18 October 2000

Small groups enjoy record autumn Lottery share-out

A further 61 small charity and community groups from across Northern Ireland today heard that they are sharing almost £220,000 of National Lottery support funding.

The announcements come only a week after another 53 awards were announced at the Oxford Island Nature Centre, Craigavon, and bring the total autumn share-out to a record £429,286!

In today's round of Small Grants Scheme awards from the National Lottery Charities Board, the groups, working across the length and breadth of Northern Ireland, received a total of £219,067 to enhance the effectiveness of their work in improving the lives of others.

The recipients learned of their awards at a presentation at the new ECOS Millennium Environmental Centre at Ballymena, attended by the Mayor of the Borough, Councillor James Currie. Two National Lottery Charities Board Committee members, Professor Jimmy Kearney and Mr Patsy McShane were also present, together with their Chairman, Mr Noel Stewart.

Mr Stewart told the recipients that, like those announced in Craigavon last week, the grants were intended to recognise and further their very commendable efforts to 'make a difference' to the lives of the many for whom they cared.

And he said that the value placed on their work by the community was demonstrated by the fact that although National Lottery Charities Board was currently experiencing a reduction in funding, the Small Grants Scheme was not facing the same constraints and all eligible applications would continue to be considered for funding.

The groups receiving grants today involve the whole spectrum of voluntary activity in Northern Ireland, with grants ranging, according to the project involved, from £750 to £5,000. As with last week's groups, many are involved in the provision of care and recreation facilities for the young, older people and the disabled.

Examples of today's awards include:

• Loughside Youth Club, Belfast - £4,048 for football and swimming competitions, expenses and equipment
• Rathain Fold Tenents Association, Coleraine - £1,563 to provide a PA system to facilitate social events for older people.
• Shopmobility, Ballymena - £5,000 to help establish a shop mobility transportation scheme for disabled people in the town.
• 1st Moyola Scout Group, Castledawson - £780 for the purchase of a mess tent for camping activities.

National Lottery Charities Board Director for Northern Ireland Ann McLaughlin told the recipients at the presentation: "We hope these grants will not only enable you to extend and develop the invaluable work you do in your local communities, but be seen as a sign of official appreciation for all you do to help bind those communities together and help them retain a sense of belonging and identity."

*The Small Grants Scheme awards Lottery grants of up to £5,000 to eligible small voluntary and community groups with an annual income of not more than £15,000. These grants are simpler to apply for than the main grants programme and are available for a wide range of projects. Further information and application packs can be obtained by calling the dedicated application line on 08457 919191

Issued on behalf of the National Lottery Charities Board Northern Ireland by Future Image Ltd.
For further Press information contact Sally Gardiner 90423314 For general information log on to www.nlcb.org.uk