Jack is thanking National Lottery players for their role in raising much-needed funding for local charities and community groups. The heartfelt thank you came as local groups received £39,708 of National Lottery funding last month to help them support the community through the COVID-19 outbreak.
The MP says that he is delighted with the grants and wants more local good causes to apply for the funding, saying it could be a lifeline as they and the community grapple with the impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Groups to have benefitted so far include Stoke on Trent & District Gingerbread Centre Ltd and Stoke on Trent Foodbank. Stoke on Trent & District Gingerbread Centre Ltd will use the funding to improve digital communication, access and skills for families in Stoke-on-Trent who live in supported accommodation and in the community, during the COVID-19 crisis. Stoke on Trent Foodbank will use the funding to pay for a van driver and volunteer expenses, so the group can continue offering their foodbank services. They aim to support the community during COVID-19 and provide access to essentials for families and community members.
The funding is being distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
Going forward, The National Lottery Community Fund will continue to prioritise getting funding to groups that are best-placed to support their communities at this vital time and also towards those seeking to rebuild as the crisis abates.
90% of the grants made are for under £10,000. The MP is urging local groups to look into applying for a grant to help with their response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Information about how to apply for funding can be found at The National Lottery Community Fund’s website: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk.
Jack said, “The £39,000 awarded to the Gingerbread Centre and the Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank will make a big difference and really help the voluntary sector supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community through this difficult time. I am especially pleased for the Gingerbread Centre, this follows the additional funding it was awarded last week to support people facing homelessness during the coronavirus outbreak.
“National Lottery funding, combined with the hard work within these organisations of dedicated local people, truly shows the power of charities and local volunteers to help each other in our communities overcome the challenges caused by coronavirus.”
Elly de Decker, Director of England Grant Making at The National Lottery Community Fund, said, “National Lottery players can be proud that the money they’ve raised is making a real difference at a time when it is needed most. We will carry on getting vital funding out to charities and voluntary sector organisations, so they can step up to overcome obstacles caused by the pandemic and help their community to rebuild and recover in the future.”
Last year The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£511.1 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK and supported over 12,000 projects to turn their great ideas into reality.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
