Lottery boost for Oldham projects

Date published: 06 June 2018


Greater Manchester’s community organisations - including a number from Oldham - are celebrating today after being awarded a total of £3 million in National Lottery funding for the quarter.

The money, raised by players for good causes, is being distributed by the Big Lottery Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

In total, 175 community projects in Greater Manchester are receiving a share – ranging from a series of exercise retreats for breast cancer patients, to a community café that uses animals to help those with mental health issues.

The big Oldham winners are the Oldham Interfaith Forum, who benefit from a welcome Lottery grant of £90,000.

This funding will help Oldham Interfaith Forum to continue its work bringing local people from different faiths together to build stronger community relationships.

The project includes young ‘community champions’ delivering interfaith workshops in schools, colleges and youth centre, and a programme of interfaith events, including discussions, question sessions with different religious leaders and celebration events.

Beneficiaries of grant of £10,000 and under from the area include Oldham Healthy Young Minds, the Sholver Junior Youth Club, Fulfilling Forest Adventures, Abcd Retreat, the Community Performing Arts & Fitness Project, Better Lives Together, Good Neighbourhood, Moorside's Early Years Better Together Project for children and parents, Creating and Inspiring Natural Outdoor Learning and the Community Summer Fun Day.

James Harcourt, England Grant-Making Director at the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Whether in a village, town or city, National Lottery funding is helping to make a difference, bringing communities together to help people lead happier and healthier lives.

“It’s wonderful to see. All the projects are an inspiration to others, showing what great things can be achieved when people work together to tackle the things that really matter to their community.”

Greater Manchester isn’t alone in enjoying the good news – the North West as a whole is receiving £8.4 million, which is being distributed across 423 community projects and organisations.

The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out money raised by National Lottery players for good causes.

Last year it awarded almost £713 million and supported almost 14,000 projects across the UK for health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

The total pot being made available to groups across England this quarter is £45 million.