Dromara GFC is to receive £50,000 from the Alpha Programme, a dedicated waste management and energy renewable company near Lisburn. Eight other projects also are to receive a further £240,000. The club will direct the funds towards environmental improvements and new community facilities.
Alpha is a popular funding initiative designed to improve a diverse range of community and environmental regeneration projects and it continues to invest and deliver change throughout Lisburn and other council areas.
The Alpha Programme was established in 2008 by Alpha Resource Management within the Lagan Group. It distributes funding through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme in order to enhance community facilities and wildlife habitats within a 15-mile radius of Mullaghglass Landfill site on the outskirts of Lisburn.
To date over £4m has been invested in 122 projects, all designed to make a positive environmental impact and cultivate community led initiatives. A wide range of sports clubs, community gardens, play areas and other environmental regeneration projects have benefitted over the years.
The latest funding allocation includes £50,000 for Dromara GFC. The group plans to improve outdoor recreation facilities at the club’s grounds in an ongoing effort to provide a multi-purpose cross community facility. This will support two picnic areas, tree planting, the extension of the existing ‘walkway to health’ to create a 900m loop and improvements to disabled access.
Commenting on the success of the programme to date, Liam McDonald, Alpha Resource Management Ltd said: “Tax on landfill credits were initially introduced to reduce waste and encourage more sustainable methods of waste management. We recognised at an early stage that we could develop a programme for the distribution of landfill tax credits at the Mullaghglass site to help support local community initiatives.
“Now in its ninth year, this programme continues to evolve in popularity. Each project really does make a difference for local communities and enhances hidden gems on our local wildlife scene.”
The Alpha Programme is administered by Groundwork NI and currently makes awards to successful groups four times per year following an application process. The funds are made up of a combination of Landfill Tax Credits and direct contributions from Alpha Resource Management Ltd.
Richard Rogers from Groundwork NI added: “We were delighted to be able to support this project in one of our newly eligible Alpha Programme areas. It will enable Dromara GFC to create a great leisure and recreation hub at the heart of a rural community, and we look forward to working with them to make the project a real success.”
Applications for the next round of Alpha Programme funding close on 30 June 2017.
Anyone considering applying to the Alpha Programme is encouraged to contact Groundwork NI to discuss their application prior to submission. Application forms and a map showing the eligible project area are available from Groundwork NI’s website:
Tax on landfill waste was introduced in 1996 as a means to reduce the amount of land-filled waste and to promote a shift to more environmentally sustainable methods of waste management. This innovative tax credit scheme enables operators of landfill sites to contribute money to enrolled Environmental Bodies (EBs) to carry out projects that meet environmental objects contained in the Landfill Tax Regulations.
The Government saw the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) as a way for Landfill Operators (LOs) and EBs to work in partnership to create significant environmental benefits and jobs and to undertake projects which improve the lives of communities living near landfill sites.
Applicants for the main funding stream (£10-£50k) must now be able to reimburse Alpha Resource Management for 10% of any grant awarded. This reflects the element of the Landfill Communities Fund funding which is not a tax rebate.
