A massive boost has been given to the Manx Lottery Trust in the form of a £3 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund in the UK.
The money is to be used over a five-year period up to 2020 to fund a new grant programme and details of how to apply to it for support are to be released on February 27.
Manx Lottery Trust chairman Malcolm Kelly said the extra money would fund real improvements to the island community, building on the current programme funded jointly between the Big Lottery Fund and Treasury which, since its launch in 2010, has supported 90 projects and reached more than 80,000 beneficiaries.
In 2012-13, the Manx Lottery Trust received £100,000 from the UK Big Lottery Fund.
The money represents the Manx share of proceeds from National Lottery tickets sold in the Isle of Man.
The money will fund the Manx Lottery Trust Grant Scheme, which will provide sums between £1,001 and £50,000 to needy or deserving causes.
Among the organisations to receive grants in 2012-13 were The Children’s Centre, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch, Ballakermeen High School and Peel Coal Fund. A total of £293,414 was distributed during that year to 38 recipients.
Further information on the current programmes can be found at www.mlt.org.im
For general inquiries about funding from the Manx Lottery Trust contact Grants Officer, Manx Lottery Trust, PO Box 16, Ramsey IM99 4QF.