Foundation celebrates achievements of Newtownabbey groups

The work of Newtownabbey-based community organisations has been recognised at a special anniversary reception organised by the Lloyd’s Bank Foundation for Northern Ireland.
Lloyds Bank Foundation for NI Trustee, Janet Leckey from Newtownabbey (centre) with (l-r) Deirdre McAllister and Ita McNally (Community Circus Lisburn) and Joan and Harold Baird (Damask Community Outreach) at the Foundations special anniversary reception at Stormont. INNT 42-507CONLloyds Bank Foundation for NI Trustee, Janet Leckey from Newtownabbey (centre) with (l-r) Deirdre McAllister and Ita McNally (Community Circus Lisburn) and Joan and Harold Baird (Damask Community Outreach) at the Foundations special anniversary reception at Stormont. INNT 42-507CON
Lloyds Bank Foundation for NI Trustee, Janet Leckey from Newtownabbey (centre) with (l-r) Deirdre McAllister and Ita McNally (Community Circus Lisburn) and Joan and Harold Baird (Damask Community Outreach) at the Foundations special anniversary reception at Stormont. INNT 42-507CON

The Foundation has distributed £32.5m in grant aid to more than 8,000 charities since it formed 30 years ago.

The figures were revealed at a special 30th anniversary event at Stormont on October 6, held to recognise and celebrate all of the organisations it has helped to improve the lives of disadvantaged people.

Among the groups to receive funding recently were Monkstown Village Initiatives, which received £3,600 towards the salary of a Youth Development Worker, and Rathcoole Churches Community Group, which received £4,000 towards its administrator’s salary.

Among those who attended the event was Barbara Hanna from the Donkey Sanctuary, based near Ballyrobert, which received £5,000 to purchase equipment for its sensory garden.

Since it was formed in 1985, the formerly named Lloyds TSB Foundation for Northern Ireland has funded a wide variety of groups dedicated to supporting deprived communities.

Through its five grant programmes in 2014 the Foundation released funding of £1.48 million, amounting to 549 separate grants for charity and community and voluntary groups from every corner of Northern Ireland.

Straid woman Sandara Kelso-Robb, Executive Director of the Lloyds Bank Foundation for Northern Ireland, said the organisation would continue its vital role in funding valuable projects.

“The Foundation is proud to have been part of the life of Northern Ireland for the past 30 years and it will continue to provide support to the thousands of people and organisations that make a huge difference to deprived communities. The cuts in public sector spending mean that our work is more important than ever,” she commented.

The Lloyds Banking Group Ambassador for Northern Ireland, Mr Jim McCooe added:

“I would like to pay tribute to the incredible work of the groups that the Foundation has supported this year and throughout its 30 year history. We are proud of our relationship with the Foundation and look forward to many more years of working with them to support charities across Northern Ireland.”