COMMUNITY groups are to share in a new £250,000 funding pot thanks to the Lancashire Telegraph and the Big Lottery Fund.

East Lancashire has been chosen above all the other North West areas to receive the windfall.

Today, the Lancashire Telegraph Community Cash Awards have been launched, giving community organisations the chance to bid for lottery grants of £10,000 to £30,000.

The Lancashire Telegraph has teamed up with the Big Lottery Fund to give out the cash to causes across the newspaper’s readership area.

Our campaign is encouraging communities to think about how funding of this type could help them make a difference to their area.

Lancashire Telegraph editor Kevin Young said: “We are delighted that the Big Lottery Fund chose us to be their partners in this marvellous enterprise.

“It means groups across East Lancashire will have a great opportunity to turn good ideas into reality and help improve life in our communities.

“We look forward to seeing a wide range of applications and being able to help a wide variety of organisations of all shapes and sizes.

“It's an exciting challenge with a real prospect of making a positive difference to a lot of East Lancashire lives.”

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: “This is a great initiative, especially at a time when money is tight for a lot of groups.

“I also think it is very innovative to do it through the Lancashire Telegraph.”

And Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “I am delighted this campaign has been launched in our area.

“I welcome this fantastic opportunity for community groups and charities to bid for much-needed additional funding.”

Applications for funding from the Lancashire Teleghraph Community Cash Awards are being accepted from today.

Whether you are looking to run classes to get people more physically active, turn a derelict site into a community garden, set up after-school cooking clubs, organise tea dances for isolated older people, train young people to become more employable or help your community get online, this funding can make the difference.

Applications must be submitted by Sunday, July 21, and a shortlist will be announced in the Lancashire Telegraph on September 9.

Lancashire Telegraph readers will then be able to vote on which group they think should be successful every day for two weeks, before the winners are announced on September 30.

Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, more than £30bn has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.

Since The National Lottery began, players in the BB postcode have banked 199 major prizes, which includes 17 lucky players who have become millionaires.

Dharmendra Kanani, Big Lottery Fund’s England director, said: “Through this partnership with the Lancashire Telegraph, Big Lottery Fund is making £250,000 available to support the spirit, imagination and aspirations of local people and communities to do good in their neighbourhoods, to support people-powered change.

“We know that it takes more than money to make big change happen in communities.

“It is the people, ideas and enthusiasm behind it that are important, and give us all a sense of hope and optimism, particularly in difficult times.

“Often funding like this simply serves as the tipping point to bring people and communities together to really make a difference.

“What is great about the Lancashire Telegraph Community Cash Awards is that local people across East Lancashire will have the power to vote to decide which projects best meet local needs and receive vital funding to put their plans into action.”

  • To apply for a grant you will need to be a community group, not for profit group, parish or town council, health body or school. You do not have to be a registered charity to apply.

Groups must have a bank account that requires at least two people to sign each cheque or withdrawal and you must be in a position to use the grant within one year.

Applications are available from Community Foundation for Lancashire at lancsfoundation.org.uk or call 0151 2322444 to get a paper copy.

HOW THE £250,000 CAMPAIGN WORKS

The Lancashire Telegraph Community Cash Awards will be rolled out over the next few weeks.
The aim is to encourage communities to think about how funding could benefit their area.
If your community has a great idea for how to spend a Lottery grant of between £10,000 and £30,000, the Awards could be for you.


Whether you are looking to run classes to get people more physically active, turn a derelict site into a community garden, set up afters-school cooking clubs, organise tea dances for isolated older people, train young people to become more emplyable or help your community get online, this funding can be the difference.

Who can apply?

To apply for a grant you will neet to be a community group, not for profit group, parish or town council, health body or school. You do not have to be a registered charity to apply.

Groups must have a bank account that requires at least two people to sign each cheque or withdrawal and you must be in a position to use the grant within a year.

Your project needs to be working within the readership area of the Lancashire Telegraph, East Lancashire.

Timescales

The application form is straightforward and needs to be submitted by Sunday, July 21.

From September 9, a shortlist of the best ideas will be revealed in the Lancashire Telegraph and every day for two weeks readers will have the chance to vote for the projects they would like to see get the cash.

The projects with the highest votes will be awarded the funding until all £250,000 of the Big Lottery Fund money has been spent.

The winners will be announced week of 30 September 2013.