Lesley Mount from Livingston, West Lothian beat off dozens of other budding photographers and won an all expenses paid trip for her and her son to visit the Millennium Commission funded project of her choice - Tate Modern in London.

The photography competition was run exclusively for Millennium Award winners and was entered by individuals throughout the UK. The Millennium Awards are small grants which enable people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to put their own bright ideas into action, fulfilling a personal goal and benefiting their communities.

Entrants were asked to submit photographs which summed up their project at a glance. Lesley received a 'Breaking Down Barriers' Millennium Award which she used to set up a help line, offering advice and support to parents of children with special needs in West Lothian. Her photograph featured her son Ewan helping her to publicise the ?Signpost Helpline?.

Millennium Award winner Lesley Mount said "I am delighted to have won this competition and my son and I have thoroughly enjoyed our visit to London and Tate Modern. My Millennium Award enabled me to start the Signpost Helpline as I realised that there was a need for a central place for the parents of children with special needs to go to if they needed information. I gathered a team of parent volunteers who provide advice and, most importantly, offer friendship, support and a sense of community to people who often feel isolated by their child's differences. Each volunteer has a child with special needs themselves, so they have a unique understanding of other parents in the same situation"

She continued, "The Millennium Awards are providing a wonderful opportunity for people to try new experiences and make a difference. I would encourage anybody who wants to take an active part in their community to apply for one."

Erica Roberts OBE, Director of the Millennium Awards, said "I would like to congratulate Lesley both for winning the competition and for the dedication she has shown in establishing this vital helpline. Lottery money is enabling thousands of people like Lesley to put their own bright ideas into action, fulfilling a personal goal and enriching their communities through the Millennium Award Scheme."

She continued "I applaud all 1,700 Award winners from Scotland and their efforts to improve their lives and the lives of their communities. It takes motivation and determination to be a Millennium Award winner, but the benefits are enormous. This is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities throughout the UK to get up and act on their innovative ideas."

Lesley is one of 18,000 Millennium Award winners throughout the UK who are using their ideas to make a difference to their community. She will go on to gain the accolade of becoming a Millennium Fellow. The Millennium Fellowship has been set up as an important accolade for people who have completed their Awards to recognise the contribution Award winners have made to their community and to enable the continual exchange of information, skills and ideas.

Other Award winners in Scotland have undertaken a wide range of projects from setting up youth groups on inner city estates, to leading neighbourhood clean-up projects and setting up schemes to tackle racism. People in Scotland can still make their mark on the Millennium. £50 million of lottery money is available through the Millennium Awards Scheme for people to make a difference to their local area.

Individuals who want to apply for a Millennium Award should 
call 0800 06801 2000 for more information.

-ends-

For further information or to arrange interviews please call:
The Millennium Commission Press Office on 020 7880 2007 (0777 5573263 out of hours)

The Millennium Commission websites can be accessedwww.millennium.gov.uk andwww.starpeople.org.uk 

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Copyright © 2000 The Millennium Commission  

Millennium Commission   1st-October-2001
Categories:  News Archive
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