Community Projects Benefit from National Lottery Big Fund

Projects working in the area of the Sunderland Echo’s readership were invited to apply to “Do a Lotto Good” for grants of up to £30,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.

A shortlist of 18 projects was agreed and the newspaper’s readers voted for their favourites, in the end 14 winners were announced. Two of the most impressive causes that applied were Action on Dementia and the North East Autism Society.

Action on Dementia received £22,337 and it will use the money to expand its Hospital Visiting Service which helps patients with dementia find support services.

It will also expand its Home Visiting Befriending Service which helps to alleviate pressure on families where someone suffers from advanced dementia.

The North East Autism Society was given £23,625 which it will use to provide “befrienders.  Fund raiser Susan Tron explained, “Volunteers will work with the young people to help them travel independently on public transport and visit leisure and community centres, taking them places they can safely meet people of their own age Imagine how wonderful it will be to open the door to life’s simple pleasures by just giving the right kind of support where it is needed.”