Over 700 Groups To Benefit From Volunteering Small Grants Programme

More than 700 voluntary groups are to share funding of £600,000 under the 2016/17 Volunteering Small Grants Programme, Communities Minister Paul Givan has announced.

The Volunteering Small Grants Programme provides grants of between £200 and £1,200 to help organisations throughout Northern Ireland recruit and support volunteers.

Announcing the funding, Minister Givan said: "The value of volunteering in our society cannot be overstated and I am delighted to announce that 727 voluntary and community organisations have been successful in sharing £600,000 from the Programme. I hope this goes some way to assist the significant contribution to society made by so many dedicated volunteering groups throughout Northern Ireland.

"The Voluntary and Community Sector has a vital role in identifying and in addressing issues of social justice and equality, and in protecting and promoting the value of our environment. The NI Executive and the Voluntary and Community Sector will continue to work together through their shared vision to improve the quality of life for people here by building a participative, peaceful, equitable and inclusive community in NI.

"Volunteering brings many benefits to individuals and communities across Northern Ireland. I would encourage people to get involved in volunteering to help communities, as well as experiencing a sense of achievement and personal fulfilment that volunteering can bring," added the Minister.

The aim of the Volunteering Small Grants Programme is to increase diversity within volunteering in Northern Ireland, based on four objectives:

• To increase volunteer activity by groups under-represented in the volunteering population, including people not in paid work;

• To increase the number of new volunteers;

• To promote innovative methods of recruiting new volunteers; and

• To promote innovative methods of engaging with and supporting both new and existing volunteers.

(MH/LM)