It’s a very special day for Shildon AFC Supporters Club tomorrow (15 March) as they welcome several local community groups to Shildon’s home Northern League match against Morpeth Town.

The Supporters Club launched the Shildon AFC Supporters Club Lotto, which is drawn weekly, at the beginning of the 2013-14 season. Since its introduction it has distributed over £3,000 in prize money and this week will be distributing its first grant funding to local community groups.

Shildon AFC Supporters Club Chairman, Russell Henderson said: “Tomorrow is a special day and we are delighted to be welcoming seven local community groups, who all successfully applied to our small grants fund, to Shildon’s home match, where they will collect their cheques.

“Putting money back into the local community is our top priority and this is the first time we are able to distribute money from the grant fund, although it won’t be the last. The lottery runs every week, all year round, and the more players there are, the more money we will be able to re-invest back into the local community.

“When new funds are available we will let the community know through local press outlets, but we hope to be able to announce an additional round of funding to coincide with each time the lottery jackpot is won.

“The fund is open to all small local groups and we are especially interested in helping groups who don’t have access to other means of funding such as the National Lottery. Anyone who runs a small group and needs funds for items such as equipment or to fund a group trip, for example, or any other reason is very welcome to apply. The maximum grant a group can apply for is £200 in one year. ”

At tomorrow’s match, the lottery will be distributing over £1,200 in total grant funding to the following local community groups:

Shildon Community Safety
Kay’s Hill Animal Sanctuary
Bishop Auckland Hospital Radio
Prince Bishops Primary School Community Garden
Shildon Community Garden
The Monday Club and
Jubilee Community Centre

The lottery manages a facebook page which contains full details of how to participate and includes a weekly draw announcement immediately after each draw. The page can be found by searching Facebook for Shildon AFC Supporters Lotto or by going directly to facebook.com/safcslotto.