Thirteen schools, sports clubs and community groups across the ABC Borough have secured support to turn local environmental ideas into practical projects.

The funding comes through the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme, with projects planned around community gardens, greener shared spaces and other sustainable initiatives designed to improve local surroundings and support biodiversity.

Who has received funding?

Successful groups include Rectory Community Action Group, Glenanne Community Association, Portadown BBOB FC, Aeon Community Arts Ltd, Richhill and District Trust and Ardress Area Regeneration Group.

Local schools receiving support include Tandragee Junior High School, Carrick Primary School in Lurgan, St Brendan’s Primary School and Nursery Unit in Craigavon, and St Patrick’s Primary School in Aghagallon.

Healthy Club Committee at Madden Raparees Armagh is also among the successful groups.

Killicomaine Residents Group and Friends of St Michael’s Primary School in Clady secured funding from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Local ideas making a visible difference

The individual projects may be modest in scale, but the scheme is built around local people improving the places where they live, meet and spend time.

There is already plenty of community effort behind that work. Volunteers involved in small grants projects across the ABC Borough contributed 812 hours last year.

For LivingABC, that is perhaps the most interesting part of the story. Improvements to our towns and villages do not always begin with major developments. Sometimes they start with a local group, an overlooked space and a good idea for making it better.