People & CommunitiesGrant Announcement
Date: 4 October 2017
Number of grants:10
Total Awarded: £1,623,217
Project / Location / Grant Summary / Grant amountHuntington's Disease Association Northern Ireland / Across Northern Ireland / The organisation, which works across Northern Ireland, is using a £152,580 grant to run the three-year Supporting HD Families project. The money is being used for staff costs and to provide information, advice and support to Huntington’s Disease sufferers and their carers including through peer support, their website and newsletter, and an annual conference to share learning. They are also developing training and support for volunteer mentors so they can deliver training and mentoring to others in the future which will help the sustainability of the group. / £152,580
Rosie's Trust / Across Northern Ireland / The group helps people coping with the impact of old age and conditions including cancer to care for and stay with their companion pets. It is using the £499,281 grant over five years to expand their support by creating regional teams of volunteers across Northern Ireland to allow people to keep their pets which offer an important emotional bond and reduce social isolation. The support will be tailored to the person and may include exercising pets, visits to vets, and temporary foster care where an owner is admitted to hospital. The project is improving people’s mental wellbeing, increasing their connections in the community and reducing isolation. The project reaches people who need support from organisations including Marie Curie, Macmillan and Age NI. / £499,281
West Armagh Consortium / Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon / West Armagh Consortium is working with eight local community groups on the three-year West Armagh Community Support and Development Project. They are using a £196,801 grant to employ a manager to coordinate a joint activity programme with all the groups including, action planning workshops, a volunteer programme, marketing activities, health and wellbeing activities, a youth programme, older people’s activities, and intercultural events. The project has been designed and developed by local people involved with each of the groups that are working together on this project: Callan Street Residents Group; Drumarg Community Association; Mullacreevie Residents Association; Drumbreda/St.Brigid’s Hill Residents Association; Callanbridge/Legar Hill Park Residents Association; Association of Bulgarian Culture and Education; St Patricks Park Residents Association; and Westenders Senior Citizens Group. / £196,801
(C.O.A.S.T.) Causeway Older & Active Strategic Team / Causeway Coasts and Glens / The Connected Age project is using a £444,208 grant to support people aged over 60, living in the Causeway Coast and Glens, who are socially isolated or vulnerable. Building on the strengths of their previous project funded through Reaching Out Connecting Older People the four-year project is providing staff costs, social activities, support to networked groups, recruiting and training volunteers, personal wellbeing plans, and organising events to bring older people together. The project provides Good Morning calls to members, tailored support and encourages the older people to get involved with social activities.The group will work closely with Age NI, Age Concern Causeway and other local organisations to deliver relevant training. / £444,208
Life Change Changes Lives / Co Down / The Downpatrick based group is using an £83,792 grant for staff costs and delivery of a pop-up art project that provides therapy, counselling and crisis intervention for people with mental health difficulties, addictions and those who suffer from social isolation across County Down. The two year project is bringing people together and helping them to build their skills and improve their mental wellbeing. / £83,792
Time-4-Me / Fermanagh and Omagh / The three-year Prioritising Carers Wellbeing project is using a £30,675 grant to support un-paid carers, in Omagh and the surrounding areas, to connect with people in similar situations, help them manage stress and improve their health and wellbeing. Members of the group care for family with a range of physical and mental health conditions. Activities include holistic therapies, creative activities, inspirational talks, development sessions, an annual one night residential, healthy eating, and first aid. The members support and encourage each other to look after themselves. There will also be ‘assertive me’ training which will improve the carers’ self-confidence and strength to cope with the challenges they face. / £30,675
LCC Community Trust / Lisburn and Castlereagh / The LCCCT More Than Food Project, based in Lisburn, is using an £85,000 grant over two and half years. The project is providing volunteering opportunities and support to people using their food bank service, some of who suffer from issues including mental health problems, homelessness, debt problems, and alcohol and drug addictions. A project manager will oversee the activities which include befriending, mentoring, sign posting to services, and volunteering opportunities at the café, foodbank, handyman service, or summer camp. The project will also run a Creative Café for people with learning disabilities, mild mental health issues and older people, where they will take part in arts and crafts activities. / £85,000
Lotus Group NI / Mid and East Antrim / The group in Ballymena works with older Indian people from across the Mid and East Antrim and Causeway Coast and Glens Council areas to promote their health and well-being. The three-year project is building on the strengths of a previous Awards for All funded project. They are running activities and support for current members and will invite new members to attend their fortnightly luncheon club. Events include a festival of light, festival of colour, Christmas festival, day trips, art/craft workshops, and wellbeing activities. / £46,228
Granaghan & District Women's Group / Mid Ulster / The group, which is based in Swatragh, a small village near Maghera, is using a £54,652 grant to deliver a range of activities to improve people’s health and wellbeing, and build skills and bring people together. The activities have been decided by the local community and will be led by volunteers who are using their own skills while learning new ones. The activities, which will run over three years, include healthy cooking, vegetable growing, mindfulness, crochet, first aid training, dance fit sessions, day trips and annual celebration events. / £54,652
Killinchy and District Community Carers Association / Newry, Mourne and Down / The group, which is based in Lisbane Community Centre in Comber, supports carers by offering activities including meetings, talks, hobbies, lunches and outings. They have received £30,000 to work over three years with carers including those who have suffered a recent bereavement, throughout the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust area. Using ideas from carers themselves, some examples of the activities are residential weekends, social events, complimentary therapy sessions and respite breaks. The project is bringing people with similar experiences together for peer support, improving mental wellbeing and reducing isolation. / £30,000