Young and old alike across Counties Armagh and Down will reap the benefits of the latest round of Awards for All funding from the National Lottery.
Among the projects is a new outdoor play area and sensory garden at St Mary’s Primary School in Granemore.
The Parent Teacher Association made an application for funding and was awarded £10,000 to provide this very welcome addition for the children.
At the same time, Rainbow Stop Playgroup in Markethill has been awarded a £6,389 grant to provide an interactive outdoor play area which includes a climbing frame, playhouse, mats and bicycles.
St Catherine’s College in Armagh has been granted £10,000. This money will help provide mental health training for six members of staff to support a variety of issues faced by students.
A similar amount goes to Carnagh Border Association to replace the old floor in its hall to make it safer so activities can continue to take place.
Bawn Bunnies Playgroup – which provides pre-school education in Hamiltonsbawn Primary – is receiving £9,306 to buy equipment, toys, furniture and storage equipment.
Acton Rural Regeneration Group provides activities to reduce social isolation and the local economy. It is using a £10,000 grant to make improvements to the group’s community hall and buy equipment.
Bannfoot Golden Star LOL 27, which is based in a rural area near Craigavon, receives a £10,000 grant to create a multi-purpose tarmac area for children and adults to use for social and recreational activities.
Bannvalley Community Anglers provides support and social activities in Banbridge and maintains a stretch of river to hold activities. A £10,000 grant will help improve activity facilities.
Derrytrasna Playgroup is being given £1,678 to buy new equipment to improve their breakfast club and after-school’s facilities.
Maghery-based Diamond Senior Citizens Club provides activities and support for older people to improve their health and wellbeing. They are using a £6,571 grant to provide trips, activities, and workshops, including complementary therapies and fitness classes.
Stramore Community Association, based in Gilford, manages a community hall and provides activities. They received a £9,474 grant to upgrade their lighting system.
And Portadown Rotary Club, which works with young people and the wider community, received a £1,900 grant to buy audio visual and PA equipment to be used at meetings and community events.
Kingsmills Primary School was awarded £3,800 to provide storage facilities for parent and toddler resources, while St Brigid’s (Drumilly) Primary School received £9,358 to install an outdoor play facility which will be used outside classroom time.
St Patrick’s Parish Church in Newry provides an activities club for older members of the community called Silver Lights. It is using a £5,534 grant to run a series of recreational and health activities, and trips for members aged over 60.
A total of 81 groups across Northern Ireland shared in a £693,192 windfall rom Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programm.
Julie Harrison, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “I am delighted to announce these grants under the Awards for All programme and I want to say thanks to all the National Lottery players who have helped make this possible.
“Awards for All 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 enquiries.ni@biglotteryfund.org.uk
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