Two Derry voluntary charity projects who have reached the final of the National Lottery fund 2008 are urging the city to get behind them and register their vote before this Friday, August 8.
The ‘Da Young Fathers’ project are competing in the Woman magazine Award for Best Charity/Voluntary Project and “The Diamond War Memorial” are competing for the title of Best Heritage Project.
The two projects are competing for £2,000 in cash agai
nst two other finalists in their respective categories and are therefore not competing against each other.
Paul Mullan, Chairman of the Lottery Forum is encouraging everyone in the North West to get behind them and vote: "It’s fantastic that four Northern Ireland projects are in the finals and I know they are all absolutely thrilled. Lottery funding has made a real difference to these projects and the communities they are in so to win a National Lottery Award would be a great achievement.
“The public votes have helped them get this far and I’m really hoping that they continue to give their support and vote in this final stage,” he said.
The ‘Da Young Fathers’ project provides parenting programmes, group sessions and workshops to young fathers between the ages of 14 and 25. Often estranged from their partners, the project helps to ensure they remain a valuable part of the child’s upbringing. To register your vote for The Da Young Fathers Project call 0845 386 1248 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.
The Diamond War Memorial Project researched the 756 names inscribed on the City’s First World War Memorial and discovered that an additional 400 names had been overlooked. Their search revealed that almost half of those who lost their life were from a Nationalist family background. With the help of printed publications, school workshops, local community activity and a website, the Memorial now has widespread support across the City. To register your vote for the Diamond War Memorial Project call 0845 386 1091 or log on to www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards.
Now entering their fifth year, the Awards recognise the difference that Lottery-funded projects make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them.
Public voting for the final ends at midday this Friday, August 8.
The full article contains 391 words and appears in Foyle News newspaper.
