Lottery cash for Perthshire migrant project

Oct 9 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AN innovative project designed to improve the lives of Perthshire’s many ethnic minorities has been given a huge funding boost.

The £259,569 grant from the Big Lottery Fund will be used to support the development of the minority ethnic access development project (MEAD).

A joint initiative, currently led by the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS) and Perth and Kinross Council – in conjunction with local residents – MEAD aims to give the region’s expanding migrant population the support to play greater role within their community.

A team of development workers are set to target various nationalities through a variety of measures.

These include advocacy, casework, individual and group support, recreational, therapeutic, and education opportunities – as well as community engagement and consultation.

The project will have a particular focus on supporting unpaid carers and individuals affected by disability, long-term health conditions and older age.

Councillor Ian Miller, convener of the area’s community planning partnership, said: “Ethnic minority carers and service users can often find it more difficult to get access to things they require because of the language barrier.

“Also, many are simply unaware of the local support services that we make available to them.

“In Perth and Kinross, we are keen to ensure that all of our residents feel able to play a full part in our community – we are determined to make local services available and accessible to everyone,” he said.

Karen Cowley, chief executive of PKAVS, said she was “delighted” her organisation had been given the money, adding: “This project will allow us to address the needs of a rapidly-changing population.”

For further details on the MEAD project, contact Karen Cowley on: 01738 567076.