Council Receives Funding To Tackle Cost Of Living Crisis

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has been allocated £306,432 in Hardship Funding to support those affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

The funding is part of the Department for Communities (DfC) £4 million Hardship Fund which is administered to communities by local authorities across Northern Ireland.

Community projects and organisations who are working to tackle fuel and food poverty will be supported by the DfC Hardship Fund.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will effectively allocate Hardship Funding through Open Call Community Grants and Direct Awards.

The two Community Grant Programmes currently available are:

• Warm Well Connected Grant- aims to support organisations to provide a warm space and hot food provision within community facilities for local residents during the colder winter months of December-March. Applications are now open and are available for completion online at antrimnewtownabbey.eformz.info from 12noon on Friday 29 September 2023. The grant will close on Friday 20 October at 4pm.


• Community Fridges Grant- will provide financial support to organisations who have been delivering a community fridge/cupboard initiative within Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough since 01 April 2022. Applications are now open and are available for completion online at antrimnewtownabbey.eformz.info from 12noon on Friday 29 September 2023. The grant will close on Friday 20 October at 4pm.

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper said: "This funding is important, as it will deliver support to projects and organisations to provide food, fuel and financial relief to families and households experiencing financial difficulties within the Borough during the Cost of Living Crisis.

"The Community Grants available through the Hardship Fund will provide a much needed opportunity for local organisations to apply for funding to increase food provision and access to warm spaces in the community during the colder winter months of December- March. We encourage local community and voluntary groups to embrace this opportunity and utilise the grant aid available".