160104 Yorkshire & The Humber benefit from over £2.5 million pounds of National Lottery money

Since the Community Fund started in October 1995, 1811 grants totalling £187,116,571 of Lottery money has been awarded to voluntary groups in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Groups that received grants include:

In North Yorkshire

Ryedale Voluntary Action – awarded £156,981

Ryedale Voluntary Action, on behalf of Ryedale Counselling Service, will receive £156,981 to develop an existing generic counselling service working with a wide range of issues, providing easy access to those living in isolated rural areas. The grant will enable the organisation to include longer-term work with clients, resulting in an increase in individual emotional and psychological wellbeing for those using the service.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Paul Hayward, Chief Officer, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to receive this support from the Community Fund. Ryedale is a sparsely populated rural area, facing a number of deep-rooted problems as a result of this isolation. Access to counselling services and mental health facilities is extremely limited, so this project will have enormous benefits for everyone involved.’

In East Yorkshire

Withernsea and Holderness Play Action – awarded £140,085

Withernsea and Holderness Play Action will receive £140,085 to transform a derelict plot of land into a vibrant area for young people to practice their skating skills. The park will provide a valuable additional facility for in this isolated rural area, which has previously been unable to offer attractive out of school alternatives to its younger generation.

Withernsea’s young residents will continue to have a say in the park’s development once it is up and running. Speaking on behalf of the group, Gina Littlewood, Committee Member, said: ‘This is fantastic news for the young people in the area. They have collectively worked extremely hard during the development of this project. For their own idea to become a reality can only boost their confidence in realising their own potential and capabilities.’

In Doncaster

Conisbrough and Denaby Development Trust – awarded £184,576

The Trust has been awarded £184,576 to enable it to achieve long-term change in the voluntary and community sector in Conisbrough and Denaby Main. It will do this by supporting the activity and membership of voluntary and community organisations, involving local people in the activities provided by these organisations, and increasing the skills and knowledge of local people in community development.

Speaking on behalf of the trust Marisa Graziano, Chief Executive/Principal Development Worker, said: ‘We are delighted by this announcement. This is good news for us and the wider voluntary and community sector in Conisbrough and Denaby. It enables us to help local groups and local people develop their skills and capacity to make a real and lasting difference to our community.’

In Wakefield

Reconnect – awarded £131,098

The ReConnect project has secured £131,098 to set up a befriending service in west Wakefield, creating a more supportive community environment for older people who are disadvantaged by their social and economic isolation. The three-year grant will also fund the recruitment and training of local volunteers, thereby providing a stepping stone to reintegration into the community and increased social contact.

Speaking on behalf of the project, Alan Spurr, Vice Chairman, said: ‘We are extremely happy to have received this grant. It will enable us to create a much needed befriending service in the area that will give older people the chance to reconnect with mainstream society and share their many talents with the community.’

In Rotherham

Brampton Bierlow and West Melton Community Partnership – awarded £107,179

The Community Partnership has been awarded £107,179 to work with voluntary and community groups and to widen participation through volunteer involvement and ongoing consultation. The project will ensure the removal of barriers for individuals in accessing services and activities by encouraging participation in decision-making processes within the community. Through increased volunteering and training opportunities, community members will also develop their skills, community cohesion will improve and isolation will be reduced.

Speaking on behalf of the Partnership, Mr Frank Hodgkiss, Chairman, said: ‘We are delighted to receive this grant from the Community Fund. It will not only allow us to build on the work we have begun, but will also provide the vehicle with which we can achieve the projects and activities identified in our Community Action Plan. This grant will greatly benefit all residents and form the key stone to the social and economic regeneration of the area’.

In West and South Yorkshire:

Lowedges Community Safety Forum – awarded £72,483 and Fagley Youth and Community Centre – awarded £111,688

Lowedges Community Safety Forum was set up in 1995 to help tackle problems in an estate troubled by rising levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, combined with economic deprivation, poor education and health and a lack of local resources. The project has been awarded £72,483 to take a lead role in the estate’s regeneration by developing and supporting community services and initiatives as part of the local Community Action Plan.

Speaking on behalf of the forum Harry Hunter, Partnership Business Manager, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with the news of Community Fund support over the next three years. It will make a big difference to the lives of people in a deprived community, whose needs have often been overlooked because of it’s proximity to more affluent areas in the south of Sheffield.’

The Fagley estate in Bradford has also experienced it’s own share of social and economic problems in recent years. The £111,688 awarded today to the Youth and Community Centre will pay for a development worker to facilitate and support local community activities on the estate with the aim of improving opportunities for residents, including work with disadvantaged and excluded young people and increased access to education and social activities.

Speaking for the group Alan Clarke, Senior Youth and Community Worker, said: ‘This grant will enable us to move on to the next stage in the development of the community centre. The project has had a huge positive impact on the local community and we are thrilled to be able to continue to build on what has already been achieved over the last three years.’

