UnLtd – Star People Awards on Barrow Island

We award Cash and Support to people like you with great ideas to improve your neighbourhood!

Are you a star?

Star People are individuals who live, work, run a business, volunteer or have a deep connection with the Big Local areas – Barrow Island is one of these areas. If you know Barrow Island, and have a great idea to help make it an even better place to live, UnLtd may be able to help you with cash and support to turn your idea into a reality. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about making things better in their area and want to lead their idea. We don’t make awards to existing groups or organisations.

What kind of awards are there?

Try It Awards are for having a go, trying something out small, finding out what others have done , testing something to see if you are the right person and if it is the right idea. You can apply for up to £500 - and we’ll support you through your application and getting your idea off the ground. Do It Awards are for ideas you have thought through and are ready to go. You know there is a need, and you have thought about how you can bring in money and support to make it last beyond the cash award. You can apply for up to £5000 and support. Build It Awards, in exceptional circumstances we can make awards of up to £15,000 for individuals with a big idea with potential to grow. This has usually that has been tested in some way. Here the award can even be used for living costs to help dedicate more time to expanding the enterprise.

What sort of things can I do?

You know best what’s needed in your community – so it’s your ideas that matter. Here are a few examples of what Award Winners are already doing in other areas – but your ideas may be different. Setting up an affordable handyman service – offering reduced rates for people on low incomes. Recycling school uniforms and making them available to local families (also we’ve helped people who recycle other things like bikes!). Setting up a support group for single parents (or other groups of people). A street dance class for young people. Running a healthy eating and cooking project for children – and producing a cookbook of healthy meals you can make on a budget. Setting up a not for profit music studio for local musicians. Neil Burgess was awarded a Do It to help set up a website to support people caring for family and friends in times of need. Visit www.curahq.com to see what Neil has done with his award.

If you’d like to know more about what UnLtd offer and want to see more local people make a difference on Barrow Island, and think you can help us find some Stars over the next 12 months then please come to: Barrow Island Community Drop In on Island Road at 5.30pm- 7pm on Wednesday 12 of June 2013.

Please can you confirm if you will be attending by Wednesday 5 June by contacting Alison Greenhalgh on 07977887473 or email: bict@hotmail.co.uk

Barrow Island Community Trust Big Local Steering Group Meeting

Thursday 27 September 2012, at 6pm. Barrow Island Community Trust invites the residents of Barrow Island and the Ferry Road triangle to their next Big Local steering group meeting at the Drop-in Centre, corner Island Road and Anchor Road.

What is Big Local? Big Local is an exciting opportunity for residents in 150 areas, Barrow Island being one of those areas, around England to use at least £1m to make a massive and lasting positive difference to their communities. It’s all about bringing together the local talent, ambitions, skills and energy from individuals, groups and organisations who want to make their area an even better place to live. Big Local is run by Local Trust, which is working with the Big Lottery Fund and a range of partners providing expert advice and support for residents.
What’s it not about? It’s not about the government or a national organisation telling you what to do. It’s not about individual groups fixing their favourite problem without talking to wide range of different people who live and work in the community. It’s not about short term thinking – we’ve got 10 years or more to plan and deliver the best options for our area.
Who are the key people? We are. Unlike lots of big initiatives, this is about putting residents in charge. We have to make sure everybody in our area can input on the plans and decisions and that we get access to lots of support, including a Big Local rep, but basically it’s our shout.  We have at least £1m and at least 10 years to make it happen.
For more information visit www.barrowislandcommunity.com or email bictlisam@hotmail.com