BIG statement, 23 November 2009

Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund (BIG), said:

“In response to the communication chaos caused by the floods in Cumbria, the Big Lottery Fund is awarding a Cockermouth project and a Maryport project People’s Millions grant awards of up to £50,000 – without them having to compete in this evening’s TV contest on ITV Border evening news.

“Due to the crisis conditions in the region, it would be impossible for the All Saints CE Primary School in Cockermouth and Ewanrigg Junior School in Maryport to compete normally in The People’s Millions contest.

“The contest is being run this week in every ITV region where local community projects compete for the public’s support and the project with the most votes wins that night’s award of up to £50,000.

“Now both projects which would have been competing on ITV Border regional news tonight are being given the Lottery good cause funding from BIG.

“All Saints CE Primary School in Cockermouth will use the funding for its A Million Ways project, which will create an innovative multi-sensory path using a variety of materials, textures and colours to develop the social interaction of children with autism. And Ewanrigg Junior School will receive £48,969 for Adventure Experience which will transform an existing concrete playground into an adventure playground facility with a range of new play equipment”