Lotto numbers come up for charity

Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale have received a major cash boost from the Big Lottery Fund.

The award-winning environmental team is one of 21 charities in the North-West to receive a share of a £1.6 million pot.

They received £150,000 from the Fund, designed to help charities most vulnerable to public spending cuts, prepare for new opportunities being created through the Government’s Big Society ideas.

Groundwork Oldham and Rochdale is using the money to improve business development and support the diversification of its services.

A Groundwork spokesman said the funding was vital, after local authority cuts: “We will use the money to develop our standards, policies and to obtain further accreditation to strengthen our ability to win new business.

“As an example of which we are interested in holding the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation (schemes to provide electricity and heat from renewable sources).

“The money will also be used to improve our IT infrastructure, obtaining new equipment, upgrading servers and enhancing security.

“Finally we will be investing in training and the continued development of our staff to improve the quality and evaluation of projects we deliver to communities in Oldham and Rochdale.

“The funding received from the Government's Transition Fund will play a vital role in helping us to continue delivering projects and services that benefit local people, organisations, the environment and the wider society.”