24/07/2003

£2m community group funding announced

Local voluntary and community groups are to benefit from £2 million funding announced by the government today.

Social Development minister John Spellar said that the money would be donated to the Community Foundation's Endowment Fund and that this money would generate at least a further £2 million from other sources.

"I am acutely aware that many in the voluntary and community sector have concerns about their future - about how they can replace sources of funding that are either reducing or drawing to an end. I share their concern about the possible impact on services and facilities they provide that form an intrinsic part of the lives of so many people," he said.

Avila Kilmurray, Director of Community Foundation in Belfast, added: “We have already received indications that £2 million will be made available by a major charitable donor to augment the investment in the Foundation endowment. Consequently today we pledge to raise a further £1 million to complement the amounts already secured.

“The increased endowment investment will lay the basis for long-term grant-making to community and voluntary sector projects across Northern Ireland.”

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, formerly the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, was established in 1979 to fund and support community organisations in Northern Ireland.

(MB)

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