Warrington Borough Council has been granted an award of £9,500 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support town centre activities being held to celebrate VE Day.
This May is the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, with events in communities across the UK, including a three-day event in London.
The funding for Warrington will help boost the town’s VE75 celebrations, with the council working in partnership with the Business Improvement District (BID) and Culture Warrington to deliver a range of family activities, including an engaging, interactive exhibition, stop-frame animation sessions, arts and craft workshops, a theatre performance and opportunities to share stories.
The town centre activities will take place alongside various activities in Warrington’s libraries and communities across the borough, including tea parties, picnics, poppy making and poetry.
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for culture, Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, said: “This award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is great news for our VE75 celebrations. It further strengthens our plans to deliver a range of activities giving communities a better understanding of the key role Warrington people played in World War II, while instilling a sense of pride, togetherness and community spirit.”
Cabinet member for leisure and community, Cllr Tony Higgins, said: “This year marks an important milestone for VE Day and I’m delighted that Warrington will be taking an active role in the celebrations. This funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will help us deliver a diverse, engaging and inclusive programme which connects with all of our communities.”
VE Day marks the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces 8 May 1945
A detailed plan of Warrington’s VE75 activities will be released in the weeks leading up to VE Day.
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