Applications are now open for the Housing Executive’s sixth annual Rural Housing Awards.
Since 2014, rural communities have had an opportunity to showcase how they’ve gone the extra mile to make their areas better places to live.
This year, there’s also a focus on how they have helped support residents throughout the Covid-19 lockdown period.
Two awards are open for application, which you can find online in the news section of the Housing Executive’s website at nihe.gov.uk
The Rural Community Spirit Award will acknowledge community groups working to improve the quality of life and wellbeing in their local area.
Also, the Community Champion Award will recognise those individuals whose vision and sacrifices makes a difference in their neighbourhood.
Winning groups will receive a prize fund of up to £1,000, which should be used to support and extend activities or projects which benefit the community.
Members of the Middletown Community Forum collect the Cleaner and Greener Rural Community Award 2019 for a Small Village
Each of these awards have two categories, one for villages with a population of less than 1,000 and one for villages with between 1,000 and 5,000 residents.
The closing date for applications is 4pm Friday 11th September 2020.
Commenting on the success of the awards, the Housing Executive’s Rural and Regeneration Manager, Sinead Collins said: “Over the last few years we have witnessed so many wonderful programmes and schemes brought to our attention through this competition.
“The sense of community in rural areas is always admirable and we look forward to seeing the great work these communities have carried out over the last year, especially through these challenging times.”
“We are also running an online campaign from 3-14 August to promote the essential contribution social housing makes to individuals and communities across Northern Ireland.
“If you think that #RuralHomesNI are important sign up to the campaign and follow us on social media.”
