Extra £150k for Antrim and Newtownabbey community support during pandemic

The Covid-19 Community Support Fund has been given a further boost, Antrim and Newtownabbey’s Community Planning Committee has been told.
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A report to councillors has indicated that an additional sum of almost £150,000 has been made available by the Department for Communities.

The funds will be provided under the Community Support Programme.

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The report indicated that council officers have developed a delivery plan to enable the fund to be spent by March 31 and have already consulted with a range of community and voluntary groups.

At the December meeting of the borough council, members agreed that officers could be given delegated authority to deliver grant distribution if “additional funding become available for urgent spend”.

Through the ‘Warm, Well Connected Fund’, a further £29,034.94 is being distributed  to Citizens’ Advice Antrim and Newtownabbey, two Good Morning Projects, A Safe Space to be Me, two Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships and a small grants programme which opened for applications last month.

Councillors have also been advised that support is being made available to support the voluntary, community and social ernterprise sector in Northern Ireland through the National Lottery’s Dormant Accounts Fund.

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As part of the first phase, organisations can now apply for grants of £100,000.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

Click here to read: Newtownabbey Army Cadet cooks up Valentine’s treats to thank NHS staff

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