- Area:
- South West England
- Programme:
- Village SOS
- Release date:
- 23 8 2012
Three weeks left for communities in the South West to apply to Village SOS Lottery funding scheme for projects to buck rural decline.
Seven village communities in the South West have today been offered Lottery grants of up to £50,000 to run social enterprises from shops 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.
Celebrating funding through the scheme in Devon today are the West Down Community Shop, the Chittlehamholt Village Shop Association and the Blackawton Community Shop Association.
In Exeter, the Ide Community Shop Association was delighted to have their application approved as was the Dinton Community Shop group in Salisbury.
Meanwhile, in Somerset, the Brompton Regis Village Shop has been given the go-ahead and over in Gloucestershire, the Coln Community Stores Steering Committee is celebrating its grant.
Big Lottery Fund is now urging other rural communities with populations of less than 3,000 across the 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
Iain Joyce, one of the organisers of the Brompton Regis bid, said: “This money means a tremendous amount to our community. Now we can create a permanent shop which means our residents, many of whom are elderly, won’t face a 12 mile round trip for a pint of milk. It’s stupendous news. The shop won’t just be a place to buy goods but will also help support local businesses. The eggs come from a farm four miles away, the meat from six miles up the road and the honey from a couple who keep bees in the village. This may be a small shop but the difference it will make to us is enormous.”
Patricia Knowles, who worked on the West Down Community Shop project in Devon, said: “The shop is a focal point of the village, people don’t just buy groceries but they meet and chat with neighbours and find out about upcoming events. The money will make a real difference, without this shop the heart would go out of the village.”
Mark Cotton, Head of the South West region, said: “These fantastic projects show what can be achieved when a community pulls together towards a single goal. With the rural way of life under threat from various factors, Village SOS provides vital support for all sorts of community-run social enterprises. However, the closing date for applications is rapidly approaching and we want to hear from as many ambitious projects as possible in the next three weeks. Make sure your village doesn’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity.”
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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