Ashton MP Angela Rayner 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 more than £385,000 of National Lottery funding over the last three months, supporting their communities as they seek to overcome social and economic challenges caused by the pandemic and build back stronger.

MP Rayner welcomes the grants and wants more local good causes to apply for National Lottery funding, saying it could be a lifeline as local people and communities rebuild and recover from the pandemic.

Groups to have benefitted so far include St Peter’s Community Partnership’s Community Green Project which received £226,918 to expand their therapeutic horticultural services and reach more communities across Tameside. The funding will also be used to expand their allotment in Hyde, open a new site in Dukinfield and develop outreach satellite sites across the borough. The group aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children adults and families in the community.

Aries Uk received £96,400 which will go towards the hiring of new staff members to enable the group – which aims to create a positive image of the LGBTQ+ community in Tameside – to provide more sessions to educate the wider community and provide a safe space for members.

Tameside Citizens Advice Bureau have been given £10,000 to recruit a new staff member who will provide energy advice to people experiencing fuel poverty.

Ashton United in the Community – of which MP Rayner is a patron – were given £9,875 for their ACE Happy Hurst project which delivers community events and packed lunches for children during the school holidays.

The funding is being distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players. National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.

MP Rayner said: “It is great to see how many community groups in Ashton-under-Lyne have benefited from this National Lottery funding. These groups are inspirational in the great work and support they provide to local people and their community, helping to bring people together once again and build community spirit. This money will make a real difference to the lives of so many of my constituents.”

John Mothersole, Chair of England Funding Committee at The National Lottery Community Fund, added: “I am delighted to announce that we have awarded almost £100 million across England in the past three months, helping to address issues at the heart of communities, including employability, mental health, supporting young people and building connections to tackle loneliness.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, our funding is being used by more than 3,000 charities and community groups to unleash their potential and make a positive difference to people’s lives across the country. We’re proud to support people to come together to build community spirit, prosper and thrive.”

In the last 12 months, The National Lottery Community Fund have given out nearly £600 million to 12,500 organisations reaching every local authority and constituency in the UK. To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

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