Repair and share Foyle have received a £20,000 grant to create a tool and equipment library and deliver repair workshops for the local community. The project will encourage people to share skills and resources and reduce waste.
The funding comes as part of an announcement of over £2 million of grants from The National Lottery Community Fund to provide support and services to local people across Northern Ireland, to improve their lives.
One of the organisations receiving funding is Repair and Share Foyle which is using a £20,000 grant to create a tool and equipment library and deliver repair workshops for the local community.
The project will encourage people to share skills and resources and reduce waste.
Caroline McGuinness-Brooks, Managing Director, Repair and Share Foyle, said: “We’re absolutely buzzing about this award as it enables us to give our Library of Things the best start ever.
“We’re excited to settle into our new home at RathMor Business Park and can’t wait to kickstart the sharing economy model here in Derry, where residents can choose to borrow rather than buy new.”
Treehouse Creche in Derry also received a £15,700 grant to run activities to celebrate their 35th anniversary. The project will make improvements to their play areas, organise outings for children and their families, and hold a community celebration event.
The project will also run training for staff and parents to build their child development skills.
The Verbal Arts Centre is using a £19,443 grant over one year to support children aged 6-10 years old to settle into their new homes with their new foster parents.
The project will train foster parents to use storytelling and communication techniques to start conversations with children in their care and help the families to connect.
Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million a week is raised for good causes like these across the UK, including Foyle Parents and Friends Association, known as The Tuned In Project.
They are using a £20,000 grant over two years to run summer schemes for children and young people with learning disabilities and complex needs.
Activities will include exercise classes, outings and craft workshops, bringing young people with similar needs together to learn new skills, improve their confidence, build new friendships and give parents vital respite time.
Dromboughil Community Association, based outside Dungiven, has been awarded a £20,000 grant over two years to run a community fridge and a programme of craft and wellbeing classes. The project will bring the local community together to socialise, learn new skills and reduce food waste and food poverty.
Aideen O’Neill, Project & Funding Coordinator, Dromboughil Community Association, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding from the National Lottery Community Fund towards our extensive class programme here in our community centre.
Kathleen Canning (Director), Aideen O’Neill (Project & Funding Coordinator) and Anne McLaughlin (Director) from Dromboughil Community Association which has been awarded a £20,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to run a community fridge and a programme of craft and wellbeing classes.
“We are very grateful to the National Lottery community fund and its players for making the continued success of our programme possible.”
Lifestart Foundation in Derry has been awarded a £155,169 grant to provide support to new parents to cope with pre-natal and post-natal issues affecting them and their children.
Over three years the project will run parent and child group sessions in Strabane, Derry, Omagh, Antrim and Dunmurry, to bring families together to share their experiences and concerns in a safe, nurturing environment and receive support from trained facilitators.
The sessions will also run activities to improve the bond between parents and their children while promoting positive parenting and supporting child development.
The project will reduce loneliness, improve mental health and help parents build connections with other parents and within their own communities.
Other organisations being funded include ARC Fitness Ltd, Aughabrack & District Community, Brighter Ballymagorry Development Group, Eglinton Women’s Institute, Galliagh Residents Association, Gallaigh Women’s Group, Hillcrest Trust (Top of the Hill) Ltd, Leafair Community Association Ltd, Lifestart Foundation Ltd, Lisnafin/Ardnalee/Trust Cross-Community Development Association, Pennyburn Youth Club, and REACH Across.
Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the difference these grants make across Northern Ireland thanks to the charities, community organisations and voluntary groups which are doing vital work every day to support people in their community.
“As we approach the 30th Birthday of the National Lottery later this year, celebrating these new awards is a great way to thank National Lottery players who raise this money, which is going back into communities, to strengthen them, and improve lives.”
For more information on National Lottery funding visit: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/northern-ireland
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