Lottery cash for local groups

Benvarden Craft Friendship Group, based near Ballybogey, has received a £9,581 grant from the Awards for All programme.

They work to promote arts and crafts and educate local people on health and social wellbeing issues. They are using the grant to improve and update equipment so they can better provide their services.

The group is one of four organisations in the Ballymoney area sharing in a total of £25,215 from Awards for All. It is part of a Big Lottery Fund grants windfall of £769,369 to 91 groups across Northern Ireland.

Dunloy Development Association improves quality of life for residents and provide services for local people. They also received £7,155 to facilitate the Active 3G Club which provides a luncheon club for members, health related activities such as yoga, armchair aerobics, talks on health related issues, walking and gardening activities.

Ballymoney Royal British Legion has been awarded £10,000 to upgrade their facilities so that they can be used for more community activities and events.

Meanwhile, Tullaghans Sons of Liberty Flute Band have been awarded £7,479 for intergenerational events including family fun days, dances, a cultural evening and a series of trips to Derry/Londonderry to reduce social isolation and to increase understanding betrween generations.

Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director, said: “The Big Lottery Fund’s NI Awards for All programme 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 are available www.biglotteryfund.org.uk. Call 028 9055 1455 or e-mail [email protected]