Press Release

Mayor supports Lottery finalists

Thursday, 24 July 2008

The Mayor, Councillor Gerard Diver has encouraged the public to lend their support to the two local projects that have reached the finals of the National Lottery Awards.

The Diamond War Memorial Project and the Young Fathers Project are both finalists in different categories and they need your votes!

”This is a great opportunity for two local projects to win their categories in the finals with the help of the local community. Make sure you pledge your votes now and spread the news to your family and friends too,” he said.

The Diamond War Memorial Project is a Holywell Trust project and has been successful in reaching the final stage of the awards under the Best Heritage Project category. In the past year the project researched the 756 names that are inscribed on the City's First World War Memorial. Their research revealed that there is an almost equal balance of Catholic/Nationalist and Protestant/Unionist names on the Memorial. The Project also worked to get the gates around the Memorial opened up to the Public and, to date, the memorial has not been vandalised, as it often had been in the past. People from both sides of the political and religious divide have now taken ownership of the cenotaph which commemorates those people, associated with the city, who lost their lives as result of the tragic and brutal 1914-18 War.

The Young Fathers Project is aimed at supporting the needs of young fathers or father figures, aged 14-25, and their families. The project comprises a planned and structured father's service, aimed at improving and enhancing the relationship between fathers and their children. The project has, over the past year made a huge difference to young fathers and their families in the Derry, Strabane and Limavady areas.

To vote for these two worthwhile projects, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards

Ends

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