Radius opens Community Chest for local groups

Grants available to support the work of community groups across Northern Ireland

Local groups planning community events and projects could get a much-needed boost from Radius Housing’s annual Community Chest funding programme. The Community Chest is open to all types of groups and will award grants of between £250 & £1000 to support a wide range of projects which contribute to community well-being and development.

This is the second year of the Community Chest programme, which in its first year saw Radius award more than £8000 in funding to 10 projects. These included Brain fit classes held in Ballinascreen Fold, a sensory garden at Ballyclare High School, reforming waste ground into allotments with polytunnels at Tullyvallan, and relaxing art classes at Quoile Fold. The 2019/20 fund has grown and with this Radius aims to support even more projects right across Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of the 2019/20 fund, Grainne Mullin, Community Investment Manager at Radius Housing said “At Radius we want to help communities to prosper and get involved. This has led to our developing the Community Chest funding programme to help local organisations & groups to hold events, learning programmes or other projects which help strengthen the community. Last year the programme was able to provide funding for some really innovative projects, from community festivals and new community spaces, to projects in art, sport and mental wellbeing. Each project was able to bring clear benefits to local people.

The success of the first year means we are able to increase this year’s funding. We would encourage staff, tenants and local groups to come together to discuss how they could benefit from this funding programme in their schemes and their wider neighbourhoods.”

The Community Chest is open for applications now, and any group which meets the essential criteria can apply. Contact our Tenant Engagement Team for more info.

To apply, email tenant.engagement@radiushousing.org or contact 0330 123 0888 and ask for the Community Investment Team.

ENDS

Notes:

Projects supported in 2018/19 were:

Tullyvallan Polytunnel- turning waste ground into a green area with allotments & a polytunnel.

Ballyclare High School- Creation of a sensory Garden.

Falls Resident’s Association- Funding for a community festival.

Carrickblacker Fold- Boccia classes with other schemes.

Quoile Fold- Art Classes to improve combat social isolation & learn new skills.

Grahamsbridge Manor- Community Gardening project.

Ligoniel Improvement Association- Christmas event to target social isolation for elderly residents.

Ballinascreen Fold- Brain fit classes for tenants & people from the surrounding areas.

Tidy Towns Randalstown- Environmental Improvements in the area around Maine Fold.

LIA - partnership group- Part funding for a children’s capacity building trip to South.