Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins experienced first-hand the results of over £2.7 million in good cause funding from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG) since 2007 when he visited two projects benefitting local people.
Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the East Midlands, Mick McGrath, accompanied Toby Perkins MP on the visit to see two groups in his constituency: Chesterfield Citizen’s Advice Bureau’s Financial Exclusion Project and Chesterfield Fairplay.
At Chesterfield Citizen’s Advice Bureau the MP met workers from the Financial Exclusion Project to hear first-hand the difference they are making in Chesterfield for local people who struggle with budgeting, accessing basic bank accounts and help them to make more informed financial decisions.
The project received a Big Lottery Fund grant of £176,051 in 2008 from the Reaching Communities programme and includes basic budgeting skills, increasing understanding credit, safe systems of lending and saving and managing the financial impact of utility costs.
Fairplay’s project delivers regular clubs for disabled young people in Chesterfield and Derbyshire. The project received £337,261 earlier this year, also from BIG’s Reaching Communities programme, to provide the clubs for young people with physical, sensory, learning and behavioural difficulties where they can enjoy activities together including arts, music, cooking, sports and computing classes.
During the visit the MP could see the impact the project was having over lunch, as the young people made their meals in the training kitchen and was able to witness the fun and safe learning environment that the project provides.
Mick McGrath, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the East Midlands, said:
“In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that people can access the advice and support they need and these projects are providing a vital service for the people they help. BIG is pleased to be able to fund these and the many more projects that we support across the Chesterfield for the benefit of local communities.”
Toby Perkins MP, said:
“It was great to visit two projects funded by The Big Lottery Fund in my constituency and to see the facilities which may not exist if it wasn’t for this investment”.
