Grants given to Lisburn groups as part of Awards for All project

Including Diversity C.I.C provide bilingual advocacy training and services to ethnic minority communities in Northern Ireland.

They are using the £10,000 for their Bilingual Advocacy and Mediation in Health Programme which is helping set up 20 bilingual advocacy clinics to help ethnic minority communities access public services and build connections in local communities.

The project is placing 30 bilingual advocates in the clinics across Northern Ireland – to help bridge the gaps in understanding that go beyond language. The service will be available in Belfast, Armagh, Craigavon, Dungannon, Coleraine, Ballymena, Antrim, Newry and Lisburn, as well as any other location required across the five main Health and Social Care Trust areas.

Employers For Childcare Solutions Limited is a Lisburn charity that encourages employers to implement family friendly policies in the workplace. They are using the £10,000 to deliver workshops that will support parents and carers to tackle difficult issues within the family.

Shopmobility Lisburn lends scooters and wheelchairs to people in the Lisburn area who have temporary or permanent mobility problems. They are using the £6,370 to renovate their wheelchair fleet and buy two new mobility scooters.

St John’s Parish Church, Lisburn provides a venue for the local community to meet and hold events. They are using the £8,983 to make improvements to their pathways and carpark to improve accessibility.

Lanaway Rural Development and Cultural Society is a Glenavy organisation that provides community activities and support. They are using the £9,835 to make improvements to their building so they can run more events and activities for the local community.

Fourscore Loyal Orange Lodge No 340 based near Crumlin, Co Antrim, organises social and educational events and trips and provides community facilities. They are using the £10,000 to make improvements to their hall so it can be used for more activities and events.

Duneight Rural and Historical Development based near Lisburn supports people and provides activities in the area. They are using the £10,000 to make improvements to their hall for use by the wider community.

Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director, said: “The Big Lottery Fund’s NI Awards for All programme funds health, education, environment and community projects that help people bring about positive change in their lives, improve health and well-being, develop skills and create safer communities.

“The application process is simple and accessible and shall remain so, making it easy for applicants to successfully apply for small pots of funding that can have such a big impact on local communities and lives.”

The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK.