22 Sep 2009
Big Lottery Funding Success!



From the press release issues on 22nd September 2009: COMMUNITY COUNSELLING PROJECT GIVEN A LOTTERY LIFT

An award-winning charity in Reading that provides culturally sensitive counselling in different languages is being awarded a Lottery grant today.

The Mothertongue Counselling and Listening Service is being awarded £320,798 by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) to expand and continue the multi-ethnic counselling service over the next four years. The grant comes from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, which aims to build stronger communities and help those most in need.

With the funding the project will be able to provide therapeutic support and counselling to more vulnerable people in the Reading area who don’t speak English as a first language. The project also offers a multi-lingual practical support service delivered by trained volunteers to help support people with basic practical problems that can also affect their mental health and well-being.

Beverley Costa, Director, Mothertongue, said: “Mothertongue is about to start its 10th year of service. To hear that we have been awarded funding from the Big Lottery Fund, securing our future for the next four years is the best anniversary present possible. One of the most valuable things that Mothertongue has to offer in terms of making it an effective service is its independence. The grant enables us to maintain this independence so that we can continue to respond to the changing needs our clients reveal to us. It gives us the freedom to try to influence strategy and service delivery and, above all, to retain our integrity.”

The project will also be able to continue it’s work supporting people by helping them to access education and activity groups, for example in crafts or music where they can improve their English speaking skills and conversation. The project can also offer support to young people who have a second language spoken at home. Alison Rowe, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the South East, said: ”The Mothertongue project supports some of the most isolated and vulnerable people in Reading. It is making a real difference to the lives of those it helps and we are delighted to be able to support this project through the Reaching Communities programme."