Having worked alongside the National Lottery, Dr Hudson welcomed the £398,000 awarded to community projects in Penrith and The Border between 26th November 2022 and 24th February 2023.
This includes Border Rambler Rural Transport Services CIO which has purchased a new minibus with a £55,000 sum from the National Lottery Community Fund to help people in rural Border villages. The service helps people stay connected, stave off the mental health impact of rural isolation and access crucial services. Before the new bus arrives, the Border Rambler team are looking for new volunteer drivers to help better support the service. Signing up would mean spending around two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon with some time in either Brampton or Carlisle while passengers shop, attend appointments or visit loved ones.
The National Lottery Community fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK and has given away almost £133 million to charities and community groups in England. Over 2,400 grants, ranging from £310 to over £1 million have been made in direct response to community needs, including food banks, mental health support, improving employment prospects and tackling social isolation and loneliness.
However, the National Lottery Community Fund receives fewer grant applications than average from Penrith and The Border, therefore eligible community groups are being encouraged by their local MP to take advantage of the funding and champion communities across Cumbria. For application support, Dr Hudson’s Office is available on email via [email protected].
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
“I’m delighted that grassroot projects are continuing to be supported by The National Lottery across Penrith and The Border. Almost £400,000 has been pumped into some amazing community groups across my constituency since November enabling worthwhile projects such as a new minibus for the Border Rambler service.
“With our recent Conservative Spring Budget providing more than £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England, both the Government and I work hand-in-hand with the third sector and fully understand how crucial many are to the social fabric of our communities.
“I am encouraging local groups to take full advantage of all funding available and I would be more than happy to support applications. ”
From 20th August 2022 to 25th November 2022 the fund also awarded £34,324.00 to community projects in Penrith and The Border, including £9,250 for Therapeutic Recreational Experiences for Everyone (TREE) CIC, a North Pennines based charity, which provides a woodland outdoor activity programme for vulnerable people. Aiming to provide people with the opportunity to learn new skills while improving their mental health, activities include building log cabins outdoor crafts woodland trails and nature observation.
To find out more about National Lottery Awards for England, visit: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-england
