151203 Christmas Comes Early for Local Groups - Community Fund announces £1.5 million

The grants make up the latest round of funding awarded by the Community Fund, the lottery distributor to the community and voluntary sector, bringing the Fund’s total awards in Northern Ireland to a huge £114 million over the last 8 years.

The funding supports a wide variety of community groups working directly with people in need in Northern Ireland.

The largest award went to East Belfast Independent Advice Centre, an organization that provides a specialist advice and information service to the local community. Funding of £137,479 will allow the organization to continue to provide free, confidential and independent advice to disadvantaged communities in East Belfast, offering practical support and assistance to those most in need. The grant, over 2 years, will support the salaries of a manager and outreach advice worker, information production, staff and volunteer training and travel and associated project costs.
Another of the successful groups, Newbuildings Community and Environmental Association, received £40,035 to support its work in developing local community infrastructure, through education, training and health services. The grant, over 2 years, will fund the salary of a community development officer.

REACH Across was awarded £75,655 to promote cross-community contact and provide opportunities for skills training and personal development courses for disadvantaged young people in L’Derry. The grant, over two years, will support the salary of a youth co-coordinator, training for young people, staff and volunteers and associated project costs.

Older people were also recognized in the round of awards, with grants totaling £234,149. Northern Ireland Council on Ageing was awarded £109,394 to employ information and advice staff. The funding will allow the organisation to provide a confidential specialist advice and information service for older people, their families and carers, and others concerned with their welfare. Age Concern Cookstown were given £124,755 to develop their services for disabled older people. Funding will pay for the salaries of a development manager and a project officer and go towards kitchen equipment, training and travel for staff and volunteers and producing information.

Dove House Community Trust received £79,770 to continue its outreach service to the local community in L’Derry, providing advice and information on issues such as health, housing, employment, benefits and debt advice. The grant, over three years, is for the salary of an outreach worker. Funding will also pay other project costs, including producing information and training and travel for staff and volunteers.

Limavady group, Glenshane Care Association Limited, was awarded £72,487 to provide a locally based day-care centre for disabled people. The centre will deliver health care and promotion programmes in a way that is most effective and supports the disabled person, their carers and families. The grant, over three years, is for the salary of a project manager, training and travel for staff and volunteers and associated project costs.

Professor Jimmy Kearney OBE, Community Fund NI Chair, congratulated the funded groups. ‘Community Fund is delighted to be able to support such a variety of excellent projects in this round of awards. Today’s announcement once again shows how lottery money can make a difference to people’s lives in Northern Ireland, improving the quality of life and having a lasting impact on people at a local level.’

He went on to say, ‘Although our diminishing funds – and a high level of demand – mean that we can fund fewer applications than in the past, we are as committed as ever to supporting projects which combat disadvantage and improve lives in communities across Northern Ireland. I would like to pay tribute to the staff and volunteers involved in these projects – all of today’s successful groups are delivering high quality projects that respond to a clearly identified need in the local community.’

The Community Fund continues to be the biggest independent funder of voluntary sector and community activity in Northern Ireland.

Notes to Editors

Community Fund gives out money raised by the National Lottery to charities, voluntary and community groups. Out of every £1 spent on the National Lottery the Community Fund gets 4.7 pence.
Since 1995 Community Fund has awarded over £114 million to more than 2,000 charities and voluntary groups in Northern Ireland.
The legal name of the Community Fund remains the National Lottery Charities Board. The National Lottery Charities Board was set up in 1994 and changed its operation name to Community Fund – Lottery money making a difference in April 2001.
Next year the Community Fund is to merge with the New Opportunities Fund in advance of creating a new National Lottery distributor that will administer 50 per cent of all good cause funding. The merger will not affect current programmes, beneficiaries or applications. Further details on the new lottery distributor are expected to be available in Spring 2004.
The New Opportunities Fund distributes National Lottery money to health, education and environment projects across the UK. We intend to support sustainable projects that will improve the quality of life of people throughout the UK, address the needs of those who are most disadvantaged in society, encourage community participation and complement relevant local and national strategies and programmes. (Funding for programmes is divided between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on the basis of population weighted to reflect levels of deprivation).

