South Lanarkshire Council

The Big Lottery Fund in Scotland today announced funding for eight groups totalling almost £4million.

One of the organisations receiving support is NHS Lanarkshire which will use its award of £500,071 to roll out its successful First Steps programme to more families across South Lanarkshire.

It will use the funds to train a number of First Steps workers who will help mothers prepare for the arrival of their child, as well as providing advice during the early stages of their child's development.

The project will cover a range of issues including improved parenting skills, encouraging play, establishing routines, safety in the home and helping mothers find the right specialist advice services in their area.

Shirley Mitchell, First Steps Programme manager, said: "South Lanarkshire Council, through its Tackling Poverty Fund, has supported the programme from its inception due to its potential to improve the lives of children living in poverty.

"This award means we will not only allow us to recruit more staff to help us make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable families and their children but will also help us tackle health inequalities for future generations."

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: "The range of issues and challenges currently facing Scottish families can have a huge impact on the stability of family life.

"Many of today's funded projects will help to address some of these challenges by supporting disadvantaged families to move out of debt and into employment, while also improving parenting skills that will give their children the best start in life.

"I am delighted that this funding will help these community projects to expand their valuable work and so support many more of the hardest to reach Scottish families."

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are on the Big Lottery Fund website.