Slice of £5m is up for grabs

Local villages have one month to apply for a share of £5 million Lottery cash to create community enterprises and revitalise their area.

Projects have until 5pm on Thursday 20th October to apply for up to £30,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS Active competition.

Anyone living in a rural village of less than 3,000 people, with an enterprising idea can register to be in with a chance of a grant.

All applicants have to do is outline the idea in on online form and the best ideas will be chosen to complete a full application for a grant of up to £30,000.

The Village SOS television series broadcast over the last few weeks, followed the journey of six UK villages as they used a Big Lottery Fund grant to set up a new community business, including a Peak District community that started up a new local food project and cookery school.

Other community enterprises that have used small amounts of cash to get the ball rolling in their villages include community coffee shops, cycle schemes, community farms and local people taking over the running of their village post office.

Paul Jones, Big Lottery Fund head of region for Yorkshire said: “We want this £5 million to help people in rural areas to pull together and develop their own ideas for a new businesses or enterprise that will really make a difference to their local community.”

“Every year hundreds of local amenities such as shops and pubs close down in rural areas.”

“The effects of this, along with limited transport options, rural isolation and lack of employment opportunities for young people, can be dire.”

To register a project idea visit www.villagesos.org.uk. Help and advice with applications is also available by calling 0845 434 9123.