Fiona Bruce MP urges Congleton communities to apply for Lottery funding to mark the Centenary of the First World War
With the upcoming centenary of the UK entering the First World War, Fiona Bruce MP is urging her constituents to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for community projects to learn more about the First World War.
Fiona Bruce MP, speaking after a meeting with the Heritage Lottery Fund in Parliament, said:
“I’m delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is making this money available to local communities. Like many areas across the UK, the First World War greatly impacted the people of our local area. I am very pleased that some groups in my constituency have already obtained this funding - in some instances up to £10,000 - and for those who want to find out more about the First World War’s legacy or who wish to mark the Centenary, I would urge them to get in touch with HLF.”
Fiona Bruce continued:
“HLF is making at least £1million a year available until 2019 as part of the First World War: then and now programme for small, community grants. It will provide grants of £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.”
Fiona Bruce MP urged her constituents to think about how they would like to mark the Centenary. Successful projects will 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;
- conserving and finding out more about war memorials
Dame Jenny Abramsky, Chair of HLF, said:
“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 First World War: then and now 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.”
HLF has already invested over £45million 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.
