Numerous Derry, Strabane & Limavady community projects receive major boost through Lottery funding

The north west has been allocated a sizeable share of a £2.2 million funding package allocated to 141 community projects from across NI.

These include organisations responding to the current Covid-19 crisis, supporting mental health, reducing isolation and helping people build much needed connections in their community

One of the largest awards has gone to Culmore Community Partnership, which has been allocated a £487,475 grant to run their ‘Four Corners Initiative’ over the next four years (see more pages 40 and 41).

ARC Healthy Living Centre has been awarded £499,280 to develop their ‘Rethink’ project across the Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh areas with their partners Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum and Business in the Community to help people aged over 25, many of whom have social anxiety, mental health issues or addiction, through courses and support while maintaining social distancing.

The Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group meanwhile is using a £10,000 grant to meet the needs of those living in Derry, Strabane and Limavady both during and after a cancer diagnosis. The group have created ‘Immune Boosting’ packs to help local people with a cancer diagnosis fight against the Covid-19 virus and they have been delivering them to their most at risk members.

Maureen Collins, Project Manager, said: “A lot of our members are coping with a range of gruelling treatments such as chemotherapy which weakens the immune system or had treatment stopped which leaves them very vulnerable during this scary time. We have moved our National Lottery funded support programme online which includes, counselling, carer activities, education and health and well-being activities to we are still fully supporting those in need. Our Immune Boosting packs help feed the body with good foods to support keeping the immune system strong. We know that a lot of families can’t afford to be buying organic products, so it’s important for us through our National Lottery funding to provide them with the best food to help build up that immunity.”

Derry’s ARC Fitness - Addiction, Recovery, Coaching, has received funding to deliver a programme of physical activities for people in recovery from drug and alcohol dependence, while Me4Mental secured a grant to create an information leaflet to equip local people with the skills to cope if they meet or know anyone who is suicidal.

Ardmore Cricket Club have received funding to refurbish their pavilion which is currently unfit for purpose, while the Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum will deliver a range of holistic programmes to those aged over 40 years old in area.

Chapel Road Community Playgroup will replace some of their outdoor and indoor equipment, while Creggan Country Park will deliver nature-based activities online to children living in neighbourhood renewal areas at this time through Forest Packs which include hunt equipment, stationery, arts and crafts materials, planting materials and activity sheets.

The Gasyard Wall Féile is to develop a media hub so people in the community can come together to write, while Glenabbey Community Association has got funding grant for food parcels, games and home-based keep fit equipment. Greater Shantallow Community Arts will celebrate the Irish arts within disadvantaged and divided communities with their An Fleadh Doire Mor 2020 festival, while Greater Shantallow Area Partnership is providing support to the most vulnerable families in the area by distributing essential food, personal and household cleansing supplies and baby products.

Other beneficiaries include Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group Ltd, Triax, Shantallow Community Residents Association, the Verbal Arts Centre, The Gemma McHale Foundation, Strabane Health Improvement Project CIC, Donemana Women’s Institute, Holywell Trust, Trojans Youth and Community Group, Newbuildings Cricket Club, Tristar FC, Kippie CIC, 1st Strabane Scouts, Aghyaran Development Association CIC, and Lettershandoney & District Development Group who will run a befriending group.

On Street Community Youth is using a £10,000 grant to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak by providing resource packs to local families identified as being most in need, while Rainbow Child and Family Centre is using a £5,000 grant to provide families and older people in the area with support during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Limavady, Stendhal Festival, Dry Arch Children’s Centre, 25th Derry (Limavady) Scouting Ireland, 3 C’s Snooker Club, Bovalley Community Association and Limavady Volunteer Centre have all received funding alongside Greysteel Community Enterprises for weekly food packages to vulnerable households, activity packages for children, and virtual classes, while St Patrick’s Camogie Club Dungiven has also received a grant.

Kate Beggs, NI Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “In this time of uncertainty, we are here to give support when we can.

“We have heard of brilliant efforts being made across the sector, of our funded projects helping those in isolation or looking to the aftermath of this pandemic and the need for support for those affected in the longer-term.”