Disability Huntingdonshire, also known as DISH, is today celebrating after being awarded funding from the National Lottery to support its work in supporting people living with a disability in Huntingdonshire, Fenland and South Cambridgeshire. Based in Huntingdon, DISH will use the money to provide local support through central points in the community to access support with their benefits and wellbeing.

DISH has been supporting the community in Huntingdonshire since 1991 and operates to enable individuals living with a disability to achieve independence.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see an increased presence in Fenland, South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City with dedicated teams who can support more locally.

“We are delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to support more clients in the community. This is important to ensure they get the support they require. This matters because disproportionately, people with disabilities or life limiting/chronic illness have been affected not only with the pandemic, but with the cost-of-living crisis. Older people using our services can get support with claiming benefits and we also support families where children have disabilities. We could not be more thrilled. More information to follow about our new services.“

Tracy Hyland, Chief Executive

The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its new strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030.

As part of this, the funder has four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk