WIREDGOV

An anti-bullying arts scheme, a community choir and an outdoor sensory classroom are among the projects making a difference to communities in the East Midlands - with a little help from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).

Across the region 78 groups were yesterday sharing in a total of £550,904 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme. See the full list of awards 
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In Leicester, £8,780 has been awarded to Soft Touch Arts, a group that offers people with limited opportunities the chance to work together to achieve positive change for themselves and their communities. The group will be running their Positive Vibes project to reduce bullying in the area.

Christina Wigmore, Co-Director of Soft Touch said: “We have been working in the New Parks area of Leicester for the past 18 months delivering creative, positive activities to young people aged 13-19. They have told us that a lot of bullying occurs at the local school, New College, and it would be a good idea to start a project to raise awareness about the effects of bullying and to support those who are being bullied.

“The Positive Vibes project will use creative and communication activities to give young people the skills to produce information about bullying and its negative effects and start a campaignto stamp it out.”

In Lincolnshire, Sing South Holland will use their £7,340 grant to develop a community choir to bring local people of all ages and backgrounds together, particularly those that feel isolated and people who are new to the area.

Meanwhile in Derby, £9,410 goes to Scene and Sound, a community group that is passionate about making theatre accessible to deaf, blind and visually impaired people. They will be using their grant to redevelop their specially designed website, which provides users with information, advice and a forum where they can interact with other users.

A £9,991 grant also goes to Rosliston Forestry Centre Community Group in South Derbyshire, to create a wildlife sculpture trail to encourage the local community to get out and about and learn about nature. While in Lutterworth in Leicestershire, Lutterworth High School will use their £7,655 grant to create an outdoor sensory classroom for pupils with special needs.  

Mick McGrath, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the East Midlands said: “These projects are all great examples of how relatively small Lottery grants can make a big difference and really bring people together. Whether through providing opportunities to learn new skills or reaching out to individuals who may be feeling isolated; it all helps to build a stronger, happier community.”

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone:  0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme aims to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need. You can apply to Awards for All only if you are a community group, not for profit group, Parish or Town Council, health body, or school.
• Grants ranging from £300 to £10,000 are available to fund a specific project or activity.
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £25 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.