	15 December 2003 Christmas Comes Early for Local Groups - Community Fund announces £1.5 million Lottery windfall to Northern Ireland
	Nineteen charitable groups and voluntary organisations throughout Northern Ireland are today celebrating the news that their applications to the Community Fund for Lottery funding have been successful. The grants make up the latest round of funding awarded by the Community Fund, the lottery distributor to the community and voluntary sector, bringing the Fund’s total awards in Northern Ireland to a huge £114 million over the last 8 years. The funding supports a wide variety of community groups working directly with people in need in Northern Ireland. The largest award went to East Belfast Independent Advice Centre, an organization that provides a specialist advice and information service to the local community. Funding of £137,479 will allow the organization to continue to provide free, confidential and independent advice to disadvantaged communities in East Belfast, offering practical support and assistance to those most in need. The grant, over 2 years, will support the salaries of a manager and outreach advice worker, information production, staff and volunteer training and travel and associated project costs. Another of the successful groups, Newbuildings Community and Environmental Association, received £40,035 to support its work in developing local community infrastructure, through education, training and health services. The grant, over 2 years, will fund the salary of a community development officer. REACH Across was awarded £75,655 to promote cross-community contact and provide opportunities for skills training and personal development courses for disadvantaged young people in L’Derry. The grant, over two years, will support the salary of a youth co-coordinator, training for young people, staff and volunteers and associated project costs. Older people were also recognized in the round of awards, with grants totaling £234,149. Northern Ireland Council on Ageing was awarded £109,394 to employ information and advice staff. The funding will allow the organisation to provide a confidential specialist advice and information service for older people, their families and carers, and others concerned with their welfare. Age Concern Cookstown were given £124,755 to develop their services for disabled older people. Funding will pay for the salaries of a development manager and a project officer and go towards kitchen equipment, training and travel for staff and volunteers and producing information. Dove House Community Trust received £79,770 to continue its outreach service to the local community in L’Derry, providing advice and information on issues such as health, housing, employment, benefits and debt advice. The grant, over three years, is for the salary of an outreach worker. Funding will also pay other project costs, including producing information and training and travel for staff and volunteers. Limavady group, Glenshane Care Association Limited, was awarded £72,487 to provide a locally based day-care centre for disabled people. The centre will deliver health care and promotion programmes in a way that is most effective and supports the disabled person, their carers and families. The grant, over three years, is for the salary of a project manager, training and travel for staff and volunteers and associated project costs. Professor Jimmy Kearney OBE, Community Fund NI Chair, congratulated the funded groups. ‘Community Fund is delighted to be able to support such a variety of excellent projects in this round of awards. Today’s announcement once again shows how lottery money can make a difference to people’s lives in Northern Ireland, improving the quality of life and having a lasting impact on people at a local level.’ He went on to say, ‘Although our diminishing funds – and a high level of demand – mean that we can fund fewer applications than in the past, we are as committed as ever to supporting projects which combat disadvantage and improve lives in communities across Northern Ireland. I would like to pay tribute to the staff and volunteers involved in these projects – all of today’s successful groups are delivering high quality projects that respond to a clearly identified need in the local community.’ The Community Fund continues to be the biggest independent funder of voluntary sector and community activity in Northern Ireland. Notes to Editors Community Fund gives out money raised by the National Lottery to charities, voluntary and community groups. Out of every £1 spent on the National Lottery the Community Fund gets 4.7 pence. Since 1995 Community Fund has awarded over £114 million to more than 2,000 charities and voluntary groups in Northern Ireland. The legal name of the Community Fund remains the National Lottery Charities Board. The National Lottery Charities Board was set up in 1994 and changed its operation name to Community Fund – Lottery money making a difference in April 2001. Next year the Community Fund is to merge with the New Opportunities Fund in advance of creating a new National Lottery distributor that will administer 50 per cent of all good cause funding. The merger will not affect current programmes, beneficiaries or applications. Further details on the new lottery distributor are expected to be available in Spring 2004. The New Opportunities Fund distributes National Lottery money to health, education and environment projects across the UK. We intend to support sustainable projects that will improve the quality of life of people throughout the UK, address the needs of those who are most disadvantaged in society, encourage community participation and complement relevant local and national strategies and programmes. (Funding for programmes is divided between England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on the basis of population weighted to reflect levels of deprivation).		For more information or a full list of awards made, please contact Jess Manning on 028 9055 1455.