£150,000 of National Lottery funding up for grabs

Five local community groups across ITV West Country West are set to compete for up to £50,000 of National Lottery funding each. The People’s Projects is giving these groups a chance to go head to head compete in a public vote to help them make an extraordinary difference to their community.

For 13 years, the Big Lottery Fund, ITV and The National Lottery have been teaming up to give the public a chance to decide where National Lottery money should go in their local area. The Big Lottery Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players to communities across the UK.

Designed to celebrate some of the incredible projects the Big Lottery Fund has supported over the past year, 95 community-based groups are now shortlisted across the UK. In each region, the three with the most public votes will receive grants of up to £50,000. This will help them to continue their work to bring people together, build stronger communities and make a difference to people’s lives. The entire amount up for grabs across the UK is a life-changing £3 million.

Voting opens at 9am on Monday 16 April at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk.

ITV West Country West regional evening news will feature the projects at 6pm over five nights, starting on Monday 16 April when Access to Adventure by BF Adventure in Penryn be featured. If successful, this community group will receive £41,927 to provide specialist support to disabled children, young people and their families. The project gives those being supported the opportunity to take part in a full range of adventurous activities, including paddle sports, problem solving activities and rock climbing, zip line, archery, accessible abseil, forest areas and low ropes course. It aims to help people build resilience, determination, communication skills and confidence.

On Tuesday it will be the turn of Memory Café Matters by Devon Memory Café Consortium in Dawlish. They hope to receive £22,121 for a project to develop a portable and specialist memory café training programme that will be used to train volunteers and staff on their own memory café premises. The project aims to raise standards in memory cafes, helping them to become more efficient and effective in order to better understand and meet the needs of those using the café.

Wednesday it will be Reach by Many Directions in Barnstaple. They are competing for £25,440 to provide the opportunity for young people and adults with learning and related physical disabilities to take part in drama and dance activities. Throughout the duration of the project, there will be two special ‘celebration days’ for those being supported to share their work with each other, friends, family and the local community. The project aims to help people build relationships and improve their wellbeing.

Thursday’s programme will feature Safer Beaches for All by St Agnes Surf Life Saving Club in Truro, who hope to receive £44,507. This community group hope to use the funds to give children the opportunity to take part in a Surf Cadet programme, equipping them with water safety and rescue skills. The project will also train young people as employable lifeguards, including training to deliver the Surf Cadet programme. The project aims to support children and young people to keep the local community safe as well as develop their own individual skills.

The final project to be shown on Friday will be Sound Life by Jamming Station in Totnes. If successful, they will receive £50,000 to offer free music workshops for young people who are experiencing social or educational exclusion and anxiety. The project will include life skills mentoring and support, musical tutoring, and regular celebratory performances in order to build the young people’s confidence and provide them with new skills and interests.

ITV’s Good Morning Britain Political Editor and presenter, Ranvir Singh, said: “The People’s Projects is an exciting opportunity for you to make a real difference to your community. We are showcasing some fantastic shortlisted projects across ITV West Country West this week. All you have to do to get involved is tune in and vote for your favourite project!”
Joe Ferns, UK Funding Director of the Big Lottery, said: “As the largest funder of community activity in the UK, we are proud to support grassroots groups that are using the vision, determination and drive of local people to strengthen communities. The People’s Projects showcases the best of these and is a chance for you to have your say on how National Lottery funding can benefit your local community.”

Since 2005, around £39 million has been awarded through the Big Lottery Fund, National Lottery and ITV/STV partnership to 865 Good Causes across the UK.

Voting closes at midday on Monday 30 April 2018 and the results will be announced Thursday 3 May 2018. People can vote once per region and will need an email address to vote*. To vote and for Ts & Cs please visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk