Write a commentCrossmaglen and District Community First Responders is amongst the 93 groups across Northern Ireland who are sharing £793,502 from The National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All programme.
The organisation runs a 24/7 service in the Crossmaglen area for people who have called emergency services and are experiencing chest pain, collapse, stroke or cardiac arrest. They are using a £9,600 grant to buy new first responder kits and defibrillators.
An Tobar CIC, based in Silverbridge outside Newry, uses nature to help people improve their health and wellbeing. They are using a grant of £9,980 to run a programme of social therapeutic horticulture for older women and people with learning disabilities in south Armagh to help combat loneliness and isolation and to encourage people to be more active outdoors.
Cullyhanna Senior Citizens Club are using a £5,095 grant to run a programme of activities including flower arranging, knitting and crochet, as well as summer and Christmas outings and an anniversary dinner to celebrate the group’s 30th year.
Newtownhamilton Community Association used a grant of £9,972 to run a range of summer activities, including a cooking programme and a social trip, and to buy equipment to support their work with the local community.
Newtownhamilton District and Community First Responders provides emergency support for people in the Newtownhamilton area who have called the emergency services and are waiting for an ambulance or paramedics to arrive. They are using a £9,660 grant to buy new kit bags, defibrillators, hi-vis vests and lanyards.
Mullaglass Primary School, based outside Newry, is using a grant of £10,000 to install a Recobox outdoor classroom to support children to learn more about wildlife, insects and endangered species.
Kidzone, based in Bessbrook, runs afterschool care for children aged four to 12. They are using a £8,060 grant to run an educational life skills programme including sessions on physical activity, nutrition and healthy eating, cookery and emotional wellbeing. They are also developing a vegetable garden for children to grow their own food and learn about the environment.
Markethill Community Festival Committee runs an annual festival for the local community that involves a number of events to bring local people together. They are using a £9,987 grant to buy a barbecue, two hotplates and a gazebo and to cover other expenses like venue hire, entertainment artists, first aid, and bus hire for an outing for local older people. They are also running workshops including pastel art, straw craft, and card-making.
Also receiving funding are Silverbridge Harps GAC. The club, based outside Newry, is using a £9,865 grant to build a steel workshop on the club’s grounds. The workshop will be the main premises of a new men’s shed project, which will use crafts to bring local men to come together, build relationships and learn new skills.
Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Director, said: “I am delighted to announce these grants today to projects supporting people across Northern Ireland. They are using the funding in diverse ways but the common thread is that they are all being led by local people who are using National Lottery money to develop great ideas to help their communities thrive.
“Small pots of funding from National Lottery Awards for All are bringing people together to make good things happen. I want to say thanks to all the National Lottery players who have helped make this possible.”
Application forms and guidance notes are available to download at www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk. For more details call us on 028 9055 1455, or e-mail us at enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
