'Forgotten' Areas Get Lottery Money

29 February 2012, 12:11 | Updated: 29 February 2012, 12:50

Fifty communities across the country are each going to get £1m of lottery money to spend to help make them better places to live.

They are all areas affected by problems like high unemployment or the decline of industry.  Among them are the Kingswood area of Corby and Milton Keynes' Conniburrow estate.

Local people will get a say in how the money is spent as part of the Big Lottery Fund's The Big Local project.

Mick McGrath, Big Lottery Fund head of East Midlands region, said: "This funding scheme is going to put residents in these areas at the heart of decision making and give them a real say in how to improve their local area.

"But more than that it's going to strengthen these communities and help local people to build on their skills and experience so that they can continue to work together to overcome challenges, address local problems, and make a positive difference in their communities over the next ten years, and beyond."

The scheme is being managed by the Local Trust, an organisation which will support residents in making funding decisions.

Debbie Ladds, chief executive of the trust, said "Big Local is an exciting community initiative working with residents, community groups and others in the Big Local areas across England to help them make their area an even better place to live.

Local Trust will work with communities and a range of partner organisations to help them identify what matters most to them, and to take action to change things for the better."

Corby Borough Council’s Lead Member for Community, Cllr John McGhee, said:"We are very excited that Kingswood has been included as one of the places to receive this investment from The Big Lottery.

"The funding will give our residents in the Kingswood area a fantastic opportunity to make decisions on what they think the priorities are in their community and gives them the power to make improvements over the next ten years.

"We look forward to seeing our residents use the funding to make changes and supporting them to make a difference in their local area."

Here is the full list of communities who will get money

Castle Point - Link Road area of Canvey Island
Peterborough - Ravensthorpe and Westwood
Broxbourne - Wormley and Turnford
Basildon - Pitsea Broomfields
Lincoln City - Birchwood
Corby Borough Council - Kingswood
Bassetlaw - Langold and Carlton
Leicester City Council -St Matthews Estate
Bexley - Slade Green
Croydon- London Road area of Broad Green ward
Wandsworth - Clapham Junction/West Battersea
Ealing - Hanwell - Copley Close Area
Enfield - Lower Edmonton - "Bounces - Montague"
Haringey -Noel Park Estate
Lewisham - Chinbrook Estate
Barking and Dagenham - Marks Gate
South Tyneside - Central Jarrow
North Tyneside - Whitley Bay
Hartlepool - Dyke House
Sunderland - Moorsley and Easington Lane
Blackpool - Revoe
Bolton - Tonge with the Haulgh
Burnley - Gannow Triangle
Halton - Windmill Hill
Manchester - Collyhurst
Pendle - Bradley
Sefton - St Oswald
Tameside - Ridge Hill
Rushmoor - The Prospect Estate
Milton Keynes - Conniburrow Estate
Hastings - North East Hastings
Rother - Heart of Sidley
Swale - Leysdown, Warden and Eastchurch
Medway - Central Chatham: Luton Arches
Plymouth - Whitleigh
North Somerset - Worle
Gloucester - Podsmead
Birmingham - Birchfield
Cannock Chase -Brereton
Nuneaton and Bedworth - Hill Top
Redditch - Church Hill
Telford - Brookside
Walsall - Mossley
Wolverhampton - The Scotlands Estate/Bushbury Hill
Scarborough - Barrowcliff
Rotherham - Thurcroft
Bradford - Scholemoor and Lidget Green
North East Lincolnshire - North Cleethorpes
Leeds - Hawksworth Wood
Calderdale - Rastrick