Community groups in Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Lurgan, Portadown and Newry are celebrating after being awarded National Lottery funding.
Aghavilly Youth Club is amongst the 104 groups across Northern Ireland who are sharing £906,303 from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All programme.
The youth club, based outside Milford, are using a £3,300 grant to run horse riding, wood turning and kayaking classes for young people, as well as first aid and defibrillator training for staff and older club members. They’re also buying a laptop to support the club’s activities.
Kildarton LOL 540, based outside Armagh, are using a grant of £4,501 to buy tables and chairs for their hall to support the group’s community activities. They are also using the grant to run a family event to bring local people together.
Killylea Primary School is using a grant of £9,323 to bring different generations of the community together to share skills and learn from one another.
Pupils will share IT skills with older people and will in turn learn skills including knitting, cooking, and gardening. They are buying iPads and accessories to support this project.
Orchard Social Club for Visually Impaired People, based in Armagh, helps visually impaired people to meet and build their confidence.
They’re using a £4,000 grant to run day trips away and social events, including a day at the seaside, a Christmas dinner, visits to the theatre, and a mystery tour.
County Armagh Vintage Vehicle Club brings together isolated local people from Co Armagh to build relationships over a shared interest in vintage vehicles. They are using a £747 grant to run a trip to Belfast for members to visit the Titanic museum.
Banbridge Masonic Hall Committee is using a £9,680 grant to buy a defibrillator, wireless headphones and speakers for public events, a projector and screen, and tables and chairs. The new equipment will support the group’s work with the local community.
Magheralin Community Association provides activities for the local community in Magheralin, Craigavon. They’re using a £8,630 grant to run various activities, including stone carving, basket weaving, first aid, creative writing, and a children’s fun day.
St Anthony’s Primary School, based in Legahory in Craigavon, is using a grant of £10,000 to buy a Reco Box to support children to learn about the environment and spend time outdoors.
The Fitzone Foundation (main image), based in Craigavon, is using a grant of £8,850 to run a programme of health and wellbeing activities for local people. Activities will include cycling, walking, running and exercise classes as well as information sessions, cooking sessions and first aid classes.
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Clanbrassil Branch, based in Lurgan, is using a £5,955 grant to run a singing project for local people over the age of 50. They will bring people together to build relationships, celebrate local traditional songs, and learn traditional singing techniques.
LLT Womens Group, based in Laurencetown, brings together women from across the local area. They’re using a grant of £9,621 to deliver a range of events for group members and to help attract new members, including an art group, laughter yoga, mindfulness, and a food tour in Belfast.
Also receiving funding are Annaghmore/Eglish Regeneration and Development Association, based outside Portadown. They are using a £9,800 grant to run activities for local people.
This includes cookery classes, stress management sessions, wellbeing workshops, and a day trip to Enniskillen. They are also buying tables and chairs for their community centre.
Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Director, said: “I am delighted to announce these new grants. It’s great to see National Lottery money being used by people who are taking the lead in developing great ideas to help their communities thrive.
“Small pots of funding from National Lottery Awards for All are bringing people together to make good things happen. I want to say thanks to all the National Lottery players who have helped make this possible.”
Application forms and guidance notes are available to download at www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk. For more details call us on 028 9055 1455, or e-mail us at enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
