‘Hershed’ project shares in lottery fund windfall

Antrim Enterprise Agency is among four groups in Antrim sharing £224,068. They are using a £8,757 grant to provide equipment for the HerShed Project including a cutting machine, embroidery machine, haberdashery items, a storage unit and furniture. This project gives women the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and reduce isolation.

Streetwise Community Circus C.I.C is using a £195,520 grant to run their ‘Age-ility Circus Northern Ireland’ project over the next four years. The project will deliver an annual programme of circus workshops for older people across four council areas including Mid and East Antrim. Workshops include a full range of circus skills such as juggling, hat manipulation, diabolo, plate spinning to improve physical skills and co-ordination as well as increasing social interaction and self-esteem.

Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Director, said: “Our experience of working with communities is that when you listen, people have amazing ideas to make things better and to change people’s lives in their own area. It is great to see the diverse work being done through projects funded by National Lottery money.

“Whether it’s small pots of funding or larger grants, people are being brought together to make good things happen and change lives. When people take the lead and develop their own great ideas, communities really do thrive.

For more information on applying for National Lottery funding, visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk