Grants are available

The Big Lottery Fund has launched its Reaching Out programmes – Empowering Young People and Connecting Older People - which aims to invest up to 40 million to support older people and young people most at risk in Craigavon and across Northern Ireland.

Empowering Young People is a 20 million programme will support some of Northern Ireland’s most vulnerable young people including those who have been in care, involved in crime or disengaged from education.

Connecting Older People is a 20 million programme supporting isolated and vulnerable older people who have been affected by issues such as bereavement, disability, long term illness or who live in residential care or sheltered housing.

Grants of up to 500,000 will be able from both programmes to groups that support older and younger people through activities such as physical and mental health projects, volunteering programmes and job skills training.

Information and application packs for the Reaching Out programmes are available from June 22 from www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or by calling 9055 1455.