Community care charity celebrates lottery funding

A LOCAL charity which helps people find self-directed care services has been awarded just over £113,000 from the National Lottery’s community fund.

Shetland Community Connections (SCC), based at Lerwick’s Market House, is now in its fourth year of providing support to people who have opted to design their own care packages outside the services provided by the local authority.

The service gives people added flexibility of choice and is designed to empower people to make decisions on their own care.

SCC became operational in February 2019 after receiving a £250,000 grant from the Scottish Government.

The organisation is now in line to receive £113,706 over three years for a new service called ‘Shared Lives’, which will provide short breaks and sessional support from within a registered hosts’ homes.

SCC general manager Karen Hannay said: “This is a natural progression for Shetland Community Connections, as our role is looking at how we connect people with their assets in the community and this is a new way in Shetland for us to match people who need support with people who are willing and have the facilities to provide it.”

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The lottery funding will provide a significant contribution towards the running cost of the new service.

Shared Lives registered manager Jane Haswell described the National Lottery’s endorsement of the project as “a highly important development”.

She added: “Shared Lives is about placing individuals in the control seat of their support, as well as recognising the vast pool of skills Shetland people have to offer. It’s taking support back to ordinary houses and ordinary activities.”

Meanwhile other Shetland based organisations have secured lottery funding.

North Yell Development Council has been awarded £60,000 to to deliver a range of services and wellbeing activities for residents in the area, supporting and stimulating better connections as well as improved physical and mental health whilst supporting the community to recover from the effects of Covid-19.

The Sandwick Social and Economic Development Company has been given just over £7,200 for folding tables and chairs.

Shetland Community Connections can be contacted via e-mail communityconnections@shetland.org or by telephone 01595 745091.