- Area:
- North East England
- Programme:
- Village SOS
- Release date:
- 23 8 2012
Three weeks left for communities in the North East to apply to Village SOS Lottery funding scheme for projects to buck rural decline
TWO village communities in the North East have today been offered Lottery grants of up to £50,000 to run social enterprises including a community cinema and a community owned harbour that will help to breathe new life into their areas.
The money comes from Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS scheme, which is supporting rural communities across the UK to come together to improve facilities, services and opportunities for local people.
The Big Lottery Fund is urging other rural communities with populations of less than 3,000 across the North East region to the make the most of the funding scheme before it closes on 12 September. Grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 are available for enterprising projects from community-run shops and pubs to energy or transport schemes, and craft or food projects. For more information visit: www.villagesos.org.uk
Celebrating funding through the scheme today is Seahouses Development Trust and Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust, both in Northumberland.
With a grant of £45,450, Seahouses Development Trust will develop a community cinema enterprise within their existing leisure centre. The project will include local people in all aspects of the enterprise including marketing, sales and film-making lessons. The enterprise will generate an income through the sales of tickets and other concessions, as well as increasing tourism in the village.
Maureen Bramley, Chairperson of Seahouses Development Trust, said: “We are delighted that we have been successful in our funding bid from the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS programme. With the money we’ll be able to show films at the local Sports & Community Centre, and hire out the equipment to other communities as well. This will open up new leisure opportunities for people of all ages without having to travel great distances.
“The grant also enables us to offer employment for a project manager to take this exciting project forward, which is great news.”
Meanwhile, Holy Island of Lindisfarne Community Development Trust will use the funding of £42,000 to increase tourism to the island of Lindisfarne by making various improvements to the community-owned harbour, including installing new moorings, clearing debris and improving access. The project will also create a tourism website, develop a marketing campaign alongside local businesses, and promote the harbour as a location for film and photography shoots. This enterprise will generate an income through selling access to its moorings and concession stands and charging film crews for location shooting, as well as increasing tourism and boosting the local economy.
James Turner, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the North East region, said: “The Village SOS scheme is a unique opportunity for social enterprises. These and past awards show what can be achieved when people come together and unlock the potential which exists in their communities. With only three weeks left to apply, I would urge people to explore this chance to revive their local area and help buck the trend of rural decline.”
To find out more about how to apply call 0845 434 9123.
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
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