£120k crisis support from Mid and East Antrim Council

Providing support throughout the community. (stock image).

Hundreds of families and individuals have benefited from council initiatives in Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena.

Council staff have been working in partnership with charities, community groups and volunteers across the borough in order to help those struggling to put food on their tables.

In addition, the local authority’s Covid-19 Community Grant Scheme has provided £120,000 in funding to 100 community groups across the borough to help them deliver to people across the borough during the ongoing public health emergency.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has thanked all those who continue to help vulnerable residents.

The council said: “At the very beginning of the crisis, council’s group party leaders redirected funding from what had become less important projects to the frontline of £120,000, to reach those at the heart of the community.

“As this was rolled out, the Community Support Programme Funding from Department for Communities contributed approximately £71,000 to this.

“Councillors very quickly put into action what they had heard on the frontline to help meet need.

“To date, more than 100 community groups have benefited from the scheme, which was set up to support those most vulnerable and at risk due to social isolation and those shielding in their homes on medical advice or because they felt vulnerable themselves.

“As council now evaluates the contribution of this money, it will continue to work to support the community as we stand down phase one and prepare for potential phase two.

“As we work our way through the remaining applications, we will be contacting the community groups to hear first-hand how council needs to adapt our services to the community going forward.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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