STRETFORD and Urmston MP Kate Green is encouraging groups to apply for funding from the National Lottery, under the Awards for All programme.

Last year in Trafford 11 community groups shared just over £86,000 between them, but Trafford is still missing out on lottery funding.

Trafford is in the bottom three boroughs in Greater Manchester for number of applications, and lottery spending per head is the second lowest in the whole of the North West.

Those eligible to apply for a grant of up to £10,000 include community groups that: help to give people have better chances in life; build stronger communities; improve their environments; or promote healthier and more active people and communities.

Friends of Victoria Park have successfully applied for a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The group's Shelly Quinton-Hulme said: “We got just under £10,000. It bought us a new kitchen, a laptop, projector and screen, free online training in food hygiene and emergency first aid for 30 people, and allowed us to buy two very large commercial grade gazebos and some shelving.

"Our grant is all finished now and everything has been purchased. The process is really easy, the application form is simple and self explanatory, the decision process is quick and transparent, and the end of grant form is not onerous.”

Ms Green said: “I know that there are lots of great community groups in my constituency doing some really fantastic work, who could really benefit from some extra financial help. If you run a community group, then I would strongly encourage you to put in an application. Or if you don’t run a community group yourself but know someone who does, then why not persuade them to make an application?”