Lottery grant aided Movenis

The largest of the National Lottery Good Cause Distributors has launched Energy Efficient Venues, a 5m programme supporting organisations to carry out energy efficient improvements to their community venues that will help them make savings on their heating and lighting costs and benefit the environment.

The Big Lottery Fund will be holding two information sessions at the Loughgiel Millennium Centre in Ballymena on Wednesday, June 2 to give local people, community groups and organisations a chance to find out about the programme and whether they can apply.

The first information session takes place from 1pm – 4:30pm, and the second session takes place from 5:30pm – 9pm, so you can attend whatever session best suits you.

Organisations can apply for two grant sizes through the programme. Grants of 2,000 - 10,000 are available for groups to carry out improvements such as putting in double glazing, installing or upgrading the insulation of the venue, or installing a more energy efficient heating system.

Projects can also apply for this grant size to carry out an energy audit to find out how to make their venue more energy efficient or to pay for planning permission if it is needed to develop an application.

And grants of 15,000 - 50,000 could give organisations the opportunity to make a number of small scale improvements, or if the venue is already energy efficient, install micro-generation technology like solar panels, wind turbines, or biomass technologies such as wood pellet boilers.

Carrying out these improvements could help organisations save money so they can run extra community activities such as dancing classes or a youth club and attract new members.

A run down century old hall in Movenis has been transformed into a hub of the community – and they are saving hundreds of pounds every year thanks to some energy efficient measures.

Movenis Area Community Association’s Movenis Orange Hall was awarded a grant of 50,000 by the Big Lottery Fund to carry out a range of improvements included fitting a new roof with insulation, double glazed windows, and a new toilet block extension with access for the disabled.

And around 100 locals now use the 105-year-old hall in Garvagh each week, including a newly formed seniors’ citizens group. “The hall is now so much warmer and much more inviting,” said member Hubert Gilmore.

“The improvements have made such a difference. Not very many people used the hall beforehand because it was so cold but thanks to the improved insulation and new windows usage has trebled now which is great.”

Although the hall is used more, Hubert reckons money is still being saved on electricity and heating bills. “People are keen to use the hall now,” he said. “And it’s also giving us the chance to network with other groups too. The hall has become a hub of the community and it is being talked about in a positive way now.

“Numbers have increased, but our costs are lower than ever, and that because the hall is more energy efficient. It’s really been fantastic for us. “

A new senior citizens’ club boasting 70 members now meets every month in the hall, as does the community group, a musical class, and a local band. Plans for the future include setting up a ladies’ group.

“The new seniors’ club is going very well,” enthused Hubert. “They meet once a month and have beetle drives or games nights and generally have a good old social occasion. And the community association also has a lot planned for the hall including an Ulster-Scots Festival on June 10 and 11.”

“We are expecting lots of people at this event so we have hired a marquee to go beside the hall. Other occasions include family nights and concerts, a Halloween festival, St Patrick’s celebrations, a May Ball and Christmas parties for the seniors and children.

“We could not have done any of these before as the hall was too cold, but now it’s all possible and we are just over the moon.”

Information and application packs for the Energy Efficient Venues programme are available. You can access these by visiting the programme pages of our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk or by calling the Big Lottery Fund’s Information and Events team on 028 9055 1455.