Community groups across Greater Manchester are being urged to bid for cash to help celebrate what makes their local area great.
The Big Lottery Fund – which has launched a new £3.8m grant programme to help celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday – is calling on local groups and organisations of all shapes and sizes to apply for funding, between £300 and £10,000, to hold events or activities that will bring people together and celebrate what makes their local community special.
This opportunity comes after a survey by the Big Lottery Fund found that given the chance, more than 40% would like to celebrate their local history, and more than two fifths (43%) of those aged 16 to 24 would celebrate their local culture, art or music.
The research also revealed that more than half of people – 63% – said that they have never or cannot remember ever coming together to celebrate with their local neighbourhood.
In response to these findings the Big Lottery Fund is putting people in the lead to come up with their own ideas on what they would like to celebrate, and what kinds of events they could host to bring all corners of their community together.
The Celebrate programme is the perfect opportunity for people to showcase and enjoy something important to their community, be it an iconic building, a precious landscape, a unique service or a community hero. There will be £5 million available in total across the UK.
Peter Ainsworth, UK Chair of the Big Lottery Fund said: “Celebrate gives people the chance to come together, whether that’s to mark something important to their community like The Queen’s 90th birthday, commemorate a historic local event, or simply get to know your neighbours better.
“We want to celebrate what makes your local community great, so I’d encourage groups of all sizes to get in touch with us with their ideas.”
To be eligible, applicants must be part of a constituted group which has its own bank account.
The Big Lottery Fund welcomes applications from voluntary or community organisations, schools and statutory bodies.
Organisations are encouraged to submit their applications early to avoid disappointment as once funds have been allocated, Celebrate will close to new applications.
For more information or to apply for a Celebrate grant click here.
