Big Lottery funding windfall for North West charities

Community groups from Millom to Grange have been successful in applying for funding to boost the work they do.

This year the Big Lottery has donated at total of £3.5m to 196 charities and groups which make a positive impact on their communities.

The Birchall Trust, which provides counselling to survivors of sexual assault and violence was the recipient of £410,000.

Gail Knopfel, who works in fundraising and service development at the trust said: "We're ecstatic, it's wonderful news for us. When you hear things like this you want to laugh and cry and dance around the office.

"£410,000 over five years will go towards the costs of our work. It's not all the money we need but the lottery are wonderful for giving us this opportunity."

Ms Knopfel said this funding will allow the trust to provide additional support to its clients both before and after they receive counselling.

In Grange, the Lower Holker Village Hall was granted £10,000 to continue a scheme improving its energy efficiency.

Geoff Critchley, village hall committee chairman, spoke about the ongoing work to make the hall a valuable community asset.

He said: "We're very grateful. We only asked for £7,000 at first."

Thanks to the windfall from the Big Lottery, the village hall committee will continue its work to make the hall as environmentally friendly as possible.

New heaters will soon replace the 20-year-old models. It is hoped all the work will make the hall a more attractive venue, ensuring the 108-year-old hall remains open to the public.

Other groups which received money include The Chetwynde School Library Project, which received £9,640; The Slag Bank Play Area Association in Millom received £8,041; and Barrow Domestic Appliances was given £5,290 to continue helping unemployed people back to work.

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