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| COUNTRYSIDE
BEING BOOSTED BUT MANY PROJECTS STILL FALTER |
29/07/03 |
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Rural
communities are benefiting from lottery money but more still needs to be
done to help those projects which fail to win funding, insists the Community
Fund.
Its research has identified gaps in the quality of some applications and
how some projects are managed. To address this, the Community Fund has published
guidance notes to help future grant applicants obtain funding, and to also
ensure that funded projects work to benefit communities.
Diana Brittan, chair of the Community Fund says: "This support is vital
for community groups, which are often run by volunteers, especially as the
lottery pot is getting smaller. We must ensure that these communities can
make good applications and that their projects have every chance of success."
She was backed up by Alun Michael, Minister for Rural Affairs, who comments:
"Village halls play a vital role within our rural communities - they are
often the hub that holds the community together. The Community Fund has
been enormously helpful in making sure village halls continue and develop
in this role.
"I am grateful for that support and I look forward to continuing working
closely with the fund for the benefit of village halls".
The findings come from a survey which shows how lottery money is making
a difference, in both the short and long term, to rural communities.
It tracked the level and type of participation in those using facilities
set up by lottery-funded projects, and what activities were on offer, and
claims there has been a growth in the amount of users, and the amount and
diversity of activities on offer.
Brittan says: "The benefits to the community of investing can be measured
in much more than bricks and mortar. Quality of life and opportunities have
improved for many.
"Good community buildings are the foundations upon which stronger, happier,
and safer communities can be built. Our research proves this is good use
of lottery money."
Since 1995 the Community Fund has given £130m to renovate, refurbish and
equip more than 3,400 village and community hall projects up and down the
UK.
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