Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, has welcomed the Big Lottery Fund’s decision to extend the deadline for applications for the ‘Heroes Return’ grant to 31st January 2012.

Mike said:
“We owe our veterans a great deal and I am delighted that this grant has been extended.

“I urge any World War 2 veterans who are interested to apply so that they can revisit the locations where they fought and remember and pay their respects to fallen comrades.”

The Heroes Return scheme provides lottery funding for Second World War veterans’ travel and accommodation costs so they can make trips back to places across the world where they served.

War widows are also eligible for funding, and carers and spouses can receive funding to travel with veterans. Grants of £150 to £5,500, depending on the number of people taking part and the destination, are available.

Since 2004, over 50,000 people have made commemorative trips with funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Heroes Return scheme with grants totalling over £24 million.

For further information call 0207 211 1800 or visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_heroes_return [1]