Million pound grant to help the Hanwell estate
The Big Lottery Fund has awarded £1million to Copley Close, Hanwell to help develop new community facilities.
Ealing Council bid for the funding which will mean an extra £1million to spend in the area over the next 10 years.
Big Lottery officials visited five areas in the borough suggested by voluntary organisations, but picked Copley Close because it felt the area was in greatest need of new facilities.
The Big Lottery Fund will develop a local trust, with the support of the Community Development Foundation, which will enable local people to decide how to spend the money.
Council leader, councillor Julian Bell, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure this extra funding for Copley Close. There are some really excellent projects already established there and I’m sure this money will be well spent. Now it’s down to residents to decide how they want to use the money to provide facilities that will benefit them.”
Jackie Sear, chief executive of Empowering Action and Social Esteem (EASE) - which helps local residents in Copley Close develop their skills and talents – said: “This is great news not just for Copley Close but for the surrounding areas too. The money will hopefully be used to enable existing services to be funded for years to come, but most of all to ensure the needs of the community are met. This has come at an important time in regards to regeneration for the area and will definitely engage the residents in decision making.”
Cllr Isobel Grant Cleveland Ward Councillor said: "Since the regeneration of Copley Close was cancelled last year the residents have rightly felt let down. The residents are the winners here, and this project will enable them to make decisions about some of their own needs and priorities."
21st March 2012