Rural Action has announced the first 3 recipients of the Rural Action Awards Scheme for the month of November 2022.
The scheme which launched in October 2022 seen an overwhelming response with Annaghmore LOL 2033, Curragh Young Farmers and Fermanagh Fun Farm C.I.C. each randomly selected to receive £1000 to carry out their chosen community project.
Annaghmore LOL 2033 will create fruit hampers for distribution to senior members of the local community thus strengthening links formed during Covid-19 when the group offered support to isolated and vulnerable members of the community.
Curragh Young Farmers will continue to build on their work with young people and organise social events to encourage young people to engage and get involved.
Fermanagh Fun Farm C.I.C., a social enterprise, will use the award to better equip their tearoom thus enhancing the local facilities and providing opportunities to host events to bring the community together.
Speaking about the Awards, Tracey McNally, Chairperson of Rural Action said, “The Rural Action Awards were recently launched to support rural communities in celebrating their own achievements. We have been overwhelmed with the response to the scheme and congratulate the first 3 recipients. We hope to support up to 12 volunteer led community action projects by March 2023 with recipients chosen each month.”
“Rural community-based organisations in Northern Ireland, or the border region of Ireland can apply for and be in with a chance of securing £1000 or €1000 towards their project.”
“We are not prescriptive of the type of project we will support. The only stipulation we have is that the project is volunteer led and supports wider community engagement and celebration.”
The scheme is open to constituted rural community-based organisations including charities, not for profit community groups, sporting and cultural organisations, heritage groups, Parent Teacher Associations, youth groups/clubs and social enterprises. The scheme seeks to support practical, tangible and timebound projects where the project must complete within 12 weeks.
Groups wishing to enter must complete a simple online form available at www.ruralaction.co by the 20th of each month to be considered. Each application is valid for 3 months. The successful groups will then be randomly selected and following a simple verification process, can avail of the £1000/€1000 to use for their community action project. Full terms and conditions are available on the website.
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Notes to Editor
1. Photo Caption: Tracey McNally, Chairperson of Rural Action, and Teresa Canavan, Chief Executive encourage applications to the Rural Action Awards Scheme.
2. The 3 recipients of the Rural Action Awards for November 2022 are Annaghmore LOL 2033, (Castledawson, Co. Londonderry); Curragh Young Farmers (Maghera, Co. Londonderry) and Fermanagh Fun Farm C.I.C. (Lisbellaw, Co. Fermanagh).
3. Rural Action was formed in 2019 as a not-for-profit social purpose company and became a registered charity in March 2022. It was established to meet an identified need for a regional delivery organisation with a focus on supporting grassroots communities. It seeks to make a positive contribution to the everyday lives of rural communities.
4. Our ambition to achieve this is not only through the work we do for others, but in our capacity as a not-for-profit charitable organisation to give back, to support and inspire rural communities to design, deliver and implement practical projects.
5. As we celebrated our third birthday and AGM, we announced the establishment of a Rural Action Awards scheme in October 2022.
6. The scheme is open to Rural community-based organisations based in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland.
7. Groups are invited to enter their details into a draw of £1000/€1000. The scheme will run from October 2022 to March 2023 with 12 awards being made.
8. Terms and conditions and how to enter can be found at www.ruralaction.co