A new grants scheme aimed at helping volunteers to take practical action to improve their local environment and support the growth of civic pride in Newry and Mourne is being launched by environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful in association with Newry and Mourne District Council.
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Newry and Mourne District Council will also be working with the Department of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to launch the ‘Live Here, Love Here’ small grants scheme which is designed to tackle issues such as poor environmental quality, littering and dilapidation, by encouraging volunteers to take practical action in their local communities.
The scheme forms part of the wider ‘Live Here, Love Here’ programme, which includes an innovative media campaign, due to launch at the beginning of next year, and the creation of a calendar of volunteering opportunities to encourage participation all year round.
The scheme is open to constituted volunteer groups operating in the Newry and Mourne District Council area taking action to improve their local environment. The deadline for applications is noon on 22 September 2014.
“We are delighted to support this scheme and would strongly encourage volunteer groups to come forward and apply for this funding opportunity. The scheme will provide vital support for local groups working on the ground to improve their local environment and bring about positive change for communities across the council area.”
Ian Humphreys, Chief Executive at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, says: “This scheme will help volunteers to take practical action in their local communities to improve their local environment, how it is managed and support the growth of civic pride in communities. By working together and encouraging everyone to take part, we can start to tackle the negative impact of littering and other environmental behaviours and create a cleaner, greener, more prosperous society.”
Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan, says: “Citizens quite rightly place most importance on their local environment. A clean, healthy local environment is a source of both civic pride and individual wellbeing. It is fitting that my Department joins with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the Tourist Board, and local councils to support a grant scheme to help citizens and community groups take practical action in their neighbourhoods, which will restore and enhance the environment and generate a great sense of pride.”
Laura McCorry, Director of Corporate Development at the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, says: “Earlier this year, we witnessed incredible levels of community spirit and civic pride in the run up to the Giro d’Italia. It was inspirational to see what could be achieved through local communities working together in their own areas.
“This scheme provides an opportunity to harness that community spirit and channel it into projects that can make positive improvements within local communities. We know that our visitors value a clean, and green natural environment so we are delighted to be supporting the Small Grants Scheme which we are confident will make an important contribution towards achieving a cleaner, greener Northern Ireland.”
For more information on the ‘Live Here, Love Here’ small grants scheme and to download an application pack please visit the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful website at www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org/liveherelovehere.aspx or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/keepnorthernirelandbeautiful
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