East Antrim community and voluntary projects funding boost

The recipients are all supporting the health, well-being and quality of life of people across Northern Ireland.

The majority of organisations funded are supporting mental health and reducing isolation by keeping people connected and reaching those who need the most help.

This includes funding counselling, means for people to stay connected such as laptops or befriending services and activities for promoting well-being.

Sensory Kids is using a £9,600 grant to provide sensory equipment packages in the Mid and East Antrim area for families with children with autism to use at home during the COVID- 19 pandemic. The project helps with their sensory needs,

concentration and ability to cope during isolation.

While Samaritans, based in Ballymena, are using a £9,750 grant in the borough to provide emotional support to those in distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Antrim and Newtownabbey, All About Us - ASD Teens was awarded a £6,200 grant which they will use to provide information and resource packs for young people with autism and their families during the COVID-19 lockdown including boredom buster packs, sensory packs, emotional well-being and regulation packs and parent support materials. The group are also hosting online classes to help improve mental health and to provide stability and a routine.

Impact Network in Communities NI based in Randalstown, is using a £10,000 grant to provide activity packs for young people and adults in the community, to help improve mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown period and to purchase PPE for volunteers.

Queenspark Women’s Group in Glengormley, is using a £5,250 grant to continue providing their service in the community

including the distribution of food parcels to isolated people during the COVID-19 lockdown, to help improve mental health and well- being.

South Antrim Community Transport is using a £352,525 grant to run their ‘Community Wheels’ project over the next five years to provide accessible transport to people living in rural South Antrim

Kate Beggs, NI Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “The projects funded all demonstrate the strength of their members and communities and the importance of staying connected with each other in these unprecedented times.

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