Live Here Love Here grants scheme launches

The Live Here Love Here small grants scheme has opened for 2016 to help communities, schools and groups take practical action to improve their local environment and support the growth of civic pride.
DAERA Minister Michelle McIlveen  launches the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme with Nicola Fitzsimons and Ian Humphreys from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Picture by Press Eye. INLT-27-709-conDAERA Minister Michelle McIlveen  launches the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme with Nicola Fitzsimons and Ian Humphreys from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Picture by Press Eye. INLT-27-709-con
DAERA Minister Michelle McIlveen launches the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme with Nicola Fitzsimons and Ian Humphreys from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Picture by Press Eye. INLT-27-709-con

Environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful will be working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Tourism Northern Ireland, local councils, Choice Housing and Coca-Cola to launch the initiative.

The small grants scheme is designed to help groups improve the quality of their local environment by reducing litter and dog fouling and enhancing the environmental management of the local area.

It also aims to help groups contribute to the development of civic pride within a community with a focus on environmental improvements, or to enhance or attract tourism to their community through environmental improvements.

Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Ian Humphreys said: “These small grants support voluntary practical action where people want to grow a strong ‘can-do’ community spirit.

“It is exciting to see the grant scheme growing with the seven councils, DAERA and Tourism NI now joined by Choice Housing and Coca Cola.

“This simply means more money reaching the places and people whose ambition is to bring about positive change where they live.”

Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Michelle McIlveen added: “I very much welcome community groups and local organisations getting involved in protecting and promoting their local environment.

“The more they participate, the more clean and green their neighbourhoods will be.

“It is fitting, therefore, that my department is supporting the highly successful Live Here Love Here campaign, now in its third year.

“By supporting the campaign my department is helping Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and local councils deliver clear tangible benefits for the local community through this excellent grant scheme.”

Tourism Northern Ireland’s Andy Patterson commented: “A beautiful environment is part of the tourism fabric of Northern Ireland which our visitors greatly value.  

Last year’s small grants scheme enabled communities to take the lead in making positive changes in their neighbourhoods and deliver improvements around our coastline. 

Groups will need to complete a simple application form detailing how their project will improve their local environment or community through practical action.

For more information and an application pack visit www.liveherelovehere.org or contact Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful on 028 9073 6920. The deadline for applications is noon on Monday August 1.

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