Community organisations in Mid and East Antrim welcome National Lottery funding

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced £4,978,381 of grants benefiting 117 community projects, supporting people across Northern Ireland, including eight projects in the Mid and East Antrim area.

This includes awarding groups who are tackling local issues such as helping communities connect and gain new skills, improve mental health and provide activities to reduce isolation and loneliness.

One of the groups funded is LoveHope&Faith based in Ballymena. The group is using a £10,000 grant to provide a retreat programme for families who have a child with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus.

The programme will offer short respite breaks in a fully adapted lodge in Bushmills, where they can enjoy the comfort of the lodge, the scenery and quality time as a family.

Ballymena Substance User Support Group has been awarded an £8,130 grant to provide long term support to adults who are at various stages of addiction recovery.

Support includes weekly meetings, one to one counselling, community pharmacist support and a guest speaker programme, which aims to increase mental and physical health of people recovering from addiction.

Access Employment Limited in Larne also received a £500,000 grant to continue delivering their successful Transitions programme which provides work experience, learning and social opportunities for young people with learning disabilities or learning difficulties.

Over five years the project will help the young people to gain life skills, qualifications and work experience enabling them to build their communication skills and confidence and make more informed decisions about their future progression after school.

Also receiving funding in the area are Cairncastle LOL 692, Carrickfergus and Larne Child Contact Centre, Glenarm LOL 1121, The Braid Development Group and The Ulster Grenadiers Flute Band.

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 impact every day that our funded projects have across communities in Northern Ireland.

“These new grants are supporting a diverse range of projects, who are meeting the needs of people, helping them to rebuild and thrive.”

For more information on National Lottery funding visit the link below:

www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/northern-ireland or social media.