Write a commentNewry's Acting Up Group are celebrating being £48,000 richer today after winning their head to head in The People’s Millions on UTV last night.
Kaleidoscope’s Imagine Arts Centre project in Newry won the Big Lottery Fund grant following a nail-biting head-to-head.
It is fantastic news for the local project, which can now really make a difference by setting up the UK’s first dedicated arts centre for older people in Newry. The centre will build upon the success of Kaleidoscope’s Acting Up project which began in 2012 and now has over 120 members - with an average age of 71.
Kaleidoscope’s artistic director Kerry Rooney said: “I am absolutely delighted on behalf of the organisation. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to advance the work that we’ve already done with older people. The older people made a supreme effort in encouraging people to come out and vote on Tuesday. It’s more so their dream than it is ours, and it’s wonderful for them to have that feeling of success. We’re hugely grateful to everyone who voted for us - it means a great deal to the people we work with.”
This is the ninth year that the Big Lottery Fund and UTV have given the public the chance to choose where the Lottery good cause cash goes in their region. The People’s Millions public vote determines which deserving cause will win the contest and take the funding back to their community.
This week (November 24-26), two projects have been going head-to-head on UTV evening news pitching for a life changing grant. There are four awards of up to £50,000 for grabs in the region – one award for each night, as well as a bonus award announced on Thursday for the runner up with the most phone votes across the week.
As well as capturing hearts and minds with their TV bid, the projects will also have to secure as many phone votes as they can on the day, with lines opening on the morning they are due to appear on UTV.
Since The People’s Millions began in 2005 the competition has funded 35 diverse community projects across Northern Ireland with an incredible £1.9 million in Big Lottery Fund good cause money.
Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund’s Northern Ireland Director, said: “This is a brilliant result for the people of Newry and shows what groups can achieve when they have the support of their community behind them.”
Michael Wilson, Managing Director, UTV Television, said: “This has been a great opportunity for UTV viewers to have their say in how thousands of pounds of Lottery money, set aside for good causes, can benefit their area. We congratulate all the projects on making the final shortlist and wish them all the very best of luck.”
This year up to £200,000 will be awarded by the public through The People’s Millions in Northern Ireland.
