Lottery boost for five groups

FIVE groups based in Banbridge have been awarded funding of just over £36,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme.

The programme is the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding and is committed to bringing real improvements to local communities.

The Tanvally and Anaghlone Project, set up in November 2011 to help regenerate the local rural community and improve the health and opportunities of local people, has been awarded £10,000 to run training in entrepreneurial skills for people in the area.

A grant of £9,500 has been awarded to Laurencetown, Lenaderg and Tullylish Community Association to carry out improvements to the outside of their community venue in Laurencetown village.

Loughbrickland and District Rural Development Association, which raises awareness of Ulster-Scots culture, has been awarded £7,000 to organise a community festival.

Ballievey Women’s Institute is receiving a grant of £4,910 to organise a range of courses and trips for women in the local area, and the Cane and Able group, which organise events and activities for people who are visually impaired has been awarded £4,811.

Any local group interested in applying for grants can download application forms from www.awardsforall.org.uk or alternatively, the Big Lottery Fund can be contacted by phone at 028 9055 1455, or e-mailed at [email protected].