Heart group shortlisted

The branch is one of just six community organisations from across Northern Ireland who have been selected to compete in The BIG Energy Saving Challenge, an exciting new initiative from NIE Energy which is giving £100,000 to communities to encourage energy saving.

The Challenge team toured the country earlier this year in search of community groups who are switched on to energy saving and NIE Energy is delighted to announce that this group, which meets in Lawrencetown Community Centre, is one of the six successful participants.

Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke has local people right at the heart of their operations.

It is focused on improving the quality of life of the people in Northern Ireland by preventing and alleviating chest, heart and stroke illnesses.

They want to help educate the clients in the Craigavon and Banbridge areas to be more energy efficient, to make them more comfortable in their homes and hopefully reduce their levels of anxiety and worry, especially in winter time.

The group has committed to working with NIE Energy over the next year to introduce energy saving measures into their wider communities, educate residents and save them money.

Project Coordinator Neil Coleman said, “This competition is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and we are very excited.

“We recently delivered the starter pack to Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke in Lawrencetown full of energy saving devices and information as well as £7,500 of funding for their homes.”