Extra funding for Fishwick and St Matthews (FAM) Big Local Partnership has been approved and will be administered by Preston City Council.
In 2015 the Big Local Grant awarded the areas £1m to help with redevelopment and build on local community talent. In February the Council received notification as the Locally Trusted Organisation for the FAM Partnership that an extra £655k would be awarded.
Big Local is a 10-year programme for residents in 150 areas across England to create better futures in their local communities – Fishwick and St Matthews are being supported until March 2026.
During 2021/22 the FAM Partnership – formerly Friends of Fishwick and St Matthews – developed and submitted a new plan to cover the period 2022/23 through to 2025/26.
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In the same financial year there was an approved revenue funded budget increase of £60k from the Big Lottery Fund via Local Trust.
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Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council, said: “Big Local is a 10-year programme that aims to achieve lasting change in 150 areas in England.
“The scheme enables people to build on the local talents and aspirations of the community – to identify, develop and deliver plans to make their areas even better places to live, both now and for the future. Some of the money has already helped produce arts projects and support sessions in getting people back into work.
“Due to the pandemic, project delivery of the latest stage of the Plan was delayed, so an extension was granted by the Local Trust into 2021/22 to complete the ongoing work, which this funding covers. A four-year plan setting out how the remainder of the £1m of funding will be spent will be considered at the next Cabinet meeting.”
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