£700K for Mid Ulster community groups

The major investment will provide financial support for a range of activity from sports, arts and culture, community and strategic events to community development and good relations projects.

Grants will be available in 12 categories including Arts & Culture Small Grant; Strategic Arts & Culture Development Programme; Community Development Small Grant; Strategic Community Development and Grant Strategic Events Grant.

Applications can be made for grants in the Sports, Community Festivals and Good Relations categories on a rolling basis throughout the year, and there are funding programmes that operate on an open/close basis throughout the year.

Speaking about the investment, the Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Trevor Wilson said, “The fact that the Council is providing such substantial funding to groups within the community and voluntary section illustrates the strength and importance of the sector in our district. The funding provides a real opportunity for groups to fulfil their goals and do things that were previously only mere aspirations.

“I urge any groups in the district interested to apply and make those wish-lists become realities. And now with the new on-line system, applying has never been easier! I look forward to seeing the many remarkable activities that will come as a result.”

This year the application process has been made even simpler with the introduction of the new on-line application.

Groups will be able to complete the entire application process via the Council’s web site by going to www.midulstercouncil.org/grants.

The funding programme opens on Monday February 27 and closes on Friday March 24 at 3pm. The on-line grant system will be accessible from that date.