Garden of Eden in the running

Developed by Praxis Care, it is one of six projects that could win awards of up to £60,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s People’s Millions contest, to be showcased on UTV Live at the end of June.

If successful, it will carry out improvements to the kitchen and surrounding garden area at Richmond Community Hall, which the organisation uses to run education and training courses for people with learning and physical disabilities.

The improvements will mean people with disabilities have a safe and accessible venue to take part in activities that improve their skills and self-esteem and help them get involved in community life.

The Garden of Eden project will go head to head with the Space to Grow project in Ballycastle, which is being developed by Greenlight Gateway, on the second night of the showcase programmes, on Tuesday, June 28.

If successful, the Space to Grow project will turn a derelict space in Ballycastle into a Diamond Jubilee Garden featuring a fresh air fitness outdoor gym, allotments and a growing, cooking and training programme. The TV contest will see two projects go head-to-head each night in the last of week of June.

The six projects will make their case for the public’s vote to win Lottery funding on UTV regional news programme, with the winners being decided in a phone vote.

At the end of the week four projects will each have won up to £60,000 Lottery good cause cash - one award for each night, and a bonus award for the runner up who receives the most phone votes across the week, announced on Thursday 30th June.

Voting numbers will be available on the day the projects are due to appear on UTV with telephone voting lines opening at 9am on each day and winners announced the following day.

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund’s Northern Ireland chairman, said: “The innovative projects up for the public vote this year in Northern Ireland are inspiring communities to tackle a local problem or make a lasting change to the lives of people in their area.

“We look forward to seeing a hotly contested competition where the public will be able to choose which projects take home these special grants.

“I encourage everyone to tune into UTV and vote for your favourite project – every vote counts!”

Michael Wilson, Managing Director UTV Television, said: “UTV and the Big Lottery Fund have established a strong working relationship and once again we are delighted to be associated with The People’s Millions. Four projects will be awarded up to £60,000 each.”