Andrew Balfour, Local Democracy Reporter
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has endorsed over £42,000 in funding for Christmas celebrations in small towns and villages.
At a Leisure and Community Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 18, members approved officers’ recommendation to grant a total of £42,362 in funding, from the 2024-2025 Christmas Festive Fund, to 30 community and voluntary organisations.
The fund was launched by the council in 2015 to “offer assistance to community and voluntary organisations from the smaller towns, villages and hamlets in the borough to help celebrate Christmas”, an officers’ report said.
The report added: “This fund is specifically designed to mark the lighting of the Christmas tree and help facilitate outdoor festive celebrations within the borough.
“In June 2023 the council agreed to the new parameters of the fund; settlements with a population of 1,000 and above can apply for up to £2,500 towards costs, with priority given to projects that promote wide community involvement for outdoor events.
“Additionally, settlements with a population between 100 and 1,000 can apply for up to £750 towards costs relating to festive entertainment.
“Projects and events should take place in the local community between November 30 and December 18, 2024, and activities must be cross community and open for all residents offering an opportunity for all within the locality to participate.”
Thirty-two applications were received, with two applicants being deemed ineligible. Ballycastle Community Group was ineligible as Ballycastle town receives a council organised Christmas event, while the Compass Advocacy Network was ineligible as it has a settlement of fewer than 100 residents.
Successful grant awards include £2,400 to Dunloy Stronger Together for a Christmas light switch on in the village, £750 to Armoy Community Association for a Christmas festive evening, and £2,500 to Greysteel Community Association for an outdoor Christmas fair.
UUP Councillor Darryl Wilson asked if there were any other funding opportunities for the unsuccessful applicants.
“Is there any other stream that they could tap into that we could maybe contact them and help them with?” he asked. “Because if there is anything available we could signpost them.”
