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The Awards for All scheme from the National Lottery has increased its grants awards to enable groups to apply for grants from £500 to £10,000.
ORGANISATIONS and community groups across Northern Ireland are getting the chance to apply for more lottery cash to improve the lives of local people.
Since Awards for All started almost five years almost £14 million has been awarded to 3,924 organisations including small community groups, schools and charities, as well as sports clubs, arts projects and heritage schemes across Northern Ireland.
Until now, the maximum grant available under the National Lottery small grants scheme was £5,000, but that figure will now rise to £10,000. The minimum grant in Northern ireland remains at £500.
Awards for All Programme Manager Punam McGookin said:
"Lottery distributors are aware of the importance of responding to the changing needs of groups looking to access funds for projects and the rising costs that are incurred in the delivery of programmes.
“We are also aware of the changes in the local funding environment which makes applying for funding increasingly competitive.
Ms McGookin added:
“The current success rate for applications is 75 per cent, which is the highest it has ever been in Northern Ireland. It is clear there is a real need for such funding and that smaller projects can bring positive changes to the lives of local people.”
Friends of Woodvale Park is one of the many groups to benefit from Awards from All funding in the past. The group is using its grant of £4,916 to organise a series of seasonally themed events in the park.
Jennifer Cornell, a member of the management committee , said:
“The park is a large public space which has problems with anti-social behaviour and general degradation. It has pleasant features but is in great need of preservation and development.
“Friends of Woodvale Park wants to reclaim the park by providing social activities aimed at the community including young families and older people. We want to bring people back into the park and have a positive presence in it.”
Jennifer said the Awards for All grant has been crucial.
“The grant has allowed us to develop a programme of events which will build towards a signature event later in the summer. It has also helped us raise the profile of the organisation and will encourage people to preserve and respect the park.”
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