Nus Ghani MP has welcomed the news that Circle of Life Rediscovery Community Interest Company’s ‘The Woodland Project’, which will be delivered in the Wealden constituency, has won a 2017 People’s Project Award.
Circle of Life Rediscovery Community Interest Company has been awarded £49,934 after winning the People’s Projects vote, in which more than 200,000 votes were cast. They will use the funding to support local people in Wealden by delivering therapeutic activity days in a community-managed woodland for three groups – families who have a child with severe physical or mental disability, families who have a child experiencing mental health issues and 11-18 year olds who are accessing mental health services. The project will enable people to feel less lonely, stressed and stigmatised, and more connected to nature.
The People’s Projects is a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund, ITV and The National Lottery, giving the public a say in awarding National Lottery funding to local projects across the UK. Since 2005, around £39 million has been awarded to 865 People’s Projects across the UK.
Commenting, Nus Ghani MP said: “It’s great news that Circle of Life has received this funding award. It will allow them to deliver ‘The Woodland Project’ in Wealden, helping individuals and families who will benefit from therapeutic activity days.
“I’m particularly delighted that this project will support people with mental health difficulties and their families. I have often called for greater parity of esteem and funding between physical and mental health care, and the work of charities such as Circle of Life goes some way to closing that gap for the benefit of the entire community.”