News Release Page Title

26 July 2006

LOCAL VOLUNTEERS BOOSTED BY £2.93 MILLION FUNDING SCHEME

Photo 1Photo 2Photo 3

Volunteers are set to make a real difference for local communities with up to £2.93 million available from the Community Volunteering Scheme.

Social Development Minister David Hanson today announced that 27 community groups will share £2,216,000 over the next three years, providing key support for projects targeting issues such as mental health, disability, the environment, young people and the elderly. A further £714,900 will be available through the Small Grants section of the Scheme.

The Minister said: "There are more than 448,000 volunteers in Northern Ireland helping make real improvements to the quality of life for themselves and others within their local communities through environmental, economic and social projects.

"Through the Community Volunteering Scheme, the Department for Social Development offers local and regional groups vital support to attract future volunteers and to enhance the skills and opportunities of those already keen to participate in community development."

The main funding will provide support towards salaries and running costs, volunteer expenses and the cost of equipment used in the delivery of the volunteering project.

The Community Volunteering Scheme is administered by the Volunteer Development Agency on behalf of the Department for Social Development. The Small Grants section of the scheme will offer grants of up to £1,000 per year to small, locally based voluntary or community organisations that involve volunteers in their work. The Small Grants are administered and distributed by Northern Ireland's 15 volunteer centres.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Community Volunteering Scheme is a grant programme funded by the Voluntary and Community Unit in the Department for Social Development. The Scheme comprises two main elements - main grants and small grants.

2. The aims of Community Volunteering Schemes are to:

  • Promote active citizenship and diversity and make volunteering more inclusive by increasing activity within groups under-represented in the volunteering population. (These include: people unemployed or not in paid work; 16-25 year olds; people over 50; people with disabilities; and members of minority ethnic communities).
  • Increase the number of people volunteering, particularly those new to volunteer activity.
  • Support the development of good practice and ensure a wide range of volunteering opportunities that enhance learning for volunteers, and other benefits.
  • Support projects that benefit individuals and communities experiencing disadvantage, and contribute to New Targeting Social Need.
3. The following groups have received support from the Main Grant section of the scheme:
  • Upper Andersonstown Community Forum (£89,705)
  • Ballymena Family & Addicts Support Group (£78,721)
  • Ulster Wildlife Trust (£135,712)
  • Marrowbone Community Association (£87,215)
  • Citizens Advice Northern Ireland (£156,936)
  • Ballynafeigh Community Development Association (£80,340)
  • Newbuildings Community & Environmental Association (£56,542)
  • The Cedar Foundation (£54,503)
  • Mind Yourself (£52,954)
  • Kilcranny House (£55,453)
  • The HIV Support Centre (£92,973)
  • Falls Women's Centre (£84,420)
  • Down District Volunteer Bureau (£79,502)
  • Shopmobility Belfast Ltd (£73,822)
  • Greater Shankill Alternatives (£53,768)
  • Belfast & Lisburn Women's Aid (£88,575)
  • Youth Initiatives (£89,871)
  • Forthspring Inter Community Group (£69,028)
  • Age Concern NI (£153,901)
  • Tools for Solidarity - Downpatrick (£19,475)
  • Northern Visions (£55,224)
  • Cruse Bereavement Care (£118,884)
  • Carntogher (£76,515)
  • Gasyard (£89,995)
  • Fermanagh Women's Aid (£53,970)
  • Children's Express (£82,842)
  • Footprints Women's Centre (£85,410)
Photo captions:

Photo 1 - Minister for Social Development, David Hanson chats to Ann Collins, Director of Shopmobility, Belfast. Shopmobility are one of the groups which will receive a grant from DSD through the Community Volunteering Scheme.

Photo 2 - Left to right: - Ann Collins, Director of Shopmobility Belfast and David Hanson, Minister for Social Development are pictured with Shopmobility volunteers, Norman Jeffers and Margaret McCartan. Shopmobility are one of the groups which will receive a grant from DSD through the Community Volunteering Scheme.

Photo 3 - Minister for Social Development, David Hanson pictured with Margaret McCartan, a volunteer at Forestside Shopping Centre's Shopmobility project. Shopmobility Belfast is one of 27 groups set to receive a grant from DSD through its Community Volunteering Scheme.

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