The Health Lottery increases charity funding by over 25%

Vintage Worx volunteers: the ‘Chat n Craft’ project run Vintage Worx has been supported by the Health Lottery

The Health Lottery, which helps fund charities and projects tackling health inequality and isolation across Great Britain, has announced that the level of funding to the thousands of organisations it supports will increase by over 25%. 

This increase comes in response to the financial damage caused to the charity sector due to the Covid-19 crisis. To date, over £115 million has been raised for more than 3,000 community projects and charities through The Health Lottery and it is hoped that by increasing the percentage that goes to good causes, grassroots projects and charities across Great Britain will receive the lifeline they desperately need.

In the North West, over £10.5 million has been raised through the Health Lottery since 2011. In that time, over 323 local charities and projects across the region have been supported, including the ‘Chat n Craft’ project in Rochdale, run by the Falinge Park-based Vintage Worx Community Development Trust.

Before becoming a Community Development Trust, Vintage Worx started as a small community group in 2006, delivering a wide range of social activities, training sessions and support services.

Still run entirely by volunteers, the group aims to restore the park buildings to protect the heritage value of Falinge Park, increase the scope of their work and widen the social benefits of a public green space.

Tracie Powers, from Vintage Worx, said: “Money raised through the Health Lottery has helped us to thrive and deliver vital services for our communities during the pandemic.

“This announcement is really great news for the charity sector at a time when it is in need of additional funding and will benefit many communities.”

Announcing the news, Martin Ellice, Managing Director of The Health Lottery, said: “The Covid-19 crisis has left many charities and projects in a vulnerable position. That’s the reason we have taken the decision to increase the level of contribution by over 25%, allowing us to support the health inequality projects that are so important to local communities.

“Every single one of the charities and projects funded through The Health Lottery carries out wonderful work, and it’s of paramount importance that we keep them alive.”