Scotland: Disability charities given £700,000
Monday 2 January 2012
Charities working with disabled people and their carers are to receive almost £700,000 in Scottish Government funding.
Published on Monday 2 January 2012 11:13
The money will go to 18 organisations which help people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, mental health issues, dementia and sensory impairments.
The cash injection is to help the organisations expand and improve the information they provide as they support people to access care services.
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “This funding will enable organisations to work with more people, from different backgrounds and communities, for longer periods of time and in more creative ways.
“This is vital in supporting people who receive social care services to have a real say in how the services they need to live independent lives should be delivered.”
Ministers said the money supports the goals of their self-directed support strategy, which aims to help people live independently and for as long as possible in their own homes and communities.
The Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network receives the largest allocation of funds this year, standing at £109,300. Self Directed Support Scotland receives just over £100,000.
Other organisations receiving funding include Alzheimer Scotland, the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living (GCIL).
GCIL’s chief executive, Etienne d’Aboville, said: “I am delighted that the Scottish Government has awarded Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living funding as it will enable us to extend our existing services to, and develop new services for, more people. It will help ensure that disabled people and their carers can make the most of the exciting new opportunities which self-directed support offers.
“Self-directed support has the potential to transform the lives of people by giving them more choice and control over every day things that many people take for granted – whether that means being able to decide who provides help with personal care, doing your own shopping or simply having the confidence to live a more active and independent life.”
