VOTE NOW FOR NEWRY GROUPS TO WIN £50,000 IN THE PEOPLE’S PROJECTS.
Two inspirational community projects in Newry need your vote to win £50,000 of National Lottery funding.
Through The People’s Projects, five groups across Northern Ireland are campaigning for public votes to win a share of £150,000 to help them make a difference to their community.
The five groups have all been shortlisted as part of this year’s The People’s Projects – a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund and ITV, which gives the public a unique say in where National Lottery money should go in their area. The three with the most public votes will receive grants of up to £50,000.
Voting opens online on Monday 1 April with all five projects showcasing their work on the UTV evening news, the Daily Mirror NI and Belfast Live from 1-5 April.
Newry Helping the Homeless will feature on Thursday 4 April. If successful, the group will receive £50,000 for its Hope Thru Soap project, providing a mobile shower unit for homeless people in Newry and Belfast to have a hot shower in a private space. They will also provide food, clothes, haircuts and medical check-ups with help from trained volunteers, which include medical professionals. The project will improve hygiene and wellbeing for homeless people, raise awareness of homelessness in the community and attract new volunteers.
Drake Music Project Northern Ireland will feature on Friday 5 April. If successful, the group will receive £50,000 for its MERGE project, to get 150 people of all ages with physical and learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s and Dementia involved in creative activities and music production. Workshops will take place across Northern Ireland including, Newry, Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. The project will give people the opportunity to express themselves creatively and independently with the help of specialist equipment, improving their confidence and self-esteem, and connecting them with the community.
The group will campaign for votes against the Adam’s Autism Adventures project by Adam’s Camp NI, the Hand on Heart project by Ards Peninsula First Responders Scheme, and the H.O.P.E for Communities project by Equine Enrichment C.I.C in Derry/Londonderry.
Voting opens at 9am on Monday 1 April at: www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk *
UTV On-Screen Journalist Paul Reilly said: “The People’s Projects is an exciting opportunity for you to make a real difference to your community. We are showcasing some fantastic shortlisted projects across Northern Ireland this week. All you have to do to get involved is tune in and vote for your favourite project.”
Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Director, said: “We are proud to support grassroots groups across Northern Ireland that are using the vision, determination and drive of local people to strengthen communities. The People’s Projects showcases the best of these and is a chance for you to have your say on how National Lottery funding can help your community to thrive.”
* Voting closes at noon on Monday 15 April 2019. People can vote online once per region and will need an email address or mobile phone number to verify your vote. To vote and for Ts & Cs please visit: www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk
