WIREDGOV

The Big Lottery Fund was out and about across Northern Ireland yesterday to reveal major changes in how it will fund as it announces a new multi-million pound programme.

The People and Communities programme will invest £60 million over the next five years to support voluntary, community and social enterprise groups to work with local people to make the changes they want in their communities.

The programme is about more than just an application form and groups are being asked to talk to the Big Lottery Fund team about their project idea before they apply. To start some of those conversations, the team are out today visiting around 20 projects in every area of Northern Ireland to see the work they’re already doing with local people.

Grants of between £30,000 and £500,000 will be available for two to five year projects that work with local people, build on a community’s strengths, and are well connected to other services and activities in the community. The programme will remain open for applications for five years.

The Big Lottery Fund’s NI Chair, Frank Hewitt, said: “It is fantastic to be out across Northern Ireland talking to people about the great work they are already doing in communities, and hearing their ideas of how they could build on that with support from the new People and Communities programme.

“We know that people living in communities are the ones who know what needs to change and how best to do this. That’s why we asking all the projects we fund to get people involved and put them in the lead in changing their lives and communities.

“We want to talk to people about their project ideas, and our dedicated People and Communities phone line will be opening on Monday 1 February. In the meantime, you can find all the details about the programme on the Big Lottery Fund website. We are really excited to hear groups’ ideas and see the difference these ideas will make to people and communities across Northern Ireland.”

One of the projects putting people at the centre is Cruse Bereavement Care’s Big Lottery funded Beyond Words project which offers support and opportunities to older people affected by bereavement.

John Caulfield, 58, from Belfast was lonely and isolated following the death of his beloved wife Eileen following a stroke two and a half years ago. But since he got involved in the Beyond Words project, John has begun to rebuild his life and now supports other people who have lost loved ones.

The couple had been together since the early 1970s and the outgoing Eileen brought reserved John out of his shell. “She would talk for hours to anybody, and whoever she met, I met. And people were drawn to us. Eileen linked me to people,” John said.

The couple married and lived happily together for decades. But then in 2004 Eileen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. One night in June 2013 she had a stroke and passed away in her sleep. “She was 91 years old, and it was her time,” said John, “I accepted that, but I felt so alone.”

Then one day while out walking, John came upon a Cruse Bereavement Care event in the Ulster Hall. It was part of the Lottery funded Beyond Words project. “It was a drumming workshop of all things,” said John. “I had never heard of Cruse, but I wouldn’t have contacted them anyway as I didn’t want to talk to anyone. But this was drumming.”

Beyond Words manager at Cruse, Paul Finnegan, invited John to join a friendship group in Lisburn. Talking to other people who had lost a loved one had a profound effect on John. He got involved in more activities through Cruse, even discovering a talent for creative writing and winning a bursary to attend the John Hewitt Summer School last year.

John is now a volunteer for Cruse, helping out with reminiscence and storytelling workshops for older people’s groups Northern Ireland. He is also on the advisory group for older people at Cruse, putting forward ideas on activities and services that really make a difference to people like him.

“The Cruse friendship group has become my family now,” said John. “I can’t believe the things I’ve done in the past year. Cruse has literally been a life saver for me. I have just been taking every opportunity to get involved to help other people since Cruse started me on my way. I know Eileen would be proud of me.”

Paul Finnegan, Beyond Word manager at Cruse Bereavement Care, said: “John comes to our friendship groups regularly and is very involved in many aspects of Cruse. He is still the same shy character, but he challenges himself now. On the advisory group he and the other members are coming up with ideas for our next project. We can’t wait to see what he’ll accomplish this year.”

More information about the People and Communities programme, including details of a dedicated phone line for groups to discuss their project idea, can be found on our website,www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland.

For media enquiries, please contact Lucy Gollogly at the Big Lottery Fund Press Office. Direct line: 02890 551 432

Out of hours media contact: 07580811135

Website:  http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland

Twitter:    @BIGNIonline

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundNI             

Notes to Editors:

• The Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities across the UK. We are responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised by the National Lottery and invest over £650 million a year in projects big and small in health, education, environment and charitable purposes.
• Since June 2004 we have awarded over £6.5billion to projects that make a difference to people and communities in need, from early years intervention to commemorative travel funding for World War Two veterans.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £34 billion has been raised and more than 450,000 grants awarded.