ALEXANDER ENCOURAGES RURAL COMMUNITIES TO APPLY FOR SOS VILLAGE GRANT

3-Sep-2012

Highland MP Danny Alexander is urging communities across Aird, Loch Ness, Nairnshire, Badenoch and Strathpey to apply for the SOS grant before the deadline next week.

Part of the Big Lottery Fund, Village SOS makes grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 to rural communities who want to set up new social enterprises. Applications are welcomed from communities with populations of fewer than 3,000 people and must reach Village SOS by 2pm on 12 September.

Village SOS has already supported many shops, cafes, pubs, transport schemes, community broadband and energy projects, set up by locals who worked together to breathe new life into where they live.

The Village SOS programme is supported by leaders in the rural enterprise sector – Plunkett Foundation, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), Co-operatives UK and Locality.

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey MP Danny Alexander says:

"There are many smaller communities in the Highlands who could benefit from the grant.

"Even a small amount can go a long way and, more often than not, local people have a better understanding of how money should be used to improve their local facilities.

"I would encourage everyone who has a project they would like to see undertaken in their community to make an application before the deadline next week."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information about community enterprises and to check an area's eligibility, visit www.villagesos.org.uk.