Prestwich needs you – vote for Parklife funding

Forget Strictly and I’m a Celebrity - the big public vote is coming up in Prestwich!

More than £5,000 of funding for local groups is up for grabs, generated by last year’s Parklife concert in Heaton Park, and only Prestwich residents will decide who gets the money.

A special meeting is being held on Monday 6 February at the Longfield Suite (at 7pm) where 14 organisations will each give a three-minute pitch for why they should receive financial help.

Whoever attends the meeting, as long as they live in Prestwich, will then vote for which project they think will most benefit the local community, and the top five or six applicants will receive the funding (maximum £1,000 each).

Prestwich councillorAlan Quinn, Bury Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “It’s important that the people of Prestwich benefit from Parklife. I approached the concert organisers last year to set up a community fund for the areas around Heaton Park and I am delighted that they agreed. I urge people to come to this meeting and kickstart local community projects designed and delivered for local people. Help us spread the word through your social media channels using #Vote4Prestwich.”

Ben Turner, community impact manager at Parklife, said: “Parklife is delighted that the Community Fund is now up and running, and that local groups and residents can benefit from it. It's a great example of how working in partnership can bring real benefit to local neighbourhoods, and our thanks go to Bury Council for their input and assistance with this. The Community Fund is a long-term commitment from Parklife and the fund will be available annually in addition to other charitable donations made by the event to the Super Josh Brain Tumour Charity.”

The 14 projects/applicants are:

1. Langley Allotment Communal Area: Langley Allotment Holders Association
2. Prestwich Clough Water Quality Project: Mersey Basin Rivers Trust
3. Diversity Prestwich Picnic: Prestwich Together
4. Prestwich Clough Day: Prestwich Clough Day Committee
5. Family Adventure Week at Philips Park: Lancashire Wildlife Trust
6. The Phoenix Centre: Prestwich Methodist Youth Association
7. Young Carers in Prestwich: Friends of Young Carers
8. Project Smile: Federation of Jewish Services
9. Philips Park Nursery Garden: Incredible Edible Prestwich and District
10. Tea in the Park: Friends of Prestwich Forest Park

11. St Mary’s Flower Park: Prestwich and Whitefield Heritage Society

12. Getting Together: Jigsaw

13. Rise and Shine: Enterprising Youth CIC (with Butterstile Primary School)

14. Outdoor Classroom – Garden Redevelopment: St. Mary’s Primary School

For more information about the groups and their applications, go to www.theburydirectory.co.uk/parklifefund

Cllr Tamoor Tariq, cabinet member for communities and safer neighbourhoods, added: “Participatory budgeting is democracy in action, which directly involves local people making decisions on spending and priorities, and playing a vital role in scrutinising and monitoring projects. That’s why we want as many people as possible to attend the meeting on 6 February and have their say.”

NB: Just before the meeting takes place, from 6pm to 7pm, there will be a Market Place event at the Longfield Suite. This will give residents information about township forums, grants available for local groups, ways of improving your health and well-being, and details about the Bury Directory, a one-stop information point for advice, activities and support.

ENDS

Press release issued: 24 January 2017.