Reed Delighted at New Funding Opportunities for Local Groups

Andy Reed MP has expressed delight with the news that the voluntary and community groups in and around Loughborough are eligible to apply for grants up to £500,000 through the Big Lottery Fund in the East Midlands.

During this summer Reed did a lot work highlighting the availability of Big Lottery Funding to local groups. At least two local groups have been successful in obtaining grants in the past few months totaling £4,000 or more, Loughborough U3A and SUGA (editors see note (a) below).

Now Reed has been informed that voluntary and community groups throughout the Loughborough area can make applications to a new Big Lottery Fund called Reaching Communities Programme (RCP). Under the RCP organisations that “seek to improve the quality of life for local communities & bring real improvements to the lives of people most in need”, are encouraged to apply with a new upper limit for any one bid being massively increased to £500,000 (editors see note (b) below).

Reed stated “this is fantastic news and a great boost for the diverse communities in and around Loughborough”. He added “I really do hope that local groups take the opportunity of applying for this new money which can a make a real difference to many hundreds of people”.

Reed’s Constituency Office in Loughborough has already notified over 60 local groups this week of the new funding initiatives under RCP.