Groups get boost from lottery body

The small grants programme is awarding nearly £17,000 to the local groups as part of a grants roll-out of £948,198 to 116 groups across Northern Ireland.

The Friendship Club, which brings together older people in the Craigavon area and encourages them to socialise and take part in activities to improve their health, confidence and education, has been awarded £6,815 to run a number of social outings.

Rowandale Integrated Primary School has also been awarded £10,000 to develop an outdoor learning zone that will help to improve the health and education of pupils.

The learning zone will also be available for use by local community groups.

Awards for All offers community, voluntary and statutory groups the chance to apply for small grants of between £500 and £10,000 that will have a big impact on local communities and the lives of people most in need.

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, 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.”

Application forms and guidance notes are available to download at www.awardsforall.org.uk.

For more details call Awards for All on 028 9055 1455, or e-mail them at [email protected]