PIPS and Larne RFC share £13k Big Lotto funding pot

The small grants programme is awarding more than £13,000 to the two local groups as part of a grants roll-out of £647,376 to 77 groups across Northern Ireland.

The Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm (PIPS), which supports people suffering from depression or self-harm, provides services for those who have been bereaved through suicide, and encourages people dealing with mental ill health to speak out and get help, has received funding to the tune of £6,738.

The Larne group, which is part of the umbrella organisation PIPS Belfast but is an independent organisation, will use the grant to supply a bereavement pack for families, deliver three suicide prevention programmes locally and to buy IT equipment.

They will also use their funding to promote their work in the Larne area.

And Larne Rugby Football Club has also been awarded a grant of £6,303 to provide a structured programme of activities to support young people aged four to 18 in the Glynn area.

Frank Hewitt, Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, said: “The Big Lottery Fund’s NI Awards for All programme funds health, education, environment and community projects that help people bring about positive change in their lives, improve health and well-being, develop skills and create safer communities.

“The application process is simple and accessible and shall remain so, making it easy for applicants to successfully apply for small pots of funding that can have such a big impact on local communities and lives.”

Awards for All offers community, voluntary and statutory groups the chance to apply for small grants of between £500 and £10,000 that will have a big impact on local communities and the lives of people most in need.

Application forms and guidance notes are available to download at www.awardsforall.org.uk.

For more details call the Big Lottery Fund on 028 9055 1455, or e-mail [email protected]