December 3, 2008
Lottery windfall for popular Fife project
For over ten years, the Ecology Centre has played an important part in the life of the Kinghorn community and is much valued throughout the rest of Fife. The Centre recently had cause to celebrate when they came out on top as the people’s choice in Primetime – the Big Lottery’s new joint project with the BBC
Enviro-Mentors! wins BBC viewer vote and slice of Lottery funding
Celebrations are underway for supporters of the Enviro-Mentors! project, based at the Ecology Centre in Fife, the sixth group to win the public vote and a slice of Lottery good cause cash from the Big Lottery Fund through BBC Scotland’s Primetime programme.
A joint project between the BIG Lottery Fund and BBC Scotland, Primetime had £3 million in the pot to go towards projects aimed at helping improve life for the country’s over 50s.
Enviro-Mentors! won the hearts and minds of viewers across Scotland, with their pitch to spend £318,818 for their project based at the Ecology Centre in Fife. The project will recruit and re-skill retired and long term unemployed older people from Fife, to enable them to mentor younger people and pass on their experience and skills.
Project champion Julie Samuel, said: “We’re going to make a difference to hundreds of people’s lives in the local area. It’s going to be fantastic. We’re really, really excited about it.”
Primetime presenter, BBC Scotland’s Dougie Vipond, said: “Congratulations to the Enviro-mentors! They were up against two very worthy opponents from the Central & Fife area in the final episode of the series.”
Alison Magee, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said: “Enviro-Mentors! is the sixth and final winner from our Primetime programme which has captured the imagination of the viewing public. It is fantastic that Lottery funding will make a huge difference to older people across Fife and enable them to still be able to contribute their valuable skills and experience which will make a vital difference to their communities. “