The organisation continues to support projects that also make a positive societal impact
Co-Ownership is delighted to announce the four recipients of its Community Fund. The Community Fund initiative is available to support projects that make a positive social impact in the lives of individuals, local neighbourhoods, and communities across Northern Ireland. The selected, who will share the £20,000 fund, are Street Soccer NI, Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum, Extern NI and Ligoniel Improvement Association.
Co-Ownership has been supporting people into home ownership across Northern Ireland since 1978. It is committed to working for social good and supports people who would not otherwise be able to own a home of their own.
The annual Community Fund welcomed applications from organisations in Northern Ireland that needed funding to deliver a project in one of a number of areas
Mark Graham, Chief Executive at Co-Ownership, explains: “We’re proud to announce the recipients of our Community Fund. These worthy organisations all set an example and meet our criteria by helping to regenerate, rebuild, and revitalise neighbourhoods and communities, supporting elderly or disabled people and, or providing advice and educational services to promote either financial capability and inclusion, energy efficiency or biodiversity in the community.”
Recipient, Street Soccer NI aims to bring positive change to people’s lives through football. It works with disadvantaged groups, including the homeless, people with addictions and/or mental health issues, ex-prisoners and asylum seekers. Alongside football it offers support with housing, employment, education, addictions, mental health issues and more.
Justin McMinn, Chief Executive Officer at Street Soccer NI, comments, “We’re delighted to receive funding from Co-Ownership towards a van for our new social enterprise. This will not only help us generate income for the charity to help us sustain our work across Northern Ireland but will also provide support to homeless clients moving into their own tenancy and help people in need of furniture.”
Fellow Community Fund recipient, Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum, aims to support people of all ages to live a healthy lifestyle. It offers a wide range of programmes addressing physical and mental health.
The Forum’s Mary Breslin states, “Funding from Co-Ownership will help support our members by providing part-funding for a new men’s shed building and a range of holistic programmes within the shed setting.
“This community space helps members to reconnect, converse, create and make new friendships, encouraging various wellbeing and mental health benefits. During COVID, our shed members were very isolated at home and are looking forward to building back better.”
Recipient, Extern NI, a leading social justice charity, support around 20,000 people each year to change their lives. For over 40 years, it has worked alongside children, young people, and families facing challenges to empower positive change and support family unity.
Sharon Smith, Manager of Extern’s Reach Out programme, observes, “This generous funding of £5,000 from the Co-Ownership Community Fund will enable Extern to support even more people who are coping with issues such as mental health and isolation.
“With the impact of Covid continuing, our service referrals are dramatically increasing, with many more individuals now experiencing mental health challenges for the first time. This donation will allow us to extend our existing mental health services in the Greater Belfast area to ensure that many more vulnerable and isolated individuals can receive the critical support they urgently need.”
Community resource organisation, Ligoniel Improvement Association, works collaboratively to provide services, the improvement of facilities, and the guidance and support of individuals and groups in creating a vibrant and flourishing community. The Association provides an opportunity for people who live or work in different parts of the area to discuss issues of common concern, influence the way in which services are provided and improve their local area.
Ligoniel Improvement Association’s Pauline O’Neill, adds, “We erected poly tunnels in response to local community needs. Thanks to funding secured from Co-Ownership’s Community Fund, we will be able to restore one of the poly tunnels and, therefore, ensure that our horticultural programmes will continue and attract a wider audience of participants.
“When the poly tunnel is refurbished, we will be able to redesign the interior to enable us to use the space more effectively. We will be able to offer more opportunities for residents to come together, in a relaxed environment and plant, grow and harvest their own produce. This will encourage them to adopt a healthier lifestyle and enable them to form new friendships. “
Co-Ownership has helped over 30,000 into home ownership over the last 40 years with the support of the Department for Communities.
To find out more about Co-Ownership and its Community Fund, visit co-ownership.org
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