ANNAN and District Day Centre staff have been overwhelmed by the public’s generosity after they secured enough votes to win first place and scoop £66,225 of National Lottery funding.
Both staff and members shared their delight this week after picking up the top prize in the People’s Projects 2023.
The cash boost will go a long way in helping the centre navigate through the current cost of living crisis, provide employment opportunities and also partly go towards helping with their new purpose built day centre project.
The organisation, which currently operates in Victoria Halls and provides services for adults, previously won the award in 2016.
Centre manager Emma Irving was overwhelmed with joy on Wednesday afternoon when she found out they had scooped the funding, she said: “I would just like to thank everybody who took the opportunity to vote for us.
“Part of this funding will go towards the cost of getting ready to get the new build done.
“It is also going to open up job opportunities and will help keep the transport going.
“It is really important the transport runs because members rely on it.”
The People’s Projects raises awareness of community groups all over the country and highlight how their work is having a positive effect. Members of the public vote for their favourite group as they each bid to win the funding.
Over the last few weeks, day centre members in Annan have been out and about encouraging people to vote by spreading awareness of the centre and discussing the important role it plays in the community.
Moira Woodhouse was one of the members who spent time at Tesco encouraging the people of Annan to vote. Around 150 postal cards were filled in at the supermarket, while others cast their vote online.
Moira said: “It was a good turnout, a lot of people were interested in what we do.
“The day centre is not just for the older people. It’s for younger adults as well. It’s great.”
The centre would like to express thanks to all members of the public who voted and helped spread the word.
