Community groups across Lisburn and Castlereagh are celebrating, with £684,578 being invested in 69 projects to make local spaces safer, warmer, more accessible and better equipped.
From repairing roofs and improving disabled access to upgrading kitchens and creating safer places to play, the funding will help local organisations make changes that matter to the people using their facilities every week.
These are the places where people meet, volunteer, play sport, learn new skills and find friendship and support. The investment will help the groups running them welcome more people and continue providing valued activities and services.
Previous awards through the Community Facilities Fund show how practical improvements can have a lasting impact.
At Anahilt Presbyterian Church, funding helped create a dedicated outdoor play area beside the church hall, providing a safer and more welcoming space for children, young people, families, local residents and visitors. The group described the project as a positive experience and hopes the new space will provide a lasting reminder of the difference this investment can make.
At LaganView Enterprise Centre, funding was used to replace worn surfacing in its play area. The improvements have created a safer, more accessible and welcoming space for children and families at a centre that receives approximately 1,000 visits each month. The funding also meant the cost did not have to be met from the organisation’s limited charitable resources.
Councillor Jessica Bamford said: “Our community spaces are where so much of local life happens. They bring people together, help friendships grow and provide activities and support for people of all ages. The groups running them understand what their communities need, and this investment will help turn their ideas into real improvements. We have already seen the difference previous awards have made, creating safer play areas, more accessible facilities and more welcoming places for local people. It is wonderful to see another 69 organisations across the Council area now being given the opportunity to bring their plans to life.”
Chair of the Council’s Corporate Services Committee, Alderman Paul Porter, said: “Behind every one of these projects is a local group working hard for its community. This funding is about helping them make practical changes that will be noticed and appreciated by the people using these spaces every week. Whether it is making a building easier to access, creating a safer place for children to play or helping a community hall stay warm and welcoming, each project will make a difference locally. I am delighted that we have identified and earmarked Council funding to help 69 successful projects put their plans into action.”
All awards are subject to the organisations completing the Council’s due diligence process and meeting the conditions set out in their letters of offer. Ratification of the decision will be sought at the next Full Council Meeting on 22nd September.