Over £41,000 of National Lottery funding bringing communities across the Black Country together on 9 & 10 September

Groups across the Black Country are celebrating being awarded over £41,000 of National Lottery funding to host community-led activities this weekend, as part of the first West Midlands Mayor’s Community Weekend since the pandemic.

Taking place on 9 and 10 September 2023, the weekend returns thanks to a partnership between Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. The Mayor’s Community Weekend aims to celebrate the strength and diversity of West Midlands’ communities by bringing people together.

Events taking place across the Black Country include a community litter pick organised by The Leisurely Pedal CIO in Sandwell on 9 September, which will be followed by a learn-to-ride (bikeability) session for children and adults, before leading a ride to Sandwell Valley Park and around the RSPB centre and returning to the community centre for refreshments.

Over the weekend, Black Country Radio will be launching a new community hub at Merry Hill shopping centre which will give them a more visible base to better engage and connect with the community. Meanwhile, the Jubilee Park Community Centre in Tipton will host a Come Dine with Neighbours event where teams will go head-to-head to create a healthy, tasty meal on a budget for the local community to judge and enjoy together.

Groups across the West Midlands have been awarded over £170,000 of National Lottery funding to host 100 community-led activities over the weekend. Events will encourage people to engage with their communities, bring different groups together to strengthen connections, and build new relationships. The events will see people from all backgrounds connecting with each other and with their environment, highlighting what voluntary action can achieve in the community.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “We know just what a remarkable source of strength our region's diverse communities continue to be. That’s why I’m so pleased that – after a Covid induced hiatus – the Mayor’s Community Weekend is back. Coming up this Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September – in conjunction with The National Lottery Community Fund – we've provided grassroots grants ranging from £500 to £2,000 to all areas of the West Midlands. This will be a wonderful opportunity for local people to come together - celebrating community spirit at its very best. I cannot wait to see it all in action.”

Nicola Thurbon, Head of Regional Funding for the Midlands at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players we are connecting communities across the West Midlands for this exciting weekend of events which are designed, led by and open to local people. The groups we have awarded funding to – and the large number of excellent applications we received - are testament to the creativity and commitment of diverse communities in the West Midlands. We hope everyone has a great Mayor’s Community Weekend.”

John Mothersole, England Chair, The National Lottery Community Fund, added: “We’re delighted to announce these events, made possible by National Lottery players and the support of the Mayor of the West Midlands. I’d like to thank every single community group that took the time to apply for grants. 

“Our new strategy commits us to turbo charging our support for grassroots projects like these, while tackling the big social issues facing communities today. Across two days of innovative, community-led events and activities, we’re bringing people together to celebrate being part of their community and make something amazing happen on their doorstep.” 

Earlier this summer, The National Lottery Community Fund unveiled its new seven-year strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute £4 billion of funding by 2030 – with a focus on four key missions where it wants to make the biggest impact.  These are to support communities to come together; be environmentally sustainable; help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.   

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.

To find out more about the Mayor’s Community Weekend and the events taking place across the West Midlands, you can see listings here www.wmca.org.uk/the-mayor/mayor-s-community-weekend/.

Date published: 5 September, 2023
Region: England (West Midlands)

Notes to Editors

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name.

We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.

We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with government to distribute vital grants and funding from key government programmes and initiatives.

As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:

1. Come together

2. Be environmentally sustainable

3. Help children and young people thrive

4. Enable people to live healthier lives.

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute around £500 million a year through 10,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4 billion of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £47 billion has been raised and more than 670,000 individual grants have been made across the UK - the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.

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Mayor’s Community Weekend - West Midlands

A programme for groups who want to run events or activities to celebrate the Mayor’s Community Weekend in the West Midlands