Earlier this year, Momentum was awarded a fantastic £489,758 of vital National Lottery funding.

The funding, from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes, is allocated over five years and is funding the roles of some of our Family Support Workers.

As well as offering emotional support, our Family Support Workers offer practical help, including with applications for resources

Earlier this year,  Cameron, a Family Support Worker being funded by the grant from the National Lottery, made a successful application for 13-year-old Howard, who has a rare type of cancer, to receive a robot to help him keep up with lessons and activities when he is at hospital or at home.  Nicknamed AV Howard, the robot has been dressed in a school tie and is taken from classroom to classroom by pupils.

Talking about the support Momentum has provided, Howard said: “Throughout my chemo treatments, Cameron has been amazing. He has supported me in countless ways, taking the time to get to know our family and helping make things a little easier. He regularly checks in with my mum to see how we are doing and offers ideas and support. He even arranged for me to receive a robot that allowed me to attend classes remotely on days when I was too unwell to be there in person. Cameron has an amazing ability to understand that some days are good and others, not so much. He consistently comes up with ways to make us feel supported and understood.”

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.

A huge thank you to the National Lottery and all its players – you are helping to make a huge difference to charities like Momentum.