Over £10,000 in funding awarded to Lisburn and Castlereagh groups
Environmental charity, Live Here Love Here, has announced the return of its Small Grants Scheme for 2026, following another successful year in Lisburn and Castlereagh where six local projects were awarded a total of £10,352 in funding.
Throughout 2025, volunteers contributed 1,429 hours, demonstrating the vital role of community action in improving local environments and promoting civic pride.
Delivered in partnership with ten local councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Live Here Love Here Small Grants supports projects that increase civic pride, enhance green spaces, revitalise underused areas, improve community health and wellbeing, and boost local biodiversity.
Grants ranging from £500 to £3,000 are available for successful applicants, with applications now open until June 30, 2026.
The initiative is delivered in partnership with ten local councils, including Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Projects funded last year in Lisburn and Castlereagh included initiatives by Dromara Community Group, Rams Island Heritage Project, Carryduff Regeneration Forum, and Historic Royal Palaces, all working to transform shared spaces, improve biodiversity, reduce litter and create greener, healthier places for local communities to enjoy.
A standout local initiative came from The Advantage Foundation, which received funding for plants, equipment, and materials for transforming an underused area of Ravine Community Nature Reserve into an accessible, engaging habitat for birds and pollinators.
With 124 volunteers contributing 344 hours of work, what was previously a neglected area of mature trees has been reshaped into a secluded, peaceful space for the entire community.
The project has produced a long-lasting result in creating a space that not only supports local biodiversity but also serves as an educational and wellbeing resource for residents.
The Small Grants continue to deliver significant impact across Northern Ireland, supporting community-led environmental improvements, boosting local wellbeing and helping communities take pride in where they live.
Orla McGrady, Grants Officer at Live Here Love Here, said: “Through our Small Grants, communities have the opportunity to take meaningful environmental action and make a lasting difference in their local areas.
“Every year, we are inspired by projects that not only enhance shared spaces, but also bring people together through volunteering, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose.”