£3,500 shared out between seven Lisnaskea community projects

by Gráinne Connolly

Seven community projects in the Lisnaskea area are celebrating after they were voted funds from a community pot offered by the Fermanagh and Omagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

The community projects each received a share of £3,500 at a Community Cash event held in the Castle Park Leisure Centre, Lisnaskea.

Community Cash is a Participatory Budgeting (PB) initiative giving local people the opportunity to make democratic decisions about funding for their areas. 

Groups in the Lisnaskea area who had submitted their entry were invited to take part in a public voting process where they each had two minutes to pitch their project before the audience cast their votes. The top seven of the fourteen pitches each received funding of £500.

A community celebration event is planned for April 2019 when groups will have the opportunity to explain how the community has benefitted from their project being funded.

Cllr Allan Rainey MBE, PCSP Chairperson, said,

“This is the first time that the PSCP has used Participatory Budgeting and we are delighted with the response to Community Cash.

"The number and variety of projects coming forward reflects the vibrancy of the community and voluntary sector in the district.

"I am pleased that so many people turned up to vote at the event and have taken an interest in their local area. Following the success of the Lisnaskea event the PCSP plans to roll out Community Cash across the district in the coming months”.

Chief Inspector Clive Beatty said, “Cohesive communities make for a safer place to live, work and play and I am delighted at the response this initiative has received. 

"Fourteen fantastic projects all pitched their ideas of how the community cash would help bring communities together and I look forward to seeing the value this adds across the Lisnaskea area. 

"Empowering communities in this way is a refreshing idea and although some projects did not receive funding this time, I believe everyone in the community will still benefit”.

The seven groups who benefitted from the Community Cash fund were Brookeborough Primary School  PTSA, Carroysl Community Association, Erne East Community Partnership, IMPACT Youth Club, Knocks Drama Group, Little Lambs Mother & Toddler Group and Oak Healthy Living Centre.

Stephen Mulligan, Community Cohesion Coordinator at Erne East Community Partnership who had £500 awarded said, “Our First Responder Scheme had 15 additional volunteers trained in September by NI Ambulance Service.  

"I am very grateful for this contribution that will be used towards equipment needed for the new responders.  

"Participatory budgeting is recognised internationally now as a way for people to have a direct say in how local money is spent.  

"It was very competitive on the night but quite humbling when other community groups also hoping for funding, decided to vote for our group.  Their trust in our group could be rewarded in the future if one of our responders saves the life of someone in their community.”

Wendy Campbell from Little Lambs Mother & Toddler Group said, “the funding we have received through Community Cash will be of enormous benefit to our group.

"The purchase of soft play equipment will greatly enhance the facilities providing children with a more stimulating play experience. We are very grateful to all those people on the night who voted for us”.