NI groups gain lottery windfall

Almost £800,000 has been awarded to 188 community projects across the province under the National Lottery’s 'Awards for All' small grants scheme.

The grants, totalling £790,443, will benefit a variety of organisations including small community groups, schools and charities, sports clubs, arts projects and heritage schemes. The Awards for All contribution to communities will go even further now that the ceiling for individual grants has been increased to £10,000.

The Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) in Belfast has received almost £10,000 to help women from disadvantaged areas become community facilitators.

Margaret Ward of the WRDA said: “It’s about training women to believe they can make a difference and make their voices heard in a society where the decision-making is still male dominated.”

Marie Louise McAllister from Anderstonstown has recently completed a facilitator’s and a counselling course through the agency.

“I wanted to do something rather than just get a job in a shop or something - I thought it would be good to put something back into the community,” she said.

PAPA – Parents and Professionals and Autism in Antrim has received almost £5,000 to deliver information workshops to carers and parents of adolescent children with the condition.

Lincoln Courts Youth and Community Association in Londonderry received £6,892 to fund a summer scheme for local youngsters.

Chamber music ensemble Camerata Ireland received £10,000 towards the Clandeboye Young Musician of the Year event being held in Bangor this month where The Young Musician of the Year will be chosen from those taking part.

Awards for All Programme Manager Punam McGookin said: “The Awards for All programme, supported by Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sports Council for Northern Ireland is making a huge impact in local communities. We are delighted to see the first grants being awarded since the grant size was increased to £10,000.

“The wide variety of projects announced today are sure to bring positive changes to the lives of local people across Northern Ireland.”

(SP)