MORE than £38,000 has been awarded to local community groups by Ards Borough Council.
In the latest round of funding to help cover the costs of running community groups, as well as the costs of undertaking work to tackle local issues and of staging a programme of events, the Council is providing grant aid to a total of 17 groups across the Ards Borough.
This financial support follows previous funding in the summer of close to £40K to 24 groups across the Ards under the Community Festivals programme, operated jointly by the Council and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
That money contributed to the organisation of community driven activities and family fun days over the summer months, with further events scheduled to take place over Halloween, Christmas and the new year.
Mayor of Ards, Councillor Stephen McIlveen, said the funding was vital for local groups: “The Ards Borough is lucky to have some very active and productive community groups which work to improve their local areas, whether by tackling issues of concern or building community cohesion. Without this core support from the Council, their work would be severely limited or unable to happen at all and I’m pleased we have been able to continue this funding stream”.
Groups which received support in the most recent round of funding were: Ballyhalbert Community Association, Ballywalter Action Group, Ballywalter Youth and Community Co-op, Carrowdore Early Years and Community Development, Cloughey and District Community Association, Donaghadee Commerce and Development Group, Donaghadee Community Partnership, East End Residents Association, Greyabbey Village Hall Committee, Killinchy and District Community Association, The Link Resource Centre, Lisbarnett & Lisbane Community Association, Millisle and District Community Association, Millisle Youth Forum, Portaferry Community Collective, Portavogie Action Group and Portavogie Regeneration Forum.
To find out more about funding opportunities for local groups, contact the community development service on 028 9182 4065 or E: geoffrey.porter@ards-council.
