Groups in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon borough awarded funding to improve the wellbeing of the local community
The National Lottery Community Fund has announced funding to projects in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon areas.
This is part of an announcement of £5 million of National Lottery funding to 89 groups across Northern Ireland.
One of the organisations receiving funding is 1st Annaghmore Boys Brigade which is using a £2,000 grant to buy new equipment to allow their members to socialise in a safe environment, improve wellbeing, build friendships and learn new skills.
Portadown 2000 (Millennium Court) has also been awarded a £10,000 grant to refurbish the group’s gallery space to provide an enhanced youth and community space to bring people together and improve their wellbeing.
Royal Blue Masonic Lodge 173 in Loughbrickland received a £10,000 grant to make improvements to their hall to allow them to provide more activities to bring the community together and reduce social isolation.
Blackwater Community Barge also recently received funding from ‘Places Called Home,’ a UK-wide £1.5m pilot programme from The National Lottery Community Fund and IKEA UK to help people get involved in their community, create shared spaces and promote sustainable living.
Blackwater Community Barge were awarded £1,886 to support newcomers to the country to make connections in the local area, through going out on a wheely boat on the river together and sampling foods from different cultures.
Andrew Trotter from Blackwater Community Barge explained: “The aim of this project is very simple – to give people new to the area a better understanding of Northern Ireland and our culture and to give our local members a better understanding of the cultures of those from Eastern Europe, all while building friendships and having a bit of craic.
“Thanks to this funding, we’re delighted to have the chance to bring people together, strengthen the community in the area and improve wellbeing.”
Thanks to National Lottery players more than £30 million a week is raised for good causes across the UK like these. The vast majority of grants awarded are for smaller amounts of under £10,000, going to the heart of communities to make a big difference.
Paul Sweeney, The National Lottery Community Fund’s NI Chair, said: “I’m proud to see the amazing impact that money raised by National Lottery players is having in communities across Northern Ireland.
“This funding is supporting a diverse range of projects, who are meeting the needs in our local communities. I’m looking forward to seeing how these projects help people to rebuild and thrive.”
For more information on National Lottery funding visit our website www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/northern-ireland or social media.
