Get Your Project Share Of Millions

16 January 2011, 08:00

If you have a group who rely on funding - you are being asked to apply for a share of millions of pounds before the deadline on Friday 4th February.

Organisations like schools, sporting projects and support groups are all being encouraged to apply for the money from The Big Lottery Fund who have grants of £60,000 to give out.

The John Peel Centre for the Creative Arts in Ipswich, who teach young people how to play instruments, as well as putting on concerts and gigs, won the competition in November last year and received a grant of £50,000 to refurbish the Stowmarket Corn Exchange building which has been empty or used for storage for many years.

John Spitzer, the Chair of the centre, told Heart how the money has helped:

"It already seems to be easier to fundraise once you have a little bit of funding in place. It has raised our profile to no end, through social media, our twitter website has quite a large following now, facebook is getting replies, our website is coming online, plus giving us the funds to actually change the building and update the building - through heating, lights, electrics, staging, seating for our audiences."

He added that it's helped them "reach a much wider community, not just locally now, it's regional and even national. We will offer a very unique setting for performers which is something which is going to stand out for this area and hopefully bring in tourists and people who enjoy the arts to this area."

With the approval of Buckingham Palace, the money will be awarded in summer 2011 in order to give the winning projects time to get up and running in time for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.  

The shortlist will be announced in early June and put to the public vote between 27th and 30th June 2011.

More information and the application form are available by clicking on the link.