Seven Portrush community groups to benefit from The Open Legacy Fund

The initiative is run by The R&A to leave a positive and lasting legacy for the local community in which The Open is staged each year.

A panel of representatives from The R&A, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Tourism Northern Ireland and Royal Portrush Golf Club assessed submitted applications and confirmed that the following groups will benefit from The Open Legacy Fund:

Paul's Legacy, Portrush Bowling Club, Portrush FC Youths, Portrush Heritage Group, Sea2it C.I.C, St Patrick’s Primary School Portrush and St Patrick's Hall Committee, Portrush.

Paul’s Legacy will provide six defibrillators around the Causeway Coast for the community. CPR and defibrillator training will be also offered to the local people.

Portrush Bowling Club will use the funds to purchase modern, hybrid/electric machinery to enhance the playing surface at the Council owned bowls club. Support is also to be put towards an agronomy (the science of soil management and crop production) programme. It is hoped that, by providing a better playing surface, the club will be able to attract new members to join and play bowls in Portrush.

Portrush FC Youths are to purchase football equipment and an associated storage unit, as well as training for volunteers and coaches. This will allow the club to put on extra sessions and provide more opportunities for a more diverse range of people to access football coaching in the town.

Portrush Heritage Group will use their portion of the fund to enhance the current offering of walking tours around Portrush by establishing guided walking tours for schools, community groups and other interest groups, as well as launching an accredited community training programme with Northern Regional College to develop a team of skilled local tour guides.

They also wish to develop inclusivity through the provision of hearing loops and video tours for those with mobility issues.

Sea2it C.I.C is set to enhance community relations with the sea around Portrush through enhanced coastal clean up. The project involves purchasing a new engine for their boat, allowing them to cover a larger area of coast, as well as purchasing improved PPE, so activities can take place all year round. This will have environmental and social impacts on local communities.

St Patrick’s Primary School will now be able to refurbish the school hall so it can open up to a wider variety of community activities, as well as providing a better facility for the students at the school, for sport, assemblies, lunches and other activities.

Finally, St Patrick's Hall Committee is to build on the long term strategy for the hall to help broaden the range of activities offered and make the building a sustainable community facility.

The project will firstly draught-proof and insulate the building, creating a better, healthier environment for users, whilst reducing energy bills and associated costs. Roof repairs form part of this project as well as refurbishment of two back corridors.