Apply for £6m WWI funding, urges local councillor

Cllr Michael Mullaney Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Bosworth, is urging local communities to apply for the new £6m First World War: then and now fund, which the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has launched.

HLF is making at least £1m available per year until 2019 to provide grants of between £3,000 and £10,000. The money will enable groups across the UK to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen their understanding of the impact of the conflict.

Communities can apply for grants for a variety of different projects, which could include:

· Researching, identifying and recording local heritage

· Creating a community archive or collection

· Developing new interpretations of heritage through exhibitions, trails, smartphone apps, etc.

· Researching, writing and performing creative material based on heritage sources

· Conservation of war memorials

Commenting, Cllr Michael Mullaney said:

"The First World War had an unprecedented impact on communities, with so many young men leaving for the front and many not coming back. Few people are alive now who can give us a first-hand account of this period but the legacy they have left behind can still be felt and seen.

"The Heritage Lottery Fund will allow our communities to mark the centenary. I want to encourage those who want to commemorate the centenary to get in touch with the HLF and see if they can tap into this new fund.

"This anniversary will be a poignant time for local people. I look forward to working with different groups to bring the stories from that time alive and preserve our heritage for future generations."