This is the first round of awards from the Big Lottery’s Improving Futures programme, which will make up to £26m available for projects for three to five years, which involve partnerships between voluntary sector and public services.
Each partnership will receive £900,000. Around 8,000 families will benefit from these awards made to 17 projects spread across the UK.
Former Sure Start director Naomi Eisenstadt, who helped design the programme, said, ‘What is really important about the Improving Futures programme is that it’s going to focus on children aged five- to ten-years-old, who are at the moment frequently being overlooked in terms of support.
‘The primary school age is a crucial stage in childhood development, when problems can still be corrected before they become too entrenched. If you can reach children in this age group, there is still a good chance of turning their lives around and giving them a better future. I am delighted that the Big Lottery Fund has made this commitment and I am sure it will make a real difference.’
The Pre-School Learning Alliance is leading the Family Pathways project, which has been awarded the funding to provide targeted support to 400 families in the London borough of Lewisham.
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