Lottery boost for community

It is part of a Big Lottery Fund grants roll out of £847,374 to 101 groups across Northern Ireland including £58,202 for projects in the Ballymoney area.

Ballymoney and District Cultural and Heritage Society works in partnership with a wide range of local community groups to explore the culture of differing traditions. They are using the £9,990 to provide a five day intergenerational festival commemorating historical events including the 1916 Rising and the First World War.

Ballycastle Town Market C.I.C. delivers an independent community managed artisan market in NI. They are using the £9,092 grant to involve more people from the community by using the markets in Ballycastle, Ballymoney, and Limavady to provide a platform for local musicians, food producers entertainers to promote community cohesion.

Cloughmills Cultural and Historical Society provides facilities for five community groups and delivers community events and activities including arts and crafts, and bowling for senior citizens. They are using the £1,525 grant for a coach trip to historical sites in Counties Tyrone and Armagh for older people in the area.

Pride of The Park Flute Band develops and promotes Ulster-Scots music, culture and of Armoy. They are using the £9,946 grant to deliver a series of events and activities throughout the year for all in the village to take part in, including knitting, paintballing, boxercise, and fitness classes and an Ulster-Scots Cultural night in November.

Tapp Friens Community Group promotes the health and well-being of the local rural community near Ballymoney. They are using the £9,415 to provide events and activities including complementary therapies, arts and crafts and IT classes and venue hire. They are also using it to provide a trip to the Titanic Centre in Belfast, and an Old Time Dance afternoon.

Cloughmills Golden Oldies provides social and recreational opportunities for older people living in Cloughmills and the surrounding area. They are using the £8,235 for a range of social and educational activities including arts and crafts and day trips. They are also providing wheelchair battery packs to enhance the independence of members who are wheelchair users.

Ullans Speakers Association in Ballymoney promotes the Ulster Scots language within the North Antrim area. They are using the £9,999 grant for a range of events and activities and also provide IT equipment.

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Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director said: “The Big Lottery Fund’s NI Awards for All programme funds health, education, environment and community projects that help people bring about positive change in their lives, improve health and well-being, develop skills and create safer communities.

“The application process is simple and accessible and shall remain so, making it easy for applicants to successfully apply for small pots of funding that can have such a big impact on local communities and lives.”

Application forms and guidance notes are available to download at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk. For more details call us on 028 9055 1455, or e-mail us at [email protected].