	26 March 2004 Yorkshire & The Humber benefit from over £2.5 million pounds of National Lottery money
	Twenty-two groups throughout Yorkshire and the Humber received a grant announced today by the Community Fund, one of the National Lottery distributors. In total, £2,591,012 has been awarded to voluntary and community groups in our region. Since the Community Fund started in October 1995, 1811 grants totalling £187,116,571 of Lottery money has been awarded to voluntary groups in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Groups that received grants include: In North Yorkshire Ryedale Voluntary Action – awarded £156,981 Ryedale Voluntary Action, on behalf of Ryedale Counselling Service, will receive £156,981 to develop an existing generic counselling service working with a wide range of issues, providing easy access to those living in isolated rural areas. The grant will enable the organisation to include longer-term work with clients, resulting in an increase in individual emotional and psychological wellbeing for those using the service. Speaking on behalf of the group, Paul Hayward, Chief Officer, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted to receive this support from the Community Fund. Ryedale is a sparsely populated rural area, facing a number of deep-rooted problems as a result of this isolation. Access to counselling services and mental health facilities is extremely limited, so this project will have enormous benefits for everyone involved.’ In East Yorkshire Withernsea and Holderness Play Action – awarded £140,085 Withernsea and Holderness Play Action will receive £140,085 to transform a derelict plot of land into a vibrant area for young people to practice their skating skills. The park will provide a valuable additional facility for in this isolated rural area, which has previously been unable to offer attractive out of school alternatives to its younger generation. Withernsea’s young residents will continue to have a say in the park’s development once it is up and running. Speaking on behalf of the group, Gina Littlewood, Committee Member, said: ‘This is fantastic news for the young people in the area. They have collectively worked extremely hard during the development of this project. For their own idea to become a reality can only boost their confidence in realising their own potential and capabilities.’ In Doncaster Conisbrough and Denaby Development Trust – awarded £184,576 The Trust has been awarded £184,576 to enable it to achieve long-term change in the voluntary and community sector in Conisbrough and Denaby Main. It will do this by supporting the activity and membership of voluntary and community organisations, involving local people in the activities provided by these organisations, and increasing the skills and knowledge of local people in community development. Speaking on behalf of the trust Marisa Graziano, Chief Executive/Principal Development Worker, said: ‘We are delighted by this announcement. This is good news for us and the wider voluntary and community sector in Conisbrough and Denaby. It enables us to help local groups and local people develop their skills and capacity to make a real and lasting difference to our community.’ In Wakefield Reconnect – awarded £131,098 The ReConnect project has secured £131,098 to set up a befriending service in west Wakefield, creating a more supportive community environment for older people who are disadvantaged by their social and economic isolation. The three-year grant will also fund the recruitment and training of local volunteers, thereby providing a stepping stone to reintegration into the community and increased social contact. Speaking on behalf of the project, Alan Spurr, Vice Chairman, said: ‘We are extremely happy to have received this grant. It will enable us to create a much needed befriending service in the area that will give older people the chance to reconnect with mainstream society and share their many talents with the community.’ In Rotherham Brampton Bierlow and West Melton Community Partnership – awarded £107,179 The Community Partnership has been awarded £107,179 to work with voluntary and community groups and to widen participation through volunteer involvement and ongoing consultation. The project will ensure the removal of barriers for individuals in accessing services and activities by encouraging participation in decision-making processes within the community. Through increased volunteering and training opportunities, community members will also develop their skills, community cohesion will improve and isolation will be reduced. Speaking on behalf of the Partnership, Mr Frank Hodgkiss, Chairman, said: ‘We are delighted to receive this grant from the Community Fund. It will not only allow us to build on the work we have begun, but will also provide the vehicle with which we can achieve the projects and activities identified in our Community Action Plan. This grant will greatly benefit all residents and form the key stone to the social and economic regeneration of the area’. In West and South Yorkshire: Lowedges Community Safety Forum – awarded £72,483 and Fagley Youth and Community Centre – awarded £111,688 Lowedges Community Safety Forum was set up in 1995 to help tackle problems in an estate troubled by rising levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, combined with economic deprivation, poor education and health and a lack of local resources. The project has been awarded £72,483 to take a lead role in the estate’s regeneration by developing and supporting community services and initiatives as part of the local Community Action Plan. Speaking on behalf of the forum Harry Hunter, Partnership Business Manager, said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with the news of Community Fund support over the next three years. It will make a big difference to the lives of people in a deprived community, whose needs have often been overlooked because of it’s proximity to more affluent areas in the south of Sheffield.’ The Fagley estate in Bradford has also experienced it’s own share of social and economic problems in recent years. The £111,688 awarded today to the Youth and Community Centre will pay for a development worker to facilitate and support local community activities on the estate with the aim of improving opportunities for residents, including work with disadvantaged and excluded young people and increased access to education and social activities. Speaking for the group Alan Clarke, Senior Youth and Community Worker, said: ‘This grant will enable us to move on to the next stage in the development of the community centre. The project has had a huge positive impact on the local community and we are thrilled to be able to continue to build on what has already been achieved over the last three years.’		To find out more about the Community Fund call our Enquiries Officer on: 0113 224 5301. Open 9.30am until 12.30pm Monday to Friday.