Lottery to give £1m to 'forgotten' Rochdale

Rochdale is one of fifty "forgotten" areas around England that are to be given a share of £200m to help transform their neighbourhoods.

Kirkholt, Rochdale and the other final 49 will join the existing 100 areas already allocated at least £1m in the Big Local initiative. 

Named as a recipient in the Big Lottery Scheme, scheme managers said the area had been "typically overlooked" by external funders.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), together with the Council, submitted information to the Big Lottery Fund, and as a result of the successful application, the local community in Kirkholt will now receive at least £1m in Lottery funding.

Nicky Morris, RBH Communities Action Manager, said: “Kirkholt has a strong identity, with a wide range of community-led groups already doing great work in the area. Local priorities identified by residents include widening access to employment, improving skills and addressing health needs, as well as making the neighbourhood a brighter, safer and cleaner place to live.

"RBH will support and encourage residents to use the Big Local funding to build on existing achievements, helping local people in Kirkholt to reach their full potential.”

Kirkholt councillor, Dale Mulgrew, said: "This is great news for the Kirkholt Estate. It will provide a lift for the community at a timely moment, given the economic context that is being confronted at present.'

"I thank the council for pointing the Big Lottery Fund towards Kirkholt ahead of other Rochdale districts. I now look forward to working with the community groups of the estate to ensure this money is spent wisely, so that the funds can make a real impact locally."

The projects will be resident-led; local people in Kirkholt will get to decide community priorities, and they will have to come together to allocate and spend the £1m pot. Support and training will also be provided as part of the award to help residents develop plans to improve their area.

The area has been pinpointed as one that faces a range of different issues, from the decline of industry to high levels of unemployment and crime, and a pressing need for new support services or activities.

The project is the Lottery's largest ever community-led investment programme with the organisers claiming over one million people will benefit.

Residents are urged to come together to develop plans for their £1m, which can be used on anything from training and employment schemes, to tackling anti-social behaviour, creating new community facilities or providing more activities for young people.

Nat Sloane, Big Lottery Fund's England chairman, said: "These areas have for many years been overlooked and have missed out on vital funding and resources - they have people who are high on aspiration but until now have been low on opportunity.

"Through our long-term funding, commitment, training and support over at least the next 10 years, we will redress that balance; giving them the power, confidence and ability to spend this funding in the ways that matter most to their community."

As well as funding for improvements, Rochdale will receive training and support from Local Trust - an organisation set up to help residents spend the funding and increase their skills so they are better able to come together make positive changes in their areas in future.

Debbie Ladds, chief executive at Local Trust, said: "We look forward to helping residents identify what matters most to them and how, with the support of a range of locally trusted organisations and our partners, we can support them over at least 10 years make their areas even better places to live.

"The passion and commitment that residents in existing Big Local areas are showing is inspirational.

"By enabling residents to make decisions and take control of the funding, we believe Big Local can achieve lasting change in their communities."