Press release from Fiona Dalgetty:

Fèis Rois is one of only six groups to have been shortlisted in the STV North region with a chance of winning up to £60,000 in the Jubilee People’s Millions (http://www.peoplesmillions.org.uk).

The Big Lottery Fund and ITV have come together to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by creating a new fund for charities. The Jubilee People’s Millions will make up to 60 awards of £60,000 for new projects that will improve local places or the lives of local people across the UK.

Fèis Rois has come up with an innovative project that will enable people of all ages from across Ross-Shire and Inverness to participate in music-making activities. Fonn nam Fèis will be a lifelong learning traditional arts project open to people of all ages.

Fèis Rois Chief Executive, Fiona Dalgetty said: “At present, with the exception of our Adult Fèis weekend in May, Fèis Rois only provides opportunities for young people to learn skills in traditional music, song and dance. The health and wellbeing benefits of participating in music-making activities are well documented and we want to see everyone in our community having the opportunity to access high quality traditional music workshops.”

Fonn nam Fèis will offer a year-round programme of activities, including: weekly instrumental classes, singing groups, and workshops in song writing and composition. The project will be wide ranging and will include partnerships with local community groups, care homes, hospitals, libraries and nursery schools.

“The work of Fèis Rois would not be possible without the help of the many people who support our events each year,” said Fiona. “We hope that people from across the Highlands will get behind our campaign to win funding for our new Fonn nam Fèis project by voting for us on Tuesday 28th June.”

The public will be able to vote for the Fonn nam Fèis project from 9am to midnight on Tuesday 28th June 2011. The phone number will be released at 9am on the day of voting. Calls cost 11p and supporters can vote up to ten times from the same phone number. Please put 28th June in your diary and visit http://www.peoplesmillions.org.uk today to sign up as a supporter of Fonn nam Fèis and to receive further information via e-mail. You can also follow Fèis Rois at http://www.feisrois.org and on Facebook and Twitter.