20 March 2001

Charities Board targets communities hit by foot and mouth disease

In response to the increased stress faced by rural communities due to the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease, the National Lottery Charities Board today said it wants to target charities that help these communities.

Charitable organisations will be invited to discuss potential applications to fund projects helping rural communities affected by the current foot and mouth epidemic as well as isolation, the decline in agricultural employment, the withdrawal of services and the devastation caused by the recent floods.

The Charities Board recognised that many towns and villages were suffering from economic hardship due to the winter flooding and the restrictions in place to counter the spread of foot and mouth disease.

"We will discuss with these groups the kind of projects we might fund. Our money helps those in greatest need - rural communities devastated by this outbreak fall into that category," said Diana Brittan, chair of the Charities Board.

"But as well as the current crisis, there are other factors that have damaged rural communities in different ways in different parts of the country. We want to fund projects dealing with all aspects of rural need.

"Since 1995, the Charities Board has given £275 million to projects dealing with rural disadvantage and isolation. In many areas of England and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland we are targeting needy rural communities for priority funding. We are now one of the largest grant givers to charities working in rural communities.

"The Charities Board want to help this section of society but the amount we give will depend on the applications we receive and on our judgement as to whether they will be effective."

Media enquiries: Robert Blow, 020 7747 5227

Visit http://www.nlcb.org.uk/rural.htm for examples of rural support projects funded by the Charities Board and a list of grants for charities dealing with rural and countryside issues.