Anti-Recession Grants Help Groups Benefit From Lower Heating Bills

A support group for alcohol and drug abusers has been given £8,127 to install a new energy-efficient heating system to improve its building and cut heating costs.

Forum For Action On Substance Abuse is one of 14 groups across Northern Ireland awarded recession-busting, environment-friendly grants totalling almost £119,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Energy Efficient Venues programme.

The group, which runs a centre in Bangor where young people and their families can go for treatments and family intervention, will install a gas combi boiler, new radiators, thermostatic radiator valves and a time clock.

By carrying out the improvements the group will make their venue more energy efficient, cut down on their bills and save money that they can put back into the vital services they offer.

Dundrum Cricket Club, which runs cricket teams as well as activities and events for people in the local area, has been awarded £4,863 to install double glazed windows and double glazed doors in its clubhouse and insulate the venue's roof.

Glebe Cross Community Development Association, outside Strabane, has received a grant of £3,528 to install double-glazed PVC windows and doors.

Tinytoons Community Playgroup will also use £6,720 to make their venue, a former RAF building in Downpatrick, warmer and more energy efficient.

They will replace the venue's existing windows with double glazing, renew an existing boiler system and install roof insulation, helping them reduce their bills and save money they can put back into the activities and education they provide for local children.

The grants programme is now closed to applications.

(NE)