5 November 1998

National Lotttery Charities Board awards more than £30m to 281 Groups across England

The National Lottery Charities Board has today unveiled grants worth £30,651,937 to 281 voluntary and community groups in England.

Those celebrating range from local play groups to well known names such as homeless charity CRISIS - which receives more than £300,000 - and the National Deaf Children’s Society which gets £507,000.

The awards are being made under the Charities Board’s Community involvement grants programme, which aims to improve the quality of life in disadvantaged communities.

Charities Board Director for England Janet Paraskeva said: "We are continuing to support groups that work with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people. This includes projects which focus on particular areas of need. For example we are spending almost £500,000 on two organisations working to rehabilitate prisoners. Experience has shown that such projects help in the fight against crime.

"But the large awards we make tell only part of the story. More than £27million is going to local groups - an increasing number are putting Lottery money to good use in their communities and are making a real difference."

Any group wanting to know more should call 0116 258 7000. Or, for an application pack call 0345 919191 or Click here. There is no closing date for applications.

All enquiries: Martin Valentine, England Media Manager 0116 258 7023

Examples of grants (England-wide projects)

CRISIS: £307,215 will enable this organisation which works with homeless people, to expand their FareShare project, which has been piloted in London. FareShare collects food from retailers, which would otherwise not be used, and then distributes it to local services for homeless people. The three year grant will pay for five FareShare project managers

Location: based in London

Contact: Julie Alexander/ John Fulcher, 0171 655 8335 or 0973 372587

NATIONAL DEAF CHILDREN’S SOCIETY: £507,384 to employ regional staff. They support families with deaf children by providing impartial information, advice and support on issues such as benefit entitlements and education. This money will also help to increase the numbers of people from ethnic minority groups who can benefit from the organisation’s services.

Location: based in London

Contact: Dan Tickle, Press and PR officer, 0171 490 8656

ADFAM NATIONAL: £178,642 to fund the organisations Prisons Project which supports families of drug using prisoners, by working with existing prison visitors centres to develop the appropriate support services.

Location: based in London

Contact: Anne Marshall 0171 928 8900

NEW BRIDGE: £306,995 over three years to this organisation, which creates links between prisoners and the outside community through befriending, employment and information services. The grant will enable the project to be extended nation-wide, and will enable prisoners about to be released to have a job/ training interview.

Location: based in London

Contact: Eric McGraw 0171 976 0779