Great news for local groups as they scoop £30,000 of grants

Falkirk Council’s Children’s Services was awarded the most at £9023 from the latest and the last grants from the Communities and Families Fund, a joint venture between the Big Lottery Fund and the Scottish Government.

The money will be used by the local authority to fund a programme of activities to help parents support their children’s learning and development in relation to health, play and literacy.

Slamannan Community Education Association received £7860 to provide a range of activities for children under eight and their parents, while Westquarter and Redding Community School Project was awarded £4060 to set up programmes specifically for young families.

Barnardo’s was handed £2500 to deliver family play sessions at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, and Rock-A-Bye Creche Services received £4710 to provide its mobile crèche service to a number of local charities.

Maureen McGinn, chairman of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland Committee, said: “Since its launch in May 2012, the Communities and Families Fund has helped to give Scotland’s next generation the best start in life.

“Over the past four years, the programme has supported a wide range of activities in each of the country’s 32 local authorities, showing how small amounts of funding can often make the biggest difference.”