17/04/2007

NI youth benefit from £1.4m lottery windfall

Innovative projects developed by young people to tackle a range of issues including social exclusion, street violence and alcohol abuse will benefit from a £1.4 million grants windfall.

The grants, totalling £1,459,487, have been announced under the Big Lottery Fund’s ground-breaking Change UR Future programme which will distribute £10.8 million to improve the lives of young people across Northern Ireland.

The 10 successful projects being awarded funding include programmes to tackle rioting, violence and alcohol abuse among young people on the streets of Belfast.

Other programmes will help those at risk of being excluded from education or society and will help those young people dealing with drug and alcohol abuse.

Paul Cavanagh, Chair of the Young People’s Fund Committee, explained how young people were at the centre of creating and delivering the successful projects announced today.

He said: “The Big Lottery Fund is working closely with young people to deliver the Change UR Future programme. A number of young people sit on our decision-making committee and the successful projects announced today clearly demonstrated that young people are at the heart of designing, developing and implementing the programmes.

“I am delighted to be announcing this round of projects which are helping young people be healthy, contribute to their community and overcome economic disadvantage by funding activities that will make a real difference to their lives.”

(JM/KMcA)

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