. 🙌 What we're looking to fund: 🔎 🚴♀️- projects that link climate action to everyday lives and interests of local communities. 🗺️- initiatives that influence communities at a regional or national level, linking up groups across locations. This fund is here to support charitable organisations' working in formal partnerships to make a real difference in tackling climate change. And, you don’t have to be a climate or environment focused organisation to apply! Learn more and apply: ⬇️ https://ow.ly/jwmu50SF4Kf

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Ivy, founder of Hairdreams Glasgow, is on a mission to inspire and inform the community about the transformative power of hair care. Growing up in Glasgow, she found getting her hair done to be a painful experience. There were no salons where a black girl could have her hair treated properly. After a career in IT, she noticed there still was a noticeable gap in catering to the needs of individuals with textured and Afro hair and wanted to change that for the sake of her daughter. She retrained as a hairdresser specialising in Afro and textured hair and opened HairDreams Glasgow in 2020. Ivy said: “At Hairdreams Glasgow, we are passionate about empowering individuals and celebrating self-expression. We wholeheartedly believe in the incredible transformative power of proper haircare and the immense well-being it can bring. Having access to support with haircare can bring joy to one's life. We focus on community well-being and empowerment. Through support from National Lottery funding, the salon and social enterprise run three community groups. The Braidy Gang, which is for 16 to 25-year-olds who train on each other’s hair, while the Parent and Child Group allows parents to learn how to style and maintain their child’s hair. The Ladies group is where women learn how to maintain their own protective hair styling. “In our community groups, individuals can share their own stories, breaking free from stereotypes and unrealistic hair care expectations to find their own lane and methods that work for them.” Ivy explains. We’ve created an inclusive environment where people can connect and feel seen. Many individuals with textured hair often feel isolated in their hair care journey, but our community groups help our members to realise that they are not alone in their journey of self-expression. “We’ve seen that through these connections within the groups, confidence is built and they want to be more expressive in trying different hairstyles. They also gain a greater understanding of one’s own individual hair care needs.”

There's only 1 month left to apply to our Community Led, Improving Lives and Cost-of-Living Support Scotland programmes. ⏰ If you are in the process of applying, you must submit your application before noon on 21 August 2024. These closures are in preparation of us opening new funding programmes later this year. Our National Lottery Awards for All, Young Start and Scottish Land Fund programmes remain open and unchanged. https://lnkd.in/ee24Ydh5

At The National Lottery Community Fund, we live and breathe our values and one of our missions is to support communities to be environmentally sustainable. 🌍 ❤️ In this blog, Jigjit Kaur Tait, Business Support Manager shares how recycling stationery and furniture from our Scotland Office has helped communities in need. 👇 CC: ELREC Edinburgh & Lothian Regional Equality Co, CEMVO, Movement Park, Sense Scotland, Emmaus UK, Greater Pollok Services

Today we’re wishing our Team GB #TNLAthletes good luck ahead of #Paris2024! 🏅 We’re proud to be supported by #NationalLottery players, just like many of the incredible athletes heading to the Olympic Games next week! 🤞 National Lottery Promotions Unit

Today we are awarding £17.3 million in #NationalLottery funding to over 500 projects across Scotland! 📣 These groups are supporting their communities in a myriad of ways, from helping isolated people experience friendship and connection, to giving young people the skills and confidence they need for a bright future. Announcing the funding our Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “As The National Lottery approaches its 30th birthday later this year, it’s wonderful to see how, three decades on, the funding is still changing lives for the better and what can be accomplished when people join forces for a shared purpose or to support one another.”