More than half a million pounds from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is being distributed between The Cyrenians Ltd and Contact A Family, for projects in the North East and in Cumbria.

The Cyrenians homeless charity that is helping people who are sleeping rough in Newcastle, is benefiting from £253,440 fund to aid its services...

While Contact A Family receives £256,287 to help parents of the disabled across the North East and Cumbria.

The funding comes from the lottery fund's flagship Reaching Communities programme, which aims to help those most in need and build stronger communities....

The Cyrenians has received the funding to expand its project which helps people, mainly aged between 16 and 35, who are affected by homelessness, alcohol and substance abuse, and mental and physical health issues.

Stephen Bell OBE, Group Chief Executive, says: “There is ongoing and real need for these services; we help people who are rough sleeping off the streets into safe and comfortable accommodation and support them to find a long-term home.

"This funding will safeguard existing support and provide scope for new and innovative techniques to be developed which will make real changes in the lives of around 180 people over the next three years."

UK charity Contact A Family is using its funding to continue helping parents of disabled children in the North East and Cumbria.

The charity published recent research highlighting the plight of families with disabled children who are going without essentials and spiralling into debt.

Contact A Family's Counting the Costs 2012 survey shows that poverty is widespread. For those in jobs one in seven (14 per cent) is missing meals and one in six (17 per cent) cannot afford to heat their homes...

Families benefitting from the funding will have children aged up to 19 who have a disability, complex health need, rare disorder or life-limiting condition.

One in 20 children are born with a disability in the UK. Contact A Family is a charity that supports the families of disabled children whatever their condition or disability.