Local groups scoop £36k in lottery grants

Lurgan Young Men’s Association and Moyraverty 50+ club are among four groups in the Craigavon area sharing in a total of £36,380 from the Awards for All programme. It is part of a Big Lottery Fund grants windfall of £769,369 to 91 groups across the north.

Lurgan Young Men’s Association offers a range of activities for young people in the Lurgan and Portadown areas. They are using the £9,988 to provide a programme of camping, canoeing and climbing activities for young people, including some who have disabilities.

Moyraverty 50+ provides activities to adults aged 50+ in the Brownlow area of Craigavon. They are using the £7,160 to provide social activities and outings for the group’s members.

St John’s Eglish primary school in the Portadown area is using the £9,232 to buy iPads and accessories for after school classes for pupils and parents to learn new skills and build an active and connected community.

Ballyleaney LOL, based between Portadown and Armagh, is using the £10k to improve their facilities.

Joanne McDowell, Big Lottery Fund NI Director, said: “The Big Lottery Fund’s NI Awards for All programme funds health, education, environment and community projects that help people bring about positive change in their lives, improve health and well-being, develop skills and create safer communities.

“The application process is simple and accessible and shall remain so, making it easy for applicants to successfully apply for small pots of funding that can have a big impact on local communities and lives.”