Newly Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick took part in the local launch of this year’s ‘Live Here, Love Here’ Small Grants Scheme.
The scheme takes a fresh approach to improving our local environment and building a sense of civic pride in our local communities. Grants are available from £500 to £5,000 and are open to volunteer and community groups, all school and third level education organisations, youth groups and sports clubs undertaking civic pride projects in the Newry Mourne and Down District.
Councillor Fitzpatrick said: “Every environmental improvement action that takes place in our local communities, however small, adds to the overall wellbeing of our district. The Small Grants Scheme will provide much needed funding to enable those projects whose applications are successful to flourish. I would highly recommend local groups to apply before the deadline of 1 August.”
The scheme has the support of Local Councils, the Department of the Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tourism Northern Ireland, Choice Housing, Coca-Cola and Keep Northern Beautiful, and will provide support to volunteer projects that use innovative ways to reduce littering and dog fouling, improve the way the local environment is looked after, whether urban, rural or coastal, contribute to the development of civic pride within a community with a focus on environmental improvement and enhance or attract tourism to your community through environmental improvements.
The Small Grant Scheme is also open to all Housing Association residents and Coastal and Inland Waterway Communities with support from Choice Housing and Coca-Cola throughout all council areas in Northern Ireland.
Choice Housing are partnering with ‘Live Here, Love Here’ as a commitment to enable people to secure tangible benefits and build stronger community spirit. Their support to ‘Live Here, Love Here’ will help amplify the campaign’s efforts to revitalise and re-energise neighbourhoods across Northern Ireland.
Ian Humphreys, Chief Executive at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: “These small grants support voluntary practical action where people want to grow a strong ‘can-do’ community spirit. It is exciting to see the grant scheme growing with the seven councils, DAERA and Tourism NI now joined by Choice Housing and Coca Cola. This simply means more money reaching the places and people whose ambition is to bring about positive change where they live.”
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Closing date for applications is 12noon 1 August 2016.
For more information on the ‘Live Here, Love Here’ Small Grants Scheme please visit:
or contact Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful on 028 9073 6920.
