Con Magees GAC, All Stars celebration event for adults with additional needs.
The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded funding to organisations in Mid and East Antrim and across County Antrim in their latest round of funding, helping improve the lives of people of all ages and abilities.
This includes Con Magees GAC, Glenravel, which received an £18,353 grant over two years to run activity programmes for older people and adults with learning and physical disabilities. Activities will include day trips, craft workshops and exercise sessions, to improve mental and physical wellbeing.
Maire O’Loan, Club Coordinator, said:
“We’re delighted to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. Our project will continue to bring the community together thereby enabling and enhancing friendships and social inclusion.
“We are excited to bring new programmes such as drumming and yoga to our All Stars club for adults with additional needs and Tuesday Morning Club. Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund and National Lottery players for making our project possible.”
Also receiving funding in the local area are Harryville Men’s Shed, 5th Larne Guide Unit, Inter-Ethnic Forum (Mid and East Antrim), and Women's Aid Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey.
These grant awards come as The National Lottery Community Fund announced a new multi-million pound funding programme, ‘Strengthening Communities,’ to support people in greatest need, investing £20 million each year across Northern Ireland.
Strengthening Communities is different from previous programmes delivered by The Fund, as it will award grants to projects that focus on preventing problems before they arise and prioritise those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. It will also support people to fulfil their potential, be more involved in their communities and improve their lives.
This new programme comes from The Fund’s strategy to 2030, ‘It starts with community,’ and will start by targeting two of its mission areas: help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.
Multi-year grants of up to £500,000 will be available and it will open to applications on Monday 21 October 2024. Organisations applying will be expected to show how their project has made a difference and how they will measure that impact.
Paul Sweeney, Northern Ireland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, announcing this new programme, said:
“We’re delighted to launch Strengthening Communities, which takes the best of what we’ve done before and builds on our work to make communities stronger, healthier and more inclusive.
“We want to fund projects, led by communities, that focus on early intervention and building strength – equipping people with the skills, networks and resources to protect them from adverse experiences and break negative cycles. We know that this type of preventative support works best.
“I want to pay tribute to all the National Lottery funded projects, like these awarded in Mid and East Antrim, that continue to step up for communities to support people in need. We look forward to working with them and seeing what can be achieved.”
This year marks 30 years since the first National Lottery draw in 1994, and thanks to those who play the games and raise £30 million for good causes each week, £786 million has been awarded to communities across Northern Ireland over this time.
Groups with ideas for funding are encouraged to get in touch to discuss their idea on 028 9055 1455 or email enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk.
For more information on all funding available from The National Lottery Community Fund visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/NorthernIreland.
MID AND EAST ANTRIM
• C21 Theatre Company Ltd
Awarded £187,347
C21 Theatre Company, which is based in Newtownabbey, is using a £187,347 grant to work with 14 care homes across Northern Ireland to support older people to tell their stories, feel valued and have a voice. Over two years the project will deliver reminiscence sessions with residents and capture their memories on film, in print and in photographs. Their life stories will be celebrated at events with families and staff. The project will reduce isolation, improve health and wellbeing, and provide training and resources for staff to deliver similar reminiscence work in the future.
• Harryville Men’s Shed
£3,635
Harryville Men’s Shed in Ballymena is using a £3,635 grant over two years to buy three Beehives for Harryville Community Garden and teach members to produce honey for the local community.
• Con Magees GAC Glenravel
£18,353
Con Magees GAC Glenravel is using an £18,353 grant over two years to run activity programmes for older people and adults with learning and physical disabilities. Activities will include day trips, craft workshops and exercise sessions, to improve mental and physical wellbeing.
• Inter-Ethnic Forum (Mid and East Antrim)
£20,000
Inter-Ethnic Forum (Mid and East Antrim), based in Ballymena, is using a £20,000 grant over two years to support to the local Roma community to feel more connected. The project will provide interpreters to help them access services and information about safety, health and the local community.
• Women's Aid Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey
£20,000
Women’s Aid Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey is using a £20,000 grant over one year to provide staff training. The project will allow staff to support women and children to address the impact of domestic abuse and empower themselves to shape their futures.
CAUSEWAY COAST AND GLENS
• The Giving Shed Helping Others, Cloughmills
£11,598
The Giving Shed Helping Others, based in Cloughmills, is using an £11,598 grant over one year to run training workshops a monthly drop-in centre for people affected by the rising cost of living. The project will offer essential items including clothes, food, and toiletries.
• Portballintrae Residents Association
£15,903
Portballintrae Residents Association is using a £15,903 grant over two years to run wellbeing activities for the local community. The project includes a winter lunch club, seasonal events, outings, art classes and group litter picking.
• Compass Advocacy Network Ltd, Ballymoney
£451,183
CAN (Compass Advocacy Network) in Ballymoney is using a £451,183 grant to run activities for adults with learning disabilities, autism and other neurodiverse conditions, to develop connections, reduce isolation and improve wellbeing. Over five years the project will provide opportunities for people to take part in mainstream social and leisure activities where they can develop skills and feel part of their local community, while giving carers valuable respite time at evenings and weekends. The project includes peer mentoring and support to develop and maintain friendships, and bespoke activities for small groups of people with complex needs to help them form friendship circles.
• Ballymoney Evergreen Club
£19,905
Ballymoney Evergreen Club is using a £19,905 grant over two years to run activities to reduce isolation for older people. The project includes a luncheon club, creative workshops, physical activity sessions and outings.
• Articlave District Community Association
£10,650
Articlave District Community Association is using a £10,650 grant over one year to buy equipment and run a programme of activities to bring the community together. The project includes craft workshops, community fun days and seasonal events.
ANTRIM AND NEWTOWNABBEY
• BAEMA Education CIC
£20,000
BAEMA Education CIC, which is based in Newtownabbey, is using a £20,000 grant over one year to run digital art workshops for young people with additional needs. The activities will take place in Belfast, Omagh, Pomeroy and Enniskillen, and will build confidence and creativity while allowing the young people to express themselves.
• Crumlin United Football & Social Club
£20,000
Crumlin United Football Club is using a £20,000 grant over one year to install solar panels and battery storage to reduce their energy bills and make them more sustainable. The project will put the money saved on bills, into community outreach groups.
• Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens
£6,900
Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens is using a £6,900 grant over two years to run a programme of gardening, health and nutrition workshops, to improve the health and wellbeing of their volunteers and help them learn new skills.
• Homeless Connect
£20,000
Homeless Connect, which is based in Mallusk, is using a £20,000 grant over one year to provide second hand furniture packs for people moving from a homelessness situation into a tenancy. The project will improve wellbeing, help people make their house feel like a home, and enable longer term tenancy.