Published: 29 Aug 2017
National Lottery good cause cash is making a big difference to communities across Scotland, including support for a number of creative projects.
A total of £696,165 has been awarded to 92 arts, sports and community projects by Awards for All Scotland which makes grants from £300 to £10,000 with funds raised by the National Lottery.
Since it first started in 2006, Islay Book Festival has firmly established itself as a part of the island’s thriving cultural scene. Now, for the first time, organisers will be able to take the festival to different locations reaching a wider and more diverse audience thanks to an award of £4,640 to Port Ellen Book Festival.
Isla Rosser Owen, Chair, said, “It’s a huge relief to receive this award as it means we can cover elements of the festival we were unsure we would be able to. We will be able to organise a much livelier festival with an increased variety of authors and events which we believe will help us to attract a younger audience.
“Importantly, it allows us to send some authors to more isolated parts of our island and hold events on our neighbouring island of Jura for the first time. This is the start of a new stage in our planning where we can now increase community outreach and grow the festival in a way that will help our local economy.”
Other creative projects include Carrick Rural Arts Group for a series of workshops and other activities held in September and October 2017; Ryan Youth Theatre who run regular free and low-cost drama workshops and theatre projects for young people in Stranraer and Wigtownshire; and a three day festival of traditional and live music in Kelso including live performances, workshops, tutorials, and open mic sessions.
See the full list of awards on the Big Lottery Fund website.
A National Lottery Awards for All spokesperson said: “This is National Lottery money in action, reaching into communities across Scotland making a real difference to the people who live there. The 92 groups receiving funding today showcases the range of projects that can be funded through this programme and the difference that the smallest amounts of money can make.”
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland awards grants to community, arts and sports groups on behalf of Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland and sportscotland.
National Lottery Awards for All Scotland is now more straightforward to apply to and faster to get funding from. Applications are received on a rolling basis and can be received at any time. To find out what National Lottery Awards for All Scotland could do for your community visit the Big Lottery Fund website or phone 0300 123 7110.
