WIREDGOV

Groups across Northern Ireland yesterday shared in £256,645 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Celebrate programme.

A total of 66 groups are using grants of £500 to £5,000 to run their own events or activities that allow people to celebrate what makes their local community special. (See separate table for a full list of awards)

North West Migrants Forum supports minority ethnic communities and refugees living in the North West. They have been awarded £5,000 for a series of events to bring people from different cultures together. Up to 600 people from ethnic minority and migrant communities, including families of Syrian refugees, will be invited.

Millisle Health and Wellbeing Group also received £5,000. The group improves the health and wellbeing of residents and holiday makers in Millisle and are using the grant to recreate the bygone era of seaside entertainment, in Millisle, in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's by holding a community fun day offering a range of activities.

PIPS (Newry & Mourne) Limited provides a range of professional counselling, mentoring and befriending support across the Southern Trust area. They are using a £4,500 grant for a Christmas Remembrance, Hope and Healing event for people who have been bereaved through suicide, which is open to everyone in the community.

Also receiving funding is Creggan Education & Research Services (CERS), based near Omagh, which provides resources and facilities for people in An Creagan and the surrounding areas. They are using their £3,250 grant to host a Big Family Picnic at An Creagan.

Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director, said yesterday: “Today’s Big Lottery Fund grants celebrate what’s special about individual communities across Northern Ireland. From Christmas celebrations to cultural activities and fun days, these events will bring people together to volunteer, have fun and meet more people in their area.”

The Celebrate funding programme is now closed to applications.

For media enquiries, contact Rachel Skinner or Lucy Gollogly at the Big Lottery Fund Press Office on 028 90 551 450 / 028 90 551 432 
Out of Hours Media Contact: 07747532846 / 07580 811135
Website: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland
Twitter: @BIGNIonline #BigLottery
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, £35 billion has been raised and more than 490,000 grants awarded.