Bushmills Primary School benefits from Lottery grant

YOUNGSTERS in Bushmills are celebrating a Big Lottery Fund windfall from its Big Deal Small Grants Programme.

Pupils from Bushmills Primary School received 2,500 to rejuvenate their playground.

Vice-principal Robert Smith told The Times, “Our school has 110 pupils, mostly from the town. The school enjoys a beautiful setting, we’re near the sea, the River Bush and the Giant’s Causeway, but the playground itself is rather uninspiring.”

Taking inspiration from their stunning surroundings the children have come up with a range of novel design ideas, such as seats in the shape of the Causeway stones as well as playground markings including the outline of the River Bush with its Salmon of Knowledge and the giant’s footprints.

The Big Deal Small Grants Programme was established in 2006 and is administered by Youthnet. It has been funded to the tune of 1.5 million by the Big Lottery Fund.

The grants programme has now handed out over 1.3 million to more than 590 projects working with around 26,000 children and young people across Northern Ireland.

the programme allows those up to 25 years of age to apply for an award between 500 and 2,500 towards a project where they get to decide what it is they want to do, when, where and how!

Details of the Big Lottery Fund’s programmes and grant awards are available at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk