National Lottery funding helps to keep the community active

By Steve Ashfield

onFeb 21, 2019

National Lottery funding helps to keep the community active

National Lottery funding has been allocated to a Scottish charity for older people. The Lanarkshire charity, LEAP, provides a Learning and Leisure programme for local people aged over 50.

Two years of financial security

The National Lottery Community Fund grant of £47,140 will extend the activity programme for two more years. LEAP will also expand into other areas of South Lanarkshire.[caption id="attachment_11691" align=aligncenter width=810] national charity funding singing

LEAP provides community activities[/caption]The Learning and Leisure programme provides activities for everyone. Choices include tango, IT courses, tai chi, language courses and a singing group. The aim is to help older people to get out of their homes and into the community.

National Lottery funding benefits all kinds of people

Louise Hope, a retiree from Hamilton is one receiver of the benefits. She joined the Singing for Fun group about a year ago. Having just retired, Ms Hope said she was stuck on how to fill her time.“I love the fact the group is really affordable,” she explained. She added that singing with the group boosts her mood. It has also helped her with her asthma.Other group members have benefited in other ways, such as by combating loneliness. “But most of all it’s great fun,” added Ms Hope.

Changing lives for older people

The Learning Coordinator for LEAP added that the programme has changed many people’s lives. Many older people simply want to fill their days. They might feel as is they are cut off from the local community. The group dynamic changes that dramatically.LEAP’s chairman said that the National Lottery charity funding will make a big difference. “We’re really grateful,” he said. He described the Learning and Leisure programme as the backbone of the charity. “It is as relevant now as it was a quarter of a century ago.”LEAP’s grant was part of a £1.4 million National Lottery Community Fund boost to help older people in Scotland.