Children between the ages of 4 and 7 from mostly Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) families are set to benefit from an award of £204,660 over three years made to the 4-2-7 project at MCFB.

The money, from the National Lottery, will be used to work with vulnerable children, mainly from refugee and asylum seeking communities, who are having difficulties in the transition period from home to nursery/primary school and during the first 2 years of school. It will also enable MCFB to further develop their 4-2-7 project by building strong links with families, schools and the English as an Additional Language service (EAL) in Edinburgh by undertaking direct work with children to  increase confidence, language, communication skills and self-esteem.

Steve Gowenlock said: "We are delighted to receive continuing support from the National Lottery. All of the families we work with are vulnerable. Many experience racism and the difficulty of adapting to a new or different culture. Further, they live mainly in areas of Edinburgh with higher levels of income poverty, poor housing and social exclusion. This money will help children to develop some of the basic building blocks essential for effective learning in school, at home and in the community. The real benefits, such as beginning to play, communicating with their peers and following simple instructions, emerge soon after we start the process of support. The results are increased self-esteem and better engagement at nursery or at school.”

Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted that Multi-Cultural Family Base has been successful in securing a Big Lottery Fund grant. The funding will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish MCFB every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.”