Five local community groups across STV East 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 to compete in a public vote to help them make an extraordinary difference to their community.
For 13 years, the Big Lottery Fund, STV and The National Lottery have teamed 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.
STV2’s Live at Five programme will feature the projects at 5pm over five nights, starting on Monday 16 April when The Bees Knees project by Bee Buddies in Leven will be featured. If successful this community group will receive £49,400 to buy a mobile education centre with a live beehive so they can plan and deliver more workshops in nurseries, schools and community groups throughout Fife to promote greater awareness of the importance of bees and their ecological impact.
On Tuesday it will be the turn of the Grow Together project by Parents and Tots Loanhead Community Learning Association based in Loanhead, Midlothian. They hope to receive £50,000 to expand the activities they offer locally pre-school children. They will also provide a new service with sessions to support for primary school children and parents as well as developing their outdoor space to offer a bigger range of outdoor play activities.
Wednesday it will be the Rebrand, recruitment and celebration project by the Auld Reekie Roller Girls in Edinburgh. They are competing for £21,699 to build on past funding and support events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the club including a rebrand which will allow them to become fully inclusive, run an outreach campaign and support a free community event.
Thursday’s programme will feature the Royal Blind School Courtyard’s Project by the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh who hope to receive £45,799. This community group hope to use the funds to continue the development of their outdoor courtyard space to provide more opportunities for outdoor learning for pupils who attend the school. They will also be able to buy a range of equipment to help them create a sensory garden, an active playground, kitchen garden and chill out zone.
The final project to be shown on Friday will be the Walking Football project by AMS, based in Cupar. If successful, they will receive £29,720 to expand their successful walking programme for local older men to include other groups including women, girls and those with a range of disability or mobility issues. They will run a programme of low impact sessions to encourage healthy living and help improve physical and mental fitness.
STV2 presenter, David Farrell, said: “The People’s Projects can make a real difference to communities and lives across STV East thanks to funding from The National Lottery.
“This week we’re highlighting the incredible shortlisted projects and groups from across Scotland – all you have to do is tune in to Live at Five on STV2 and vote online for your favourite project.”
Martin Cawley, Director for Scotland, Big Lottery Fund, 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 and the results will be announced Thursday 3 May.
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
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