Groundwork wins public vote for £1.5 million Big Lottery cash

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Groundwork has been chosen by viewers of GMTV to receive £1.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund to help transform the fortunes of 25 areas around the UK.

GroundworkGroundwork has been chosen by viewers of GMTV to receive £1.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund to help transform the fortunes of 25 areas around the UK.

Groundwork’s proposal – Safe and Sound – will bring together people of all ages in neighbourhoods from Northumberland to Newquay and Belfast to Brixton to improve the quality of life in their community.

Over the next 12 months Groundwork Trusts will be working with local communities and other partners to create community gardens, improve play areas, build skateparks and enhance nature reserves.

Groundwork NI’s Assistant director of development Sylvia Gordon said

“This is a very special year for Groundwork as we're celebrating our 25th anniversary. Thanks to the votes of GMTV viewers we can now give much needed support to 25 more communities across the country.

“The results of the vote show that people really care about the quality of their local environment and want to live in places that are clean, safe and green. This funding will help thousands of people of all ages take a lead in making their neighbourhoods better places to live.”

Residents of Victoria Parade in the New Lodge, North Belfast will benefit from the windfall that will fund a much needed community safety project. Mrs McCoey from Victoria Parade Residents Association said,

“The local community is over the moon to be involved in the Safe & Sound project and to be working with both the Big Lottery Fund and Groundwork NI. The residents group have been campaigning for 9 years to secure funding for the project that will not only improve the appearance of the area but it will go far to improve the sense of security felt by many vulnerable people living in the Victoria Parade area, from the very young to the very old”.

Walter Rader, Northern Ireland Director of the Big Lottery Fund congratulated Groundwork,

“The People’s Millions is a fantastic opportunity for the public to decide how lottery money is used to improve people's lives and their surroundings. In doing so GMTV viewers have awarded the lucky winner a £1.5 million cheque from the Big Lottery Fund that will make their project happen. I am particularly delighted that the Groundwork winning project includes a scheme in Northern Ireland.”

Groundwork’s proposal was backed by celebrity gardener Tommy Walsh who picked up the cheque on the charity’s behalf live on GMTV. The Big Lottery Fund and GMTV have teamed up in the national televised People’s Millions contest to give the public a real say on where lottery funding will go to benefit their community.


Groundwork NI | John McCormick | 20 Apr 2006
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