110403 Community Fund cash boost in Northern Ireland

The awards support local groups in carrying out their work in the community - responding directly to needs identified by the groups and communities themselves. Projects helping older people, carers, children, families and disabled people are just a few of the many kinds of work supported by the Community Fund.

The latest grant announcement brings the total amount distributed in Northern Ireland to more than £109 million in the 7 years since the Community Fund was first set up. The grants illustrate once again the diversity of groups who benefit from funding by the lottery distributor for the community and voluntary sector.

A number of the grants announced support projects working with disabled people, an area of work of particular relevance during 2003 - European Year of Disabled People. The awards are also in clear support of the Community Fund's commitment to its current local priority groups - older people, children and young people, disabled people and ethnic minority groups.

The largest grant of £179,301 goes to the Belfast branch of Shopmobility, providing vital funding support to the organisation helping people with mobility problems access the city's shopping facilities (pictured). The grant, over three years, will go towards salaries of key staff and training, information and other expenses.

Alzheimer's Societies in both Belfast and Omagh receive grants totalling £137,918 to help work with people with dementia and to support informal carers. The funding will help prove accurate information and advice at all stages of the disease by providing an outreach worker to conduct outreach visits, drop-in facilities and run a carer education programme.

The Children's Law Centre will benefit from a grant of £165,356 to provide a free-phone legal advice line to all children throughout Northern Ireland.

Mid Ulster Community and Arts Association in Omagh receive £80,000 to refurbish and equip the local community resource centre, while Upper Springfield Development Company Ltd will benefit from £170,625 to help increase inclusion of disabled people into everyday community life. The award will help the Belfast group employ a programme manager, project officer, 3 befrienders and also fund consultancy, training and advice.

A grant of £127,383 goes to the Hilltop and Glenluce Care Ltd to help them in the delivery of a range of practical support services for disabled people, older people and carers in Belfast.

Strabane Community Development Project received £44,715 to support a 'Good Morning, Strabane Calling' service for older people, providing daily contact to vulnerable people living alone in both urban and rural areas.

Other grants range from support for the Diamond Voluntary Group in Craigavon, awarded £18,120 towards refurbishment of their premises and computers for their IT classes, to £56,578 to Strabane & District Aging Well Network to employ a volunteer coordinator.

Professor Jimmy Kearney, Chairman of the Community Fund in Northern Ireland congratulated all the successful groups. He said; "These awards are made to projects which are dedicated to enhancing the services of the voluntary sector as well creating positive change in the communities they serve.

"In the Community Fund we see many very worthy bids for funds. We cannot meet all the requests but we are delighted to be able to commit almost £1million to help these very good causes."

	11 April 2003 Community Fund cash boost in Northern Ireland
	Awards totalling nearly £1 million to 10 local voluntary and community groups were today announced by the Community Fund in Northern Ireland. The awards support local groups in carrying out their work in the community - responding directly to needs identified by the groups and communities themselves. Projects helping older people, carers, children, families and disabled people are just a few of the many kinds of work supported by the Community Fund. The latest grant announcement brings the total amount distributed in Northern Ireland to more than £109 million in the 7 years since the Community Fund was first set up. The grants illustrate once again the diversity of groups who benefit from funding by the lottery distributor for the community and voluntary sector. A number of the grants announced support projects working with disabled people, an area of work of particular relevance during 2003 - European Year of Disabled People. The awards are also in clear support of the Community Fund's commitment to its current local priority groups - older people, children and young people, disabled people and ethnic minority groups. The largest grant of £179,301 goes to the Belfast branch of Shopmobility, providing vital funding support to the organisation helping people with mobility problems access the city's shopping facilities (pictured). The grant, over three years, will go towards salaries of key staff and training, information and other expenses. Alzheimer's Societies in both Belfast and Omagh receive grants totalling £137,918 to help work with people with dementia and to support informal carers. The funding will help prove accurate information and advice at all stages of the disease by providing an outreach worker to conduct outreach visits, drop-in facilities and run a carer education programme. The Children's Law Centre will benefit from a grant of £165,356 to provide a free-phone legal advice line to all children throughout Northern Ireland. Mid Ulster Community and Arts Association in Omagh receive £80,000 to refurbish and equip the local community resource centre, while Upper Springfield Development Company Ltd will benefit from £170,625 to help increase inclusion of disabled people into everyday community life. The award will help the Belfast group employ a programme manager, project officer, 3 befrienders and also fund consultancy, training and advice. A grant of £127,383 goes to the Hilltop and Glenluce Care Ltd to help them in the delivery of a range of practical support services for disabled people, older people and carers in Belfast. Strabane Community Development Project received £44,715 to support a 'Good Morning, Strabane Calling' service for older people, providing daily contact to vulnerable people living alone in both urban and rural areas. Other grants range from support for the Diamond Voluntary Group in Craigavon, awarded £18,120 towards refurbishment of their premises and computers for their IT classes, to £56,578 to Strabane & District Aging Well Network to employ a volunteer coordinator. Professor Jimmy Kearney, Chairman of the Community Fund in Northern Ireland congratulated all the successful groups. He said; "These awards are made to projects which are dedicated to enhancing the services of the voluntary sector as well creating positive change in the communities they serve. "In the Community Fund we see many very worthy bids for funds. We cannot meet all the requests but we are delighted to be able to commit almost £1million to help these very good causes." Notes for Editors 1. The Community Fund shares out money raised by the National Lottery to charities and to voluntary and community groups. Out of every £1 spent on the National Lottery the Community Fund gets 4.7 pence. 2. Community Fund is the operating name of the National Lottery Charities Board. We are one of the country's biggest funders of charities and voluntary groups. 3. Full details of programmes and funding information are available on our website at www.community-fund.org.uk.		For further information contact Jess Manning. Phone: 028 90551455 or email: [email protected]