Fiona Bruce MP encourages local communities to apply for new Heritage Lottery Fund to commemorate the Centenary of the First World War
Fiona Bruce MP wants every community group in the Congleton Constituency to hear about the launch, in the House of Commons, of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) new small grants programme this week, First World War: then and now.
Through this funding scheme people can obtain money to for an event to mark the Centenary of the First World War.
The Heritage Lottery Fund is making at least £1million available per year for six years until 2019. It will provide grants between £3,000 to £10,000 enabling groups right across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.
Successful project ideas could include:
- researching, identifying and recording local heritage;
- creating a community archive or collection;
- developing new interpretation of heritage through exhibitions, trails, smartphone apps etc;
- researching, writing and performing creative material based on heritage sources; and
The new programme can also provide funding for the conservation of war memorials.
Fiona Bruce MP said: “I’m delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is making this money available to local communities and I don’t want anyone in my constituency to miss out. The First World War was a major event and this is a wonderful opportunity to commemorate the events of a hundred years ago when so many people made so many sacrifices for us today. To find out more about how to obtain funding go to http://www.hlf.org.uk/ThenAndNow for an online application pack. If a group wants a grant of more than £10,000 for a first world war project it can apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund through its open programmes on www.hlf.org.uk. HLF’s First World War grants programme is an opportunity for everyone to commemorate the events of a hundred years ago and for younger people to learn more about what it meant.”
Welcoming the programme at the launch in the House of Commons, Culture Secretary of State Maria Miller said: “It is completely right that we mark the centenary of the First World War with a national programme capturing our national spirit and saying something about who we are as a people. But what we do also needs to help create an enduring cultural and educational legacy for communities. The HLF grant programme announced today will play a big part in this, and builds on the substantial investment they have already made towards the Centenary.”
Fiona Bruce continued: “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. The Heritage Lottery Fund’s new programme will enable communities to explore the continuing legacy of this war and help young people in particular to broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world, which is why I am so keen to tell all local schools in particular about this funding availability.”
HLF has already invested £12million in projects – large and small – that will mark the Centenary of First World War. If a group have a project idea to mark the Centenary of the First World War, an online application pack is available http://www.hlf.org.uk/ThenAndNow. If a group needs a grant of more than £10,000 for a First World War project, it can apply to HLF through its open programmes.
