£400k in lottery funding to build on CoC2013 ‘legacy’

Almost half-a-million pounds in lottery funding is to be announced for community projects across Londonderry this morning (Wednesday, January 29).
Shona McCarthy and Frank Hewitt at a previous lottery funding announcement.Shona McCarthy and Frank Hewitt at a previous lottery funding announcement.
Shona McCarthy and Frank Hewitt at a previous lottery funding announcement.

The Big Lottery Fund is to announce a £400k grant to help build a legacy for the first UK City of Culture for communities across the county.

The grant has been awarded to the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s Acorn Fund and will be used to provide grants for community arts and culture projects. It will also support projects for young people and marginalised groups such as homeless people, ethnic minorities and people with learning disabilities.

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “I am delighted to be able to announce this grant which will help build on the success of the investment we made through the Culture for All programme.

“This grant to the Community Foundation will help to support to people and communities across County Londonderry to build a legacy to the first UK City of Culture. We are looking forward to hearing how this grant will benefit local people to play their part in building the legacy.”

Tony McCusker, Community Foundation NI Chair said: “I am delighted with this partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland in support of the Acorn Fund. The hope is that the Acorn Fund can model how the Community Foundation can localise its grant-making programmes by bringing grant programmes closer to local areas – in this case County Londonderry.”

He said: “The emphasis on community arts and culture also allows us to celebrate the legacy of the spectacular 2013 City of Culture by building on both local enthusiasm and awareness.”