Our regular readers will know that Bolton MRT had been shortlisted for the Lloyds Bank Community Fund 2014 in the north-Bolton / Blackburn area.

By encouraging the public to vote, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team had a chance to be awarded a grant of up to £3,000.00 from Lloyds Bank to enable it to continue doing good work in the community.

The team was very kindly nominated for this award by Lloyds employee Jane Crook, whom we rescued way back in August 1999, following a fall from her mountain bike in Lever Park, Rivington.

The Lloyds Bank Community Fund was set up to help local people across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man to have a positive impact at the heart of their community by giving grants to up to 1,400 local good causes in 350 communities.

There are four good causes shortlisted in each community and Lloyds Bank is inviting everyone to vote for the causes they’d most like to support.

As a result of Jane’s nomination along with nominations from others, the Lloyds Community Fund shortlisted ourselves and three other local charities within the Blackburn/Bolton community area.

Members of the public could vote for their preferred community group on-line, by SMS or Twitter, or in a branch of Lloyds bank up to yesterday evening, Friday 10th October 2014.

The local good cause that received most votes in each community will receive an award of £3,000.00 with the other groups receiving £2,000.00 £1,000.00 or £500.00 depending on the votes received.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our kind supporters who added their vote for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

We would also like to say a big thank you to colleague MRTs, Search and Rescue Teams and a great many individuals who have regularly re-tweeted our updates on this vote.

Today, Saturday 11th October, our Team Leader received the following communication from the Lloyds Bank Community Fund:

“Dear Garry Rhodes.

The Lloyds Bank Community Fund public vote is now closed. Thank you for your involvement, enthusiasm, and support!

What happens next?
We will contact you in the week commencing 3 November with the final voting numbers for your organisation, your rank within your community and the level of Community Fund award your organisation will receive. Your award will be paid by cheque soon after the above date and you will also receive a certificate.

We will announce the results to the public from early November, updating the Community Fund website with the award amounts. We would also like to celebrate those awards in local media and will be in touch nearer the time about this.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Kind Regards,

Community Fund Team.”

Please also see website ‘News’ report dated Monday 29th September 2014, Monday 6th and Wednesday 8th October 2014.