It is fantastic to hear that, over the last five years, £5.6 million has gone to charities and community projects in our local area over the last five years. This money is enabling local priorities to be addressed by local people.
Adoption UK, who I visited back in the summer following the launch of the National Adoption Strategy, received £3.7 million towards a UK-wide programme to support healthy child development and family wellbeing in adoptive families.
I was also pleased to hear that the Sunrise Multicultural Project received almost £300,000. This money has gone a long way in providing a variety of youth-led activities to support ethnic minority families in Banbury to integrate into the wider community. It has also helped young people to build their confidence and gain life skills.
Elsewhere, The Thomas Franks Foundation received a £10,000 National Lottery grant to distribute hot, nutritional meals to carers and the people they care for. Also, Banbury Rugby Football Club was awarded £10,000 to deliver a young person’s disability rugby project in schools across the community.”
I want to encourage anybody in North Oxfordshire with a great idea for a community project to think about National Lottery Community funding too. Last year, over 40% of organisations that received a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund were awarded funding for the first time. The funding our community groups have already received has gone a long way in supporting local people and communities in our area to thrive.
Senior Head of Regional Funding for London, South East and East of England at The National Lottery Community Fund, Helen Bushell, said:
“National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. It’s great to see that this funding is having a significant impact on local people’s lives. We should also recognise the incredible efforts of local community groups and volunteers, who have been a lifeline for many during the pandemic and will continue to be an invaluable support as our communities recover and rebuild.”
If you wish to find out more about the different types of grants available, visit the National Lottery website at www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding.
