I have written before about the National Lottery Community Fund, which awards grants to organisations in the UK to help improve their communities.
Locally, there have been many examples of success stories. This includes a successful bid from ARFID Awareness UK, a charity co-founded in the constituency which aims to raise awareness about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. This morning at Maison du Soleil, I met with Stacey Lambert, both an Ickenham resident and co-founder of the charity, to understand more about their and how the funding will be used.
I was interested to learn about the challenges of ARFID, its diagnoses and treatment, as it has so often been labelled as ‘picky eating’. However, it is much more complex than that and whilst the exact causes remain unknown, it is thought that people who develop ARFID do so because of sensory sensitivity, fear of negative consequences and a lack of interest in eating.
The funding will support the ARFID Awareness Resources project, providing resources that are fundamental in helping families to navigate their child’s diagnosis, and for young people who themselves have been diagnosed.
Challenges remain, however, in terms of official guidance being issued with NHS bodies on ARFID. Following my meeting with Stacey, I have written to the Department of Health and Social Care to gather what progress has been made in this area, and will share the response once it has been received.
Furthermore, I have also connected Stacey with Dr Menakaya, who residents may recall is a Consultant Paediatrician at Hillingdon Hospital and an expert on care of neonatal children. I look forward to following the progress made in raising awareness both locally and nationally.
I was also pleased to learn that National Lottery Funding is supporting events taking place in the constituency as part of the Mayor's Community weekend.
With one of the largest cohorts of military children in the Hillingdon borough, Glebe Primary School's event will be bringing together the military community, as well as the old and young, celebrating strength and diversity within our community.
The Arts for Life Project (UK) supports young people and their families’ emotional health and wellbeing through the therapeutic value of the creative arts. The funding will contribute towards a community picnic in Montesole Park for those who benefit from their support locally.
I hope that both events go well, and are well-attended.
