: Greg Barker, MP for Bexhill and Battle, recently visited local charity “Young Pioneers” to learn more about their successful bids for funding from the Big Lottery Fund.
Greg was accompanied by Fiona Dempsie, the Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the South East region. Young Pioneers who are based in Ashburnham, near Battle was set up in 2007 by Bexhill College student Luke Lancaster when he was just 12 years old. Luke and his team talked to Greg about the work that Young Pioneers has done since then and the impact that lottery funding has had for its ‘Be Healthy’ and ‘Media Hub’ projects.
The ‘Be Healthy’ project was awarded a Young People’s Fund grant in June 2009 of £485,313. The project, delivered by young people, will establish a healthy lifestyle programme for young people in East Sussex with the aim of reducing obesity and alcohol misuse and helping young people buy and cook healthy foods.
The charity was also awarded £9,572 from the Awards for All fund to open an educational 'Media Hub' for young people excluded and not attending school. This will engage the young people to develop media based communication skills whilst improving self-confidence and personal communication.
“Speaking in Ashburnam, Greg said” I am amazed by what Luke has achieved over the last 3 years since we first met in Battle.
Working with so many disadvantaged and traumatised children is hugely important and I was fascinated to hear how this local charity has gone from strength to strength.”
Fiona Dempsie, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the South East region said: “It’s great to see firsthand the impact that Lottery funding is having on people and places in Rother. We are keen to encourage more community groups from this area to apply to the Big Lottery Fund to help get their project idea off the ground.”
For more information about the funding available please visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or call the BIG Advice line on 0845 4 10 20 30.