Mary Welcomes £400 000 Government Boost to Wakefield Groups

Local MP, Mary Creagh welcomed the news that voluntary groups in Wakefield have won a £400 000 funding boost from the Government.  The bid was put together by Age Concern, Groundwork and Voluntary Action Wakefield District.  It was backed by Mary Creagh, Wakefield Council and NHS Wakefield.

The Wakefield bid was the only one to get government support in Yorkshire.  Nationally, just 12 bids got funding, out of a total 132 which were submitted.  The money will be used to attract volunteers from opposite ends of the age spectrum to form Generation Xchange - a new skills exchange scheme to bridge the gap between young and older people.  The scheme will involve 1,700-plus volunteers in sports, computers, literacy and conservation activities. 

The money has come jointly from the Department of Children, Schools & Families, Department for Work and Pensions, Department of Health and the Office of the Third Sector. 

Mary Creagh MP said: "I am delighted with this government funding boost for Wakefield's voluntary groups. The money will allow Wakefield Council and local groups to continue bringing young and older people together in our area.   The Wakefield projects will foster understanding between young and old through sports, leisure and education. It will create better relations between our teenagers and pensioners, which can only be a good thing! My congratulations to everyone involved with the project."