PAL awarded funding of £9,990

The small grants programme is awarding £9,990 to the Larne group as part of a grants roll-out of £576,149 to 71 groups across Northern Ireland.

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.

The group, which provides support, guidance and advice for local people whose lives have been affected by substance abuse, will use the grant to hold a youth information day, run education workshops in local schools and set up a Drug Alcohol Suicide Self Harm Forum (DASSH).

The group will also use the money to help develop a website, produce a bi-annual newsletter, develop an information pack and create an educational DVD for use by schools and community organisations.

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.”