THE Public Health Agency (PHA) recently issued over £272,000 in small grants to 64 statutory, community and voluntary organisations in the South Eastern area for projects which promote health and well-being and reduce health inequalities.
Some 64 voluntary and community sector organisations shared funding of £272,756 to deliver a range of activities which support the Agency’s efforts to ensuring a decent standard of living for all and making healthier choices easier. 
A variety of factors can affect our health and wellbeing, including the choices we make, along with housing, education, transport, employment and sense of community. The scheme is designed to encourage and support the development of local community based projects and initiatives that will help improve the health and wellbeing of local communities. Each of the projects that have been awarded a grant will focus on one or more of the following themes: increase access to benefits, reduce the impact of fuel poverty, prevent the uptake of smoking in children and young people, increase physical activity levels and improve nutrition and promote healthy eating, improve mental health and wellbeing and reduce the risk of suicide, improve sexual health, and reduce drug and alcohol related harm.
Chris Totten, Head of Health & Social Wellbeing Improvement (South Eastern), PHA said: “The PHA is pleased to offer funding, through the Small Grants Scheme, to local organisations that are delivering projects to tackle a range of health improvement needs across the South Eastern area.”
“The organisations that have been awarded a grant will have a positive impact on the identified themes; they will demonstrate innovation, community involvement, creativity such as through the use of community arts projects to further health and social wellbeing in the area.”
The South Eastern area is made up of the following local authorities: Down, Lisburn, North Down, Ards and the organisations that were awarded funding are:
| Action for Children |
| AGE North Down and Ards |
| Action Mental Health |
| Ardglass Residents Group |
| Ards Community Network |
| Ards Family Group Disability Support |
| Ards Leisure Centre |
| ASCERT |
| Atlas Womens Centre |
| Aware Defeat Depression |
| Ballymacricket Primary School |
| Ballynahinch Primary School |
| Bangor Amateur Swimming Club |
| Barnardos Safe Choices NI |
| Bees Nees Early Years Centre |
| Boys Brigade – Ganaway Training & Act Centre |
| Breezemount Community Association |
| Bridge of Hope |
| Camphill Communities Trust (NI) |
| Canal Boxing Acadamy |
| Carr Primary School |
| Castle Juniors |
| Celtic Bhoys Football Club |
| Community Direct |
| Crossroads Caring for Carers |
| Down Clubmark Sports Association |
| Down Community Arts |
| Down District Citizens Advice Bureau |
| East Down Athletic Club |
| East Down Rural Community Network |
| FASA |
| Feumore Friendship Group |
| Fight Academy Ireland |
| Glen Ward Community Development Association |
| Glenavy Youth Project |
| Glendowan Football Club |
| Greenhill YMCA |
| Hillsborough Boys Football Club |
| Holy Trinity Nursery School |
| Holywood Youth Football Club |
| Home-Start Down District |
| Jigsaw |
| Largymore Primary School |
| Lisburn City Council Sports Services Unit |
| Lisburn Downtown Centre |
| Lisburn Rugby Football Club |
| Lisburn YMCA |
| Lisburn Youth Football Club |
| Mindwise |
| Moira Friendship Group |
| North Down Community Network |
| Peninsula Healthy Living Centre |
| Redburn Loughview Community Forum |
| Rowendale Integrated Primary School |
| Russell Gaelic Union |
| SAIL Support Acceptance Information & Learning |
| South Eastern Trust Trust – Brian Injury Team |
| The Kairos Centre |
| The Link Family & Community Centre |
| The Net Youth Project (Comber Youth for Christ) |
| The Welcome Project |
| Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) |
| Whitehill Community Association |
| Youth Matters |
