I welcome news that more than £1,812,483 of National Lottery money has been invested in Cheadle’s heritage projects since 1994.

From exploring local archaeology and restoring local parks and buildings, to protecting wildlife and researching local history, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded more than 17 grants to projects in the area.

Now, HLF is encouraging people to apply for grants between £3,000 and £10,000 to undertake projects exploring the impact and legacy of the First World War beyond 1918. Whether that’s looking at the role the war played in bringing about universal suffrage; the introduction of daylight saving; or the mechanisation of agriculture, there is a wealth of local stories waiting to be explored about life following the war.

Cheadle has a rich history and I’m delighted that thanks to the National Lottery, local people have been exploring and enjoying that heritage. Just like many areas across the UK, ours too has been shaped by the First World War, so I strongly encourage local people to make use of the money available from the HLF to explore its legacy further.

Sir Peter Luff, Chair of HLF, said: “Sadly, the ‘war to end all wars’ was no such thing and so it is right the events of the First World War should never be forgotten. We’ve been helping people across the UK explore an incredible array of stories from 1914-18, but the war had an impact beyond 1918 and we must recognise this. The legacy of the First World War needs to be better understood and so we are encouraging people to come to us with their ideas for projects.”

The money is available through HLF’s community grants programme, First World War: then and now.