Moira Miners Welfare Trust has received £2,500 of National Lottery money to carry out maintenance work to help them reopen after the Covid Lockdown.

Swadlincote-born Andrew Bridgen, Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire has thanked lottery players for their role in raising much-needed funding for local charities and community groups.

It came as local groups received £116,072 of National Lottery funding, supporting them as they seek to overcome social and economic challenges caused by the pandemic and build back stronger.

The MP says that he is delighted with the grants and wants more local good causes to apply for National Lottery funding, saying it could be a lifeline as they begin to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Groups to have benefitted so far include the Moira Miners Welfare Trust which is using its space to provide social and sporting activities for groups in the area.

The funding is being distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players. National Lottery players raise £36 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.

Information about how to apply for funding can be found at The National Lottery Community Fund's website: HERE.

Mr Bridgen said: "It's heartening to see how many community groups have benefited from £116,072 of National Lottery funding in North West Leicestershire.

"These groups are inspirational in the great work and support they provide to local people and their community through what have been some extremely difficult times."

Elly De Decker, England Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: "I am incredibly proud that we have awarded almost £200 million across England so far this year, responding to needs and changes in our communities brought on by the pandemic.

"We know that people care about issues including employment and employability, supporting young people, supporting the vulnerable and creating better connections within communities to tackle loneliness.

"It's fantastic to see that this funding, raised by National Lottery players, is having a significant impact on people's lives across the country, helping to build back stronger communities."

Last year, The National Lottery Community Fund awarded over half a billion pounds (£588.2 million) of life-changing funding to communities across the UK.

Over eight in ten (83 per cent) of its grants are for under £10k – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.