Carrickfergus Enterprise in running for £35,000

Carrickfergus Enterprise has been shortlisted for its Routes to Tourism project.

It is a charity that aims to stimulate economic growth and job creation.

The initiative is set to encourage and develop potential entrepreneurs to set up tourism-related businesses to take advantage of this fast-growing sector and meet the skills shortage in the hospitality industry.

Ulster Bank is asking the community to have a say on the winners and everyone is invited to vote for one group.

Voting is open until noon on Friday November 9.

To find out more about each local shortlisted organisation and their projects, go to http://skillsandopportunitiesfund.ulsterbank.com/vote/

The winners will be announced on Monday December 10.

The Ulster Bank Skills and Opportunities Fund, now in its fourth and final year, offers not-for-profit organisations across Northern Ireland grants of up to £35k to fund community projects that provide life-enhancing financial capability and enterprise skills and opportunities to those most in need.

Tanya Hughes, chief executive of BWC, explained: “Lots of women want to work but they face many barriers. We help them figure out what’s stopping them – it could be anything from a lack of childcare, to outdated IT skills – and help them to change this, so they can get back into work.”

The programme has helped 84 participants to gain new skills, leading to 65 qualifications.

Richard Donnan, head of Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland, said: “Since the Ulster Bank Skills and Opportunities Fund first launched in 2015, it has distributed over £269,000 in funding in Northern Ireland, reaching over 5,600 people, through the work of a diverse and inspiring network of 18 community organisations, as well as directly contributing to the creation of 16 new businesses and 24 jobs in Northern Ireland, in some of our most disadvantaged communities.

“Voting for the community group you’d like to see receive funding takes just minutes, but the long-term effects have the potential to be truly life changing. Please do take a minute to vote - every vote makes a difference.”