Projects handed grants of more than £300k from Children in Need
By Toby Porter
BBC Children in Need has awarded Lambeth more than £304,800 to support projects working with local disadvantaged children and young people.
One of the organisations recently awarded funding is Communities Empowerment Network (CEN), which has been allocated more than £72,000.
The cash from the charity’s Main Grants programme will fund an advice and advocacy project, which will support disabled children and young people and children and young people with special educational needs.
The three-year project will enable children and young people to be empowered and gain confidence ensuring that they are central in all the decisions affecting their education.
The Lollard Street Adventure Playground has been allocated more than £88,800 in new BBC Children in Need funding to offer free play activities to children living in areas of deprivation in Lambeth.
The project, run by the Kennington Association, aims to improve the well-being of children and young people through developing a safe, playful environment for families.
Also celebrating a recent grant is St Matthew’s Project, which has received more than £49,000 to deliver a coach who can lead weekly football sessions for six-to-11-year-olds in Lambeth.
Lee Dema, its project manager, said: “In addition we will run a parents’ and toddlers’ group, classes and workshops which will give parents the opportunity to learn more about engaging with their children’s education.”
The newly-awarded grants come as BBC Children in Need celebrates the launch of its fundraising campaign.
It asks people to channel their passions, hobbies or dreams to help change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
From fancy dress to clothes swaps, fun runs to once in a lifetime challenges, bake sales or sponsored silences, everyone can channel their passions into fundraising for BBC Children in Need.
Katie Higginson, BBC Children in Need’s regional head of London and the South East, said: “Following the announcement of BBC Children in Need’s 2016 appeal total, we are delighted to put some of that money to work across London and the South East.
“I look forward to seeing the difference these projects make to children and young people in Lambeth in the coming months.
“I would like to thank all our supporters, without whose donations and fundraising efforts this wouldn’t be possible.”
To find out more about BBC Children in Need, visit bbc.co.uk/Pudsey.
