SOS funding to unlock rural enterprises in Ballymoney

Rural communities in the Ballymoney area are being reminded that grants of up to £50,000 are being offered to start up community business ventures that will breathe new life into their areas.

The money comes from the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS scheme, which aims to inspire a rural revival across the UK and support rural communities that may be struggling with issues such as isolation, ageing populations, and the closure of local amenities.

The Big Lottery Fund is urging rural communities with populations of less than 3,000 in the Ballymoney area and across Northern Ireland to the make the most of the funding scheme before it closes on 12 September.

Grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 are available to help rural communities with less than 3,000 people develop plans for enterprising projects that will answer a local need or improve services for local people. Projects could be anything from community-run shops and pubs to energy or transport schemes, craft or food projects.

People in the Ballymoney area and across Northern Ireland can register at www.villagesos.org.uk where they will find more information and advice about community enterprises, including an online support network. Application forms for the funding are available on the website now.

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “I would urge communities in the Ballymoney area and across Northern Ireland to explore this unique opportunity to get funding and support to start up a community run enterprise which will revive their local area and help buck the trend of rural decline.”