Menu
07/05/2013
£15m To Improve NI 'Spaces And Places'
The Big Lottery Fund is to spend £15m on improving local spaces and places in Northern Ireland.
The Space and Place programme, launched today, will aim to unite communities in Northern Ireland through improving the community environment, according to the Fund.
The Fund is the largest distributor of National Lottery funding. It is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
"The programme could fund for example, a project to create a community garden and allotments in the grounds of a community venue, or a project to turn a derelict area into a mini park with cycle paths and walkways where people can enjoy their local space," a statement said.
The Fund is looking for an award partner from the voluntary and community sector to run the programme’s grant scheme and take charge of the grants, which could range from between £50,000 and £1m.
Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: "There is a demand in Northern Ireland to provide new spaces and places and use existing ones better, particularly those that are currently viewed as underused or difficult for a variety of reasons.
"They may be underused because local people don’t use them as often as they could and these spaces or places have the potential to become active community venues, or difficult because they are overgrown and neglected or because some members of the community don’t feel safe using them as they are perceived to only be used by certain groups."
"An example of the type of project that could be funded through the programme is the community centre, sports area and community walkway that has helped tackle anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the rural village of Dromara, Co Down," the statement added.
Dromara Primary School has already used around £31m in grants to turn a derelict nearby field into a community centre and sports arena.
The school has also used funding to turn a neglected area along the River Lagan which was a popular spot for underage drinking into a scenic walk way.
School Principal Stanley Poots said: "We first started work on this project back in 2000. At the time the village was having problems with a group of young people who were hanging around causing trouble.
"They were just hanging around on the streets, drinking and shouting at passers-by and generally intimidating local people because they had nowhere to go and nothing to do. So we wanted to try and change the attitudes of these young people by giving them a space where they could go to have fun.
"There was a field adjacent to the school that hadn’t been used for years and was overgrown and neglected. We felt the school could use it for the good of the local community, and things started to develop from there.
"We got various amounts of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, Lisburn City Council and the Department of Agriculture and we turned the field into these fantastic facilities for everyone to use."
(IT/CD)
The Space and Place programme, launched today, will aim to unite communities in Northern Ireland through improving the community environment, according to the Fund.
The Fund is the largest distributor of National Lottery funding. It is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
"The programme could fund for example, a project to create a community garden and allotments in the grounds of a community venue, or a project to turn a derelict area into a mini park with cycle paths and walkways where people can enjoy their local space," a statement said.
The Fund is looking for an award partner from the voluntary and community sector to run the programme’s grant scheme and take charge of the grants, which could range from between £50,000 and £1m.
Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: "There is a demand in Northern Ireland to provide new spaces and places and use existing ones better, particularly those that are currently viewed as underused or difficult for a variety of reasons.
"They may be underused because local people don’t use them as often as they could and these spaces or places have the potential to become active community venues, or difficult because they are overgrown and neglected or because some members of the community don’t feel safe using them as they are perceived to only be used by certain groups."
"An example of the type of project that could be funded through the programme is the community centre, sports area and community walkway that has helped tackle anti-social behaviour and vandalism in the rural village of Dromara, Co Down," the statement added.
Dromara Primary School has already used around £31m in grants to turn a derelict nearby field into a community centre and sports arena.
The school has also used funding to turn a neglected area along the River Lagan which was a popular spot for underage drinking into a scenic walk way.
School Principal Stanley Poots said: "We first started work on this project back in 2000. At the time the village was having problems with a group of young people who were hanging around causing trouble.
"They were just hanging around on the streets, drinking and shouting at passers-by and generally intimidating local people because they had nowhere to go and nothing to do. So we wanted to try and change the attitudes of these young people by giving them a space where they could go to have fun.
"There was a field adjacent to the school that hadn’t been used for years and was overgrown and neglected. We felt the school could use it for the good of the local community, and things started to develop from there.
"We got various amounts of funding from the Big Lottery Fund, Lisburn City Council and the Department of Agriculture and we turned the field into these fantastic facilities for everyone to use."
(IT/CD)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
25 November 2024
Eligibility For Free School Meals And Uniform Grants To Be Reviewed
Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a review of the eligibility criteria for free school meals and uniform grants, seeking input from the public with a new consultation. The consultation will examine the number of children and young people who could benefit from free school meals and uniform grants.
Eligibility For Free School Meals And Uniform Grants To Be Reviewed
Education Minister Paul Givan has announced a review of the eligibility criteria for free school meals and uniform grants, seeking input from the public with a new consultation. The consultation will examine the number of children and young people who could benefit from free school meals and uniform grants.
02 February 2023
St Comgall Transformed In Major Restoration Project
Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Christina Black has visited St Comgall's on Divis Street to see how the former school has been transformed by a major restoration project.
St Comgall Transformed In Major Restoration Project
Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Christina Black has visited St Comgall's on Divis Street to see how the former school has been transformed by a major restoration project.
18 March 2022
Community Projects Funded By Living Places And Spaces Scheme
Some 107 projects are to be funded through the Living Places and Spaces grant scheme, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced. £750,000 was available for the scheme, which was delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, from the Minister’s £20million Blue Green Infrastructure Fund.
Community Projects Funded By Living Places And Spaces Scheme
Some 107 projects are to be funded through the Living Places and Spaces grant scheme, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced. £750,000 was available for the scheme, which was delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, from the Minister’s £20million Blue Green Infrastructure Fund.
29 May 2008
Welcome For Antrim Project's Job Creation
A new community-based develoment which is creating employment opportunities in Co Antrim has been welcomed by the NI Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie. She helped to launch the new, mixed-use resource and business project in Antrim town.
Welcome For Antrim Project's Job Creation
A new community-based develoment which is creating employment opportunities in Co Antrim has been welcomed by the NI Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie. She helped to launch the new, mixed-use resource and business project in Antrim town.
14 August 2019
Belfast's Sailortown To Gain New Community Hub
The Sailortown area of north Belfast is to be rejuvenated with a local community hub thanks to over £184,000 of National Lottery funding. The money will be poured into the rundown St Joseph's Church to create the facility and bring local people together.
Belfast's Sailortown To Gain New Community Hub
The Sailortown area of north Belfast is to be rejuvenated with a local community hub thanks to over £184,000 of National Lottery funding. The money will be poured into the rundown St Joseph's Church to create the facility and bring local people together.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
