TWO projects working in Stirling are among the latest successful applicants to BBC Children in Need for funding.

Between them, the projects have secured a total of £38,700 to support their work with local children and young people experiencing a range of disadvantages.

This latest boost from the charity’s small grants programme brings the total invested in Stirling to more than £318,300. 

Recipients include Stirling Young Carers Service, which has been awarded a three-year grant of £30,000 to deliver residential trips for 105 local young carers aged between seven and 17 years old.

At the project, young people with caring responsibilities benefit from a number of services, including group sessions, individual support, signposting to additional services, and day trips and residentials.

Funding will help cover the cost of two trips and enable the attendance of staff who can support children and young people on a one to one basis, as they try out new activities and receive respite from their caring duties.

The breaks, which include anything from a city break to an outward bound trip, take place during school holidays – a time that can prove to be challenging and intense for young carers – helping to reduce social isolation through quality, leisure activities with peers.          

Elsewhere, PLUS (Forth Valley) has received £8,700 for their work with disabled children and young people under the age of 18 from the Falkirk area, as well as their families.

Since 2011, the project has benefitted from more than £180,000 in grants to support inclusivity in mainstream social activities, and this latest boost will help the group fund experienced sessional staff to run a parent and toddler group, play sessions, youth sessions and family days, and information/support sessions for parents.    

At these sessions, children and their families can enjoy sports, structured play and fun events in a nurturing and non-judgmental environment, providing multiple opportunities for children to make new friends and reduce their social isolation.

In addition, the project offers early intervention services to parents and carers through direct consultations, which are aimed at increasing the resilience of the family unit as a whole.

Speaking of the funding, Susan Fullerton, CEO at PLUS (Forth Valley) said: “Thanks to this funding from BBC Children in Need we can continue creating opportunities for children of all ages, no matter their ability, which are fully-supported, tailored to meet their individual needs and give them a better quality of life.”

Speaking of the new grants, Janet Morton, national officer of Scotland for BBC Children in Need said: “Our Small Grants programme is a great example of money delivering a big impact on a local level, and we're delighted to award PLUS (Forth Valley) and Stirling Young Carers Service as they work to make a difference to disadvantaged young lives in Stirling.

"We’re always looking for quality applications for our Small Grants programme and with a recent refresh to our strategy we are now able to support projects for longer, helping us maximise the impact.

"If your project is working with disadvantaged children and young people, we encourage you to get in touch and find out more.”

Simon Antrobus, BBC Children in Need's chief executive, added: “With every grant awarded we are making a renewed commitment to transform young lives across the UK. Simply put, all of our grants – made possible by the generosity of the UK Public – ensure that projects working in the local community can respond to the needs of disadvantaged children and young people when they need it most.”

BBC Children in Need awards grants at seven points during the year and funds two types of grants, both of which are open to new or existing applicants.

A Main Grants Programme is for grants over £10,000 per year to support projects for up to three years. Meanwhile, a Small Grants Programme includes grants up to and including £10,000, and has been refreshed to support projects for up to three years.

Projects working children and young people facing any kind of disadvantage can find out more on how to apply for funding at bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants.

BBC Children in Need relies on the support and creativity of thousands of fundraisers and supporters across the UK who donate their time, money and energy to help raise millions for the Charity.

Whether raised by baking cakes, going on rambles, putting on quizzes or taking part in dress up days, all the money raised helps make a difference