In July, North Brixton was confirmed as a winner of at least £1m from a Council lead bid to the ‘Big Lottery Fund - Big Local Trust’ scheme. One of only 50 areas nationally to benefit, Stockwell Park Estate (in Ferndale Ward), and part of Loughborough estate (in Coldharbour Ward) will benefit from £1 million over the next 10 years to support community development type projects.
The programme will be managed by an independent trust appointed by the Big Lottery. The Trust working in Lambeth will be confirmed by the Big Lottery in early 2011 following the completion of a tender process which is currently underway. The trust will establish itself during 2011 and ‘open for business’ in 0ctober 2011, after which it will be in a position to start awarding funds to local projects. During the development stage and subsequently, the Big Local Trust will be required to work with local residents and stakeholders to agree priorities for the programme. The intention is for the programme to respond directly to local needs and priorities with genuine stakeholder participation.
On the 25th October the first consultation meeting was held at the Stockwell Park Estate (SPE) Community Centre, organised by the Big Lottery to formally let community organisations know about the fund, the Trust and the above timetable. They flagged up the possibility of some development funding (£10k) to organise community events and raise awareness of the programme that is available now.
Local Councillor Paul McGlone commented, “Thanks to the excellent work of Lambeth officers in our Finance and Resources Department in putting this bid together with the local community, the £1 million fund will be used for local projects decided by local people in and around Stockwell Park and Loughborough Estates in the next few years. My fellow councillors Neil Sabharwal, Sally Prentice and I will stay involved with the Big Local Trust and unsure the money is spent wisely on what local residents want”.
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