Club nets Lotto grant

Oct 20 2011 by Allan Valente, West Lothian Courier

lottery

A WEST Lothian after-school club has been awarded nearly £400,000 by the Big Lottery Fund.

The Tree Club, which meets in St Kentigern’s Academy in Blackburn, provides social opportunities for kids with learning difficulties.

The grant of £390,500 will make a huge difference to the club, which also offers respite care as well as new social activities for the group of children who suffer with conditions such as Down’s Syndrome and autism.

Tree Club chair and mum-of -three, Claire Dooley, said: “The Tree Club is no ordinary after-school club. We believe that children should have fun regardless of their disability and we are run by parents because, as parents of children with disabilities, we know what’s needed.

“This is somewhere children and families can go and be accepted for who they are with superb staff who are committed to helping everyone reach their full potential. This grant from the Big Lottery Fund means that more families who need this kind of support will get it.”

Claire, whose two youngest children, 13-year-old Patrick and Laura, 10, both use the Tree Club added: “For me it has been a lifeline. To be able to bring the children here and know they are well cared for leaves me with the peace of mind to be able to live my own life and to carry on with my job without worrying.”

A total of £657,762 was given to four groups, including the Tree Club, to be used for projects that focus on young people.

The Tree Club co-ordinator Carolanne Latta is delighted to have secured the funding and she thinks it will make a huge difference to the future running of the organisation, which could include them operating all year round.

She said: “We want to provide more resources for the kids, increase staff members and look to bring in people like football trainers and dance teachers.

“We are looking to increase our summer scheme which only runs for three weeks just now.

“We also want to cover all school holidays. We are off during most holidays right now and we want to make it so the only time we are shut is for two weeks over Christmas.”

Carolanne said that the group, which has been running since 2005, could now look to do more to help kids interact in social situations.

She added: “There are different categories of clubs that are eligible for funding and we are a group that looks to help to increase social skills for these children.

“They have been cut off in that they are transported to and from special schools and there is no children in their area to play with outwith school times.”

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Alison Magee, said: ““It’s vital that this kind of work continues and the Big Lottery Fund is delighted to fund these projects.”