News Walthamstow

Intergenerational music project awarded £40k in lottery cash

The Together Project in Walthamstow named as one of three London groups to receive cash after being voted on by the public

Songs and Smiles brings older and younger people together (credit The Together Project)
Songs and Smiles brings older and younger people together (credit The Together Project)

A Walthamstow community group has been awarded more than £40,000 of lottery money to spend on creating an “intergenerational” music programme in the borough.

The Together Project, based in Sutherland Road, was named as one of three London groups to receive cash from The National Lottery Community Fund after being voted on by the public.

The £40,409 received by the group will fund a project called ‘Songs and Smiles’, bringing together children up to four years old, their parents or guardians and older adults in five local care homes every week.

Using song, movement and play, the project aims to reduce loneliness and isolation for older people in the community and improve wellbeing.

The Together Project was among 95 across the UK in the running to share over £4million in National Lottery funding as part of this year’s The People’s Projects competition, which sees The National Lottery Community Fund, ITV, UTV and the Sunday Mail (in Scotland) working together to give the public a unique say in how National Lottery funding should be invested in their local area.

Louise Goulden, founder of The Together Project, told ITV London upon receiving the news they had won: “To every single person who voted for us, it means the absolute world. The happiness and joy we will spread and the lives we will change, is just phenomenal.”

Shortlisted projects got to showcase their work in the media, raising awareness and support for what they do as well as putting them in with a chance of receiving valuable funding.

Blondel Cluff CBE, chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “The People’s Projects highlights the incredible work of inspiring community groups across the UK.

“We are proud to have given local people throughout the country a say in where over £4m of vital National Lottery funding will go. We congratulate this year’s winners and look forward to seeing them make a life-changing difference in their communities.”

Find out more about The Together Project:
Visit
thetogetherproject.org.uk/our-work


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