Lottery funding helps tackle 'big issues' in Mid Ulster

This comes as £523,169 has just been given to groups in the Mid Ulster area to help tackle the big issues, such as keeping people connected and mental health.

The National Lottery Community Fund says they are happy to talk to anyone in the Mid Ulster area about their ideas and give advice.

Since March, they have given over £11.2m in grants to 469 new projects in Northern Ireland, as well as supporting current grant holders with additional funding.

Local grants included: Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid (MUWA) who received £475,204 to run their ‘Starfish’ project over the next four years, to help women who have suffered domestic violence and are exiting its services.

Martina Watson, on behalf of MUWA said: “Thanks to the National Lottery money, our staff will act as professional friends, offering practical one-to-one support so they can live their lives without the ever-present anxiety and loneliness, until they become more confident and have their own support networks.”

Ausome Kids, based in Cookstown, offers advice and support to families of children with autism. The group is using a grant of £9,000 to teach children and their families how to safely interact as lockdown restrictions ease.

The group is also using the funding to purchase tablets which can be taken home to aid development and communication.

Castledawson Part Music Flute Band is using a £6,570 grant to install a stairlift in its hall so that the building is fully accessible to the whole community. The new lift ensures that people of all abilities can access activities and workshops being held on the first floor.

The Fox and Bean, Dungannon, is using a £9,995 grant to develop a programme of creative classes, workshops and events.

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