WIREDGOV

National Lottery Funding will support a number of fun-filled community projects in England this summer. 508 projects will share in over £19 million to bring local people together throughout the summer holidays and beyond.

The funding is being awarded by the Big Lottery Fund which distributes money raised by National Lottery players back into communities.

Projects awarded funding this week include Priority Youth Project, which has received £357,324.00 to provide a range of exciting outdoor activities including white water rafting, abseiling and horse riding, as part of a personal development programme for young people in Liverpool.

Sarah Hughes, Charity Director at Priority Youth Project, said: 
"We feel very lucky and extremely grateful to receive this National Lottery funding from the Big Lottery Fund. This will have a huge impact on the work we do. As a small but growing charity it means we will be able to reach more young people through our activities, many of whom see our project as a lifeline.  We provide as wide a range of challenging activities and experiences as possible to encourage young people to work together, and increase their physical and mental wellbeing.  In turn we are far better positioned to support young people through many issues they face, encouraging personal growth and life skills to create opportunities for them for a brighter future."  

James Harcourt, England Director at the Big Lottery Fund said:
“We are proud to give National Lottery money to local projects that make a difference in their communities. Whether £500 or £500,000, our funding is used to run amazing projects led by local people. When you hear about projects like these you realise the incredible impact the money generated by National Lottery players has had on communities across England. It really is life changing. ”

Other projects sharing the funding include:

Christ Church Church of England Primary School in Wandsworth which has received £3,700 to run their ‘Sow, Grow, Eat and be Healthy’ project; a range of gardening and healthy eating workshops over the summer holiday for children and the community. Pupils will be harvesting fruit and vegetables that they have grown and local families will have an opportunity to join in a wide range of activities, including planting, harvesting, cooking and scarecrow making.

Inspire South West Community Interest Company in North Devon which has received £7,700 to organise varied social activities for young people who are facing challenges during the school holidays. The project aims to engage people in positive social activities, learn about healthy food choices and help create a stronger community.

Northfield Community Partnership Ltd in Birmingham which has received £9,939 to run a range of summer community events, providing entertainment such an outdoor cinema screening and musical performers. The project will allow people to participate in activities which benefit their health and wellbeing, as well as encouraging community engagement.

See the full list of projects that received funding yesterday.

Notes to Editors:

The Big Lottery Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. We put people in the lead to improve their lives and communities, often through small, local projects.

We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Last year we awarded £583 million and supported around 12,000 projects across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

Since June 2004 we have awarded over £8 billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.