£50 million investment into new Big Lottery Fund Trust in Scotland

Date: 29th April 2013
Category:

A massive investment into a new trust by the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland this week is set to transform two priority areas of social care in Scotland.

The £50m investment 'Life Changes Trust' is to be allocated to two groups: young people leaving care and people with dementia and their carers.

In announcing what is the single biggest cash sum ever invested by the funder in Scotland, Big said it believes the investment can bring about a step-change in the way young people leaving care and people with dementia can access support and services.

In Scotland, more than 16,000 children are looked after and there are 86,000 people with dementia - a figure forecast to double over the next 25 years.

Maureen McGinn, chair of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland committee, said the investment was on the back of research showing these two groups had high priority needs.

The trust, which has a 10 year lifespan, will fund organisations that support young people as they prepare to leave care in their teens, and continue for young adults through their twenties where it's needed.

For people with dementia and their carers, the trust will invest in social and community infrastructure, with a particular focus on people diagnosed from April 2013.

It will also raise awareness, increase understanding and influence policy and practice regarding how best to support people with dementia.

The £50 million will be split evenly between the two beneficiary groups.

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