Ministers welcome Big Lottery Fund’s announcement of £1million funding for City of Culture community celebration projects

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP, MLA and Junior Ministers Jonathan Bell MLA and Martina Anderson MLA have welcomed the announcement of £1million lottery funding for City of Culture community celebration projects.
~ Tuesday, 24 January 2012

The announcement was made at a key stakeholder event in the City Hotel, Derry/Londonderry, organised by the Big Lottery Fund's UK Board.

During the event, Peter Ainsworth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund said that the £1million investment would support a range of project to coincide with the City of Culture celebrations. The event, which was hosted by the Northern Ireland Committee Chair, Frank Hewitt, was part of a two day visit by the UK Board of the Big Lottery Fund, during which members had the opportunity to see the impact that previous National Lottery funding through Big Lottery Fund is having on communities and people most in need in the Derry City Council area.

Speaking at the reception, the deputy First Minister welcomed the UK Board Members to the city and expressed delight at their decision to invest in the region. He also gave credit for their previous support to communities here.

The deputy First Minister said: “Tonight’s announcement that the Big Lottery Fund will provide £1million to support communities to take part in activities during City of Culture next year is another great boost for the city and the whole region. This will be marvellous opportunity for community groups, from right across the north, to apply for funding to help them take part in the celebrations and to develop activities in their own communities.

“These projects will provide even more opportunities to show the world our great cultural and artistic heritage and to demonstrate the welcoming and inclusive nature of the city. Derry is a place we want people to return to time and time again, where investors will want to work and do business and where people will want to work, live and socialise.”

Junior Minister Bell said: “By working together towards shared aims we can all reap the benefits. The creativity, originality and ingenuity of our communities must be nurtured and we welcome the support of external partners like the Big Lottery Fund in helping us realise our goals.

"I know that these investment proposals will not only be a boost to civic pride during the UK City of Culture celebrations, but will also establish new community partnerships which will leave a positive legacy well beyond 2013.”

Junior Minister Anderson added: “I would like to thank the Big Lottery Fund for all the support it has given in the past which has been so important in the development of this city. The Fund has been – and will continue to be – a critically important partner in the overall regeneration of this city.

“I trust that this visit will have shown just what a difference the Fund’s investment to date has made. These are exciting times for Derry and the City of Culture celebrations will prove to be the perfect backdrop to showcase all that is good in the city.”

Other invited guests include representatives from Derry City Council, Ilex urc, Culture Company 2013, elected representatives and wider stakeholders from the voluntary, community and statutory sectors. A range of representative from projects which are current or previous grant holders with Big Lottery Fund also attended.

Earlier in the day the UK Board members visited a range of BIG-funded projects across the city and heard directly from beneficiaries the difference that the funding has made to their communities.

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