Stranraer Oyster Festival wants your vote to win National Lottery Funding

Stranraer Oyster Festival is one of five groups in the borders in the running for a share of up to £150,000 of funding.

The festival is a three-day event celebrating  the only wild and native Oyster beds in the UK. Now in its 13th year, the Big Lottery Fund, STV and The National Lottery are teaming up to give the public a chance to decide how National Lottery funding should be put to good use in their own local area. Designed to celebrate some of the incredible projects the Big Lottery Fund has supported over the past year, 95 community-based schemes are now shortlisted across the UK.

In each region, the three projects with the most public votes will receive grants of up to £50,000. This will help them to continue their work and  to improve the quality of life for many within their communities. The entire amount up for grabs across the UK is a life-changing £3 million. 

The Stranraer Development Trust will be showcasing its project: ‘The Stranraer Oyster Festival’ on STV Border News. To be in with a chance of winning, Stranraer Development Trust, organisers of the festival, is calling on viewers, and indeed the entire community to support its bid.

Last year’s event was a huge success with over 10,000 people attending the three-day event. This year, the interest already from stall holders and performers and visitors has been overwhelming and the Trust have plans to make this year’s event even better again. An economic impact report estimates that the Festival helped secure 5 local jobs in tourism, ploughed over £511,000 into the local economy where there wasn't a bed available within a 24-mile radius on the weekend of the event.

If successful, The Stranraer Development Trust will facilitate the running of Stranraer Oyster Festival 2018 with events throughout the weekend for all to enjoy and benefit from, raise awareness of the unique heritage of our region, provide volunteering opportunities for people of all ages in our area and ensure opportunities for local businesses to promote their produce and services.

Voting closes at midday on Monday 30 April 2018. To support the Stranraer Oyster Festival and for Terms and conditions please visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk