O2’s £1million programme It’s Your Community has awarded over 350 projects across the UK since launching in July 2007 but only 23 of these applications have come from East Anglia. It’s Your Community is appealing to people across East Anglia to apply for cash awards of up to £1,000 and turn their ideas into a reality Everyone wishes they could change one thing about where they live and O2’s It’s Your Community has £1million available to individuals and groups to enable community projects to get off the ground. Projects awarded so far prove how small amounts of money can go a long way in building community spirit and improving people’s lives. Anything from flame throwing at a circus school in Cardiff to paddling upstream at a canoe club in Edinburgh have received awards due to their innovative ways of keeping young people off the street. It’s Your Community welcomes all great ideas! The East of England has had some success. One unusual award, which shows the diversity of It’s Your Community, was made to the people of Silk Willoughby, Lincolnshire. When the local post office was closed in 2005 the locals got together and worked together to find a new location – as a result they took over an old toilet block and turned it into the centre of the community. Through the £780 It’s Your Community award they can now continue to deliver prescriptions, a small shop and a meeting place for the 300 strong residents. .“The It’s Your Community award has helped us get started turning the idea of the community centre into a reality. The people of Silk Willoughby need these shared community places and without this support they would have nowhere to meet” said Paul Steer from Silk Willoughby Parish Council. “We’d love to get more ideas from the east of England,” explains Cath Keers, O2’s Customer Director. “So far there have been just over 20 and we know there must be many more people who want to get out there and do something in their local area. We’re here to help them make it happen.” Each month over 60 projects throughout the UK receive up to £1000 of It’s Your Community funding. Awards must be for the benefit of the community or to build community spirit. For more information about the hundreds of projects which have already received an award and how to apply for one, visit www.itsyourcommunity.co.uk. -ends-

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