- Area:
- Yorkshire and the Humber
- Programme:
- Village SOS
- Release date:
- 23 8 2012
Three weeks left for communities in Yorkshire and the Humber to apply to Village SOS Lottery funding scheme for projects to buck rural decline
TWO village communities in the Yorkshire and the Humber region have today been offered Lottery grants of up to £50,000 to run social enterprises 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.
Big Lottery Fund is 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
Celebrating funding through the scheme today is The I Centre in the village of Ingleton, North Yorkshire, and the Holme Christian Fellowship in the village of Holme on Spalding Moor, East Riding of Yorkshire.
The I Centre receives £45,350 to create a service hub for the local community in a disused school for which they have acquired a lease from the local council. This will involve the provision of affordable premises for local businesses and services to rent, creating employment as well as ensuring the service needs of the village are met. This enterprise will generate income through the businesses paying rent to occupy the premises in the centre.
Rosemary Hartley, the group’s Chairperson, said. “It has been a very emotional time for the community losing a much loved school, but we feel sure that after gaining such good public support and winning this bid, we can move forward to a bright future for a community hub and the centre of the village. We are all ecstatic and keen to progress as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, Holme Christian Fellowship will use its grant of £49,912 to create a skills development enterprise from their newly leased workshop premises. This will involve working with young unemployed trainees who will learn a variety of skills such as horticulture, building work and carpentry and then undertake commercial activities in the local area. This enterprise will generate an income through the sale of various products and services delivered by the trainees, with the additional social benefit of providing people with skills to improve their future employment prospects.
Robert Templey, Pastor of Holme Christian Fellowship, said:" We are delighted to receive this grant for the benefit of our village of Holme On Spalding Moor. The Training Centre and Workshops which this award will enable us to develop will make a big difference to the opportunities for many unemployed people in the area andwill bean investment for many years to come.
“This will bring hope to many in a challenging economic environment. We have been encouraged by the support from Village SOSand also by the wide support of major local employers, the Parish Council and individuals who have already volunteered to make this a success."
Vanessa White, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the Yorkshire and the Humber 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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