Cheshire East is calling on community groups, schools and voluntary bodies to grab the chance to appear on TV and win a slice of £250,000 to boost their causes.
The People’s Millions competition, now in its sixth year, is open to projects in the ITV Granada region and helps communities improve facilities or get more enjoyment from their local area.
The People’s Millions, a partnership between BIG and ITV, gives the public the chance to vote on which five local projects should receive lottery good-cause funding of up to £50,000 each.
To date the contest has awarded more than £1.2m in the ITV Granada region, funding a wide range of community projects from sports activities for young people in the school holidays to schemes to breathe new life into outdoor spaces or restore much-loved community venues.
Councillor Brian Silvester, Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council and Cabinet member with responsibility for safer and stronger communities, said: “The Big Lottery Fund and ITV are calling on individuals and groups to come forward with their brilliant ideas to improve their local communities.
"The availability of funding, in general, is getting tighter and that is all the more reason why we in Cheshire East should try to grasp every chance of external funding that arises.”
This year a new streamlined online entry form means that applying to the contest will be even simpler. Entries need to be returned to the Big Lottery Fund by noon on May 14th, the shortlist will be drawn up in October and the People’s Millions competition will be televised on ITV in November.
Keri Eldridge, Granada's People's Millions Presenter, said: “It’s wonderful to see how local communities from all walks of life have been enhanced with much-needed money from the programme in previous years and I’m excited that we’re set to do it all again.”
People can apply for between £20,000 and £50,000. You can enter if you are part of a community or voluntary group or if you are a school or local authority. To find out more about whether your organisation qualifies to enter, ring 08450 101112 or visit The People's Millions.
