Lottery windfall for Clooney Estate

The award means the Waterside community group will be able to save money during the recession and run more activities for local people in their centre.

The group, which runs a range of activities and services to improve opportunities for people of all ages in the local area, will use the grant to install new PC windows and doors at the centre.

They will also carry out an energy audit to find out where they are wasting heating and electricity and identify where they can make improvements and save money in the future.

“This is an area with high levels of disadvantage,” said Project Officer Adele Dunn, adding: “There are high levels of employment, low educational attainment and high levels of anti-social behaviour among young people in particular, while there are people struggling with health and money problems.

“Our aim is to improve the lives of the people living here, and give them opportunities to improve their health, education and job skills and boost their confidence and self esteem.

“Our main area of work is a Community Education programme, run alongside the North West Regional College, offering a range of classes from first aid and food hygiene, to numeracy and literacy, IT and catering skills. And we run services such as luncheon clubs for older people, a parent and toddler group, and a summer scheme for young people.

“But we have had problems with our centre. We’ve been here for six years now, and before that it was lying derelict. We made improvements to the look of the place, but this grant means we can carry out work that will make it warmer and help us cut down on costs. The centre can get quite cold, so when you have older people coming in you need to keep it warm and comfortable for them. We also running classes throughout the day, so at the minute our heating and electricity costs are very expensive.

“This grant will mean we can cut down on our bills and put the money we save back into the range of vital activities and support services we offer the local community. It’s going to make a big difference for us.”

Frank Hewitt, the Big Lottery Fund’s NI Chair said: “Organisations can apply for two grant sizes through the Energy Efficient Venues programme. Grants of £2,000 - £10,000 and grants of £15,000 - £50,000 are available for groups to carry out improvements such as double glazing, upgrading insulation, installing a more efficient heating system.

“If the venue is already energy efficient, a grant could give organisations the opportunity to install solar panels, wind turbines, or biomass technologies such as wood pellet boilers.

“It is possible to apply for a small grant followed by a large grant, but community organisations must be aware that if they plan to do this they need to get their applications for a small grant in to the Big Lottery Fund by the end of August 2011. This will give them time to have their small grant assessed and awarded and to complete their project before they apply for a large grant.”

Information and application packs for the Energy Efficient Venues programme are currently available and can be accessed by visiting www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or by calling the Big Lottery Fund’s Information and Events team on 028 9055 1455.