The Big Lottery Fund is delivering its single biggest wave of community funding today with £41 million rolling out across England to a total of 143 organisations.

The multi-million pound funding is from BIG's flagship programme, Reaching Communities, which supports work with some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded groups.

Sanjay Dighe, chair of the Big Lottery Fund's England Committee, said: "The impact of today's £41 million good cause funding will be felt in energetic and worthwhile community projects across the country. The range of community action it represents across the 143 organisations is truly inspiring.

"We look forward to receiving many more applications from groups which aim to promote health and well-being, increase opportunities, improve rural and urban environments and build stronger communities."

Nine England-wide projects are sharing funding close to £2.8 million including much needed support for bereaved families with young children, advice for families with deaf children and children with rare medical conditions.

An England-wide initiative offering support to bereaved families, particularly those with young children, The Sand Rose Project, will use a £113,289 grant to provide free breaks to families from across the country who have lost a loved one, giving them time to reflect together, adjust and become more able to cope with their loss.

Parents with young children will also benefit from an initiative led by Family Action.

The group will use their £369,153 award to support pregnant women and new mothers affected by or at risk of perinatal illness, ranging from temporary 'baby blues', depression and anxiety to more serious symptoms of psychosis. Help will be offered through home visits, parenting skills groups, self help groups and training volunteer befrienders.

Meanwhile, The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) is awarded £282,895 to host weekend events in three areas of the country which will bring deaf children together with their parents, carers and siblings and share information and impartial advice on a range of issues surrounding childhood deafness.

Families will be able to meet deaf adults who will act as role models for the children, and they will be encouraged to discuss their fears and concerns in a safe environment of mutual support.

In response to their public consultation last year, the Big Lottery Fund is to invest at least £100 million a year in a new improved version of Reaching Communities for each of the next five years.

Applicants seeking smaller sums of money will be offered a simpler application and assessment process, while a two-stage decision making process for larger bids will mean that applicants learn sooner whether their project is in with a chance of receiving funding.

For those invited to the second stage, the likelihood of success will be much higher, making the time spent completing a full application more worthwhile.

Also receiving funding today is the Jennifer Trust For Spinal Muscular Atrophy which was voted Best Health Project in the National Lottery Awards 2009 and receives £409,810 today.

There are different types and severity of the condition from babies with type one who rarely survive beyond the age of two to adolescents and adults who have a less severe form but still need help to walk, breathe and feed.

Liz Willetts, director of Support Services, said: "Without Big Lottery funding to support us, it would have been increasingly difficult to keep up the vital work that we know makes such a huge difference at the time when families need it most.

"We can also now do more to share what we have learned, and continue to learn, with a wide range of professionals and carers involved with the families we support."

Full list of England-wide Reaching Communities grants awarded today:

Family Action £369,153
The National Deaf Children's Society £282,895
Prison Radio Association £160,000
The Sand Rose Project £113,289
The Rural Media Company £316,695
National Schizophrenia Fellowship £361,313
Jennifer Trust For Spinal Muscular Atrophy £409,810
Healing Our Past Experiences £478,929
Deafax £299,368

Full list of the 143 grants announced today is available on request or downloadable from www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

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