24 Feb Funding News: A National Lottery Community Fund Grant for our Creative Steps Programme

The Creative Steps to Positive Mental Health Programme, a Plantation Productions project, has been awarded an Improving Lives grant by The National Lottery Community Fund.

The Creative Steps Programme delivers group-based support throughout the south of Glasgow, combining creative participation and peer support to promote positive mental health. The service works with adults with severe and enduring mental health conditions who are experiencing a lack of connection with others and their communities.

This new National Lottery Improving Lives funding will enable the programme to rebuild and develop over the next three years, providing a source of community based mental health support in response to significant identified need.
Using a progression-based model, participants will be encouraged to build on their strengths as they reconnect with their communities, gain structure to the week, improve their mental health and gain resilience skills.

Over the three year grant period, starting in April 2022, the programme aims to support 300 local people. Those living in the Govan and wider south Glasgow areas are encouraged to get involved either through direct referral or by contacting their health professionals.

Moya Crowley, Director of Plantation Productions said: “The Creative Steps to Positive Mental Health programme is an essential service, supporting people at the very earliest stage of their recovery. Working with mental health resource centres and local GP surgeries, this three stepped approach engages with people at their place of treatment and uses the power of creative participation to build confidence for progression back into the community. This much needed award from The National Lottery Community Fund, made possible by National Lottery players, enables the Creative Steps programme to continue and grow at a time when we’re experiencing a significant increase in demand for mental health support services in the community.”

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, Kate Still, said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country. This project delivered by Plantation Productions is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others. National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work and to help communities thrive.”

For further information please contact Amy Errington at Plantation Productions on 0141 387 2596 or email creativesteps@plantation.org.uk.