Women at forefront of £500k lotto cash handout for the Borders

Two Borders charities which support expectant and new mums as well as women who have experienced any form of sexual violence are benefitting from a cash handout of £411,000 between them.

Selkirk-based Nurture the Borders, a support group for pregnant women and new mums, has been awarded £144,760 to continue its work running classes, drop-ins and one-to-one support for struggling perinatal women.

And with pregnant ladies included in the group of high-risk people who should take special measures to avoid catching coronavirus, Rosie Kennedy, who founded the group in 2015, says its work is as important as ever.

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“These vital funds will allow us to provide support to women and their families throughout pregnancy and the first two years with their baby,” she said.

“The current pandemic means our services are more in demand than ever before and we are so thankful to be able to support women and help break the isolation during this very difficult time for many.

“The pressure that the NHS is currently under has meant that their local antenatal classes have been cancelled, however the funding that we have received means we are able to offer free weekly antenatal education to all women in the Borders via a live video call so they don’t have to miss out and we can help them prepare for their birth and baby.”

Over the next two years, Rosie expects the group, which includes volunteer befrienders, three part-time prenatal support officers, a birth trauma therapist and an administrator, to help more than 200 women.

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“It’s fantastic that this money has bridged the funding gap and we don’t have to furlough any of our staff at this vital time,” Rosie added.

Galashiels-based Scottish Borders Rape Crisis Centre, meanwhile, is able to carry on providing support to women and young people who have experienced sexual violence for a further three years, thanks to an award of £267,060.

Rape Crisis Centre chief executive officer Susie Stein said: “This funding will enable us to maintain and expand our vital, high quality services aimed at supporting survivors of sexual violence.

“We will provide one-to-one specialist support through our adult service, Sunrise and our young person’s service, Unity, as well as our group work programme helping survivors build confidence and self-esteem.

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“Survivors often describe the support they have received as life-saving and our aim is to help them reclaim control of their lives and start to move forward from the sexual trauma they have experienced.

“Over the coming years this money will have such a beneficial impact on so many survivors of sexual violence across the Borders.”

The female-focused charities are two of six Borders groups and projects sharing just under £507,751, as part of a £7.3m National Lottery handout to 141 groups across the country.

Scottish Borders Community Development Company has also received £25,000 to directly hand out to resilient groups working through the coronavirus lockdown to help vulnerable people in the area.

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Each will spend the money on projects providing support through the lockdown.

Radio Borders’ Cash for Kids will distribute its £20,000 in the form of small grants to families of children living in poverty due to earnings lost during the lockdown.

Cheviot Youth, which supports children across Jedburgh and Kelso, will use its £8,831 grant to buy and deliver grocery packs to those struggling locally, while the Borders Additional Needs group will spend £7,000 on equipment to share with special needs children who are currently missing out on school or day service support.

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