The Big Lottery Fund has announced a £100m programme to support the delivery of coordinated services for the most disadvantaged individual adults in our society.
The programme will focus on adults facing a combination of problems including substance misuse, mental ill health, homelessness and repeated contact with the criminal justice system.
DrugScope is a partner in the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition, which was formed in 2008 with Clinks, Homeless Link and Mind. The MEAM coalition was formed to influence policy and services for adults facing multiple needs and exclusions, and is generously supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
Oliver Hilbery, Project Director for MEAM, commented on the launch of the Big Lottery Fund programme:
"The Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition welcomes the Big Lottery Fund's commitment to supporting sustained improvement in services and outcomes for adults facing multiple needs. Building on the experience and expertise of our members working in mental health, substance misuse, homeless and the criminal justice system, MEAM has been at the forefront on this agenda, influencing and formulating practical responses nationally and locally.
"The MEAM vision is that in every community people facing multiple needs are supported by effective, coordinated services to tackle their problems and reach their full potential. We believe that success is achievable, even at a time when budgets across-the-board are being squeezed. With careful planning, co-ordination, partnership working and a strategic approach to making the most cost-effective use of different national and local funding, local areas can improve outcomes for the most excluded individuals in our society.
"By building on and maximising the contributions of those with a commitment to addressing multiple needs, the Big Lottery Fund has a fantastic opportunity to help secure lasting change in all areas across the country. On behalf of our collective memberships, we look forward to working with the Big Lottery to support them and to enable this ambition to be achieved."
