Life Changes Trust will spend £50m in Scotland

A new trust is investing £50m in Scotland to improve the lives of young people leaving care and the lives of people with dementia, it has been announced.

The Life Changes Trust is being funded by the Big Lottery Fund (BIG), and will offer support over the next 10 years with the aim of achieving “long-term transformational change” for the two groups, focusing on those most in need.

Alison Magee, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland, said: “At first glance those living with dementia and those leaving the care system would seem to have very little in common.

“However we know that these two very separate groups face huge challenges through the way their lives change suddenly at certain points. This independent trust will be able to offer targeted and specific help to people in either of these two groups and we believe this support will have a marked impact for the good on the lives of all involved.”

The Trust will work alongside existing groups to provide support, and will be run by an independent charitable trust.

Edinburgh based young mother Jenny Aitken has experienced firsthand the difficulties of leaving the care system and believes that the Life Changes Trust will help to make life easier for those facing the same issues. Now 24, Jenny was just 16 when she moved into her own flat. Although she initially received some limited support, very quickly she found herself out of her depth and unable to cope.

She said: “After a couple of years I realised how hard it was and tried to access social services support but I found it really difficult to get help because I had turned my back on them. It’s really challenging for a young person coming from a care background to get help a second time.

“The kind of help the Life Changes Trust is proposing will really help people like me get their lives on track.”

Irene Gray, 75, is the main carer for her partner Walter Scoular, 80, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago. Irene, from Bo’ness, said: “We have been exceptionally lucky with the care and support we have been given since Walter’s diagnosis. I think that this funding is really important for lots of ladies and gentlemen.

“After a diagnosis it’s like a dark hole and you are lost in the dark, not knowing where to turn at first. The help I received took me out of the darkness, helped me and showed me how to cope. Without the support I’ve had I don’t know what I would have done. It’s really important to get individual care for everyone in this position, and that’s what the Life Changes Trust will be able to do.”