Mark celebrates volunteers' lottery success

10.12.38am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th Oct 2006

Mark celebrates lotter success with SCVS staff

Stockport's Council for Voluntary Service (SCVS) has been awarded £128,674 from the Big Lottery Fund for a project that will enable it to help more Stockport community groups to get funding for projects and activities. Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle, visited SCVS to find out more about the services now available and to meet SCVS' funding information workers.

"Voluntary and community groups do so much excellent work in Stockport it can be forgotten that they need help too" Mr Hunter said. "This National Lottery grant means more groups can now be supported and more money can be raised for Stockport's communities"

The funding information service allows groups to access up-to-date information in new ways, from monthly email bulletins to outreach surgeries in local areas. They can even get support with completing application forms, with free training and resource packs to improve their fundraising skills.

Naomi Creed, funding information officer, added "We aim to support more than 400 groups over the three years of this project, bringing more than half a million pounds into the borough. It's fantastic to be given the opportunity to improve on what is already happening in Stockport and Emma and I look forward to working with lots of groups in the future!"

For more information on the service and how it can help a group that you are involved with call SCVS on 0161 477 0246, or visit www.stockportcvs.org.uk .