Asthma and Allergy Foundation, a Scottish charity that provides evidence-based health information, confidential advice, and support to people with asthma, their families and carers across Scotland has received a National Lottery award of £143,064 from the National Lottery Community Fund to enable the charity to deliver the project “Breathing Room – Helping Young People with Asthma Breathe Easy” to benefit children and young people with asthma in the Glasgow region.
Martina Chukwuma-Ezike, chief executive of Asthma and Allergy Foundation said: “We are delighted to have received a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. Lockdown highlighted how much young asthma sufferers need to be able to self-manage, and have a well-informed support network at home, school and in the community. And just how much this is missing in Scotland. This funding means a lot to our charity because it will enable the charity to deliver a range of essential asthma workshops and management sessions over the next three years that will help children and young people with asthma manage their symptoms better and improve quality of life. When children and young people learn to manage their asthma, they will live longer, healthier, active and symptom-free lives and not living lives compromised by their asthma”.
Asthma affects 72,000 children in Scotland; High proportions of children and young people struggle daily to cope with asthma. We have found out over the years that asthma impact not just the health of children and young people with asthma, but education, attendance, performance, and mental health. Children with persistent asthma are more likely than their peers to have several days of absences each school year, which puts them at risk of falling behind academically. They also suffer from bullying, social withdrawal and isolation. Research also confirms that children with poorly controlled asthma are at higher risk of CV19 hospital admissions.
The Breathing Room project will directly impact on the quality of life of children and young people with asthma by helping them learn to manage their symptoms better, improve health and academic excellence; And equip parents and carers with the necessary skills to support children and young people with asthma.
The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland chair, Kate Still said: “In these uncertain times our priority is to ensure that National Lottery money continues to flow to charities, voluntary sector organisations and grassroots groups. I would like to congratulate the Asthma and Allergy Foundation on their award, theirs is an important project and will support people now and in the future when they can physically come back together to make great things happen in their community.”
Denis Pinto, trustee of Asthma and Allergy Foundation said: “There have been so many avoidable asthma deaths amongst children and young people in Scotland that have devastated lives - The death of one child with asthma is one death to many! Our work at Asthma and Allergy Foundation over the past 11 years has proven to prevent asthma deaths, reduce hospital admissions, and improve quality of life for children, young people, and adults with asthma across Scotland. We are very pleased to have received this National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund, which was made possible thanks to National Lottery players”.
“There are about 1,000 deaths a year from asthma in the UK and around 90% of these deaths are preventable. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation, which opened offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh at the beginning of the year, is the only organisation of its kind in Scotland whose sole aim is to reduce this figure and by providing our services we want to ensure that everyone who turns to us for support gets the help they need so they or their loved ones can live a healthier life."
For more information about our work or to support Asthma and Allergy Foundation, call our Aberdeen office on 01224 973001, Glasgow office on 01415 010539, Edinburgh office on 01316 090264 email: info@asthmaandallergy.org.uk, or visit: www.asthmaandallergy.org.uk.