The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) has awarded nine new grants totalling £150,000 through the Village Catalyst partnership programme, supporting projects that breath new life into rural communities across Northern Ireland.
image: The National School, Bushmills -AHF website
… awards will help….to tackle rural poverty and social isolation in their area…
AHF writes:
These awards will help charities, social enterprises and other not-for-profit groups to tackle rural poverty and social isolation in their area by helping them to test ideas, and develop sustainable new uses, for a disused historic building in their village, which is either listed or in a conservation area.
The buildings benefiting from support in this latest round of funding include two former national schools, a fort dating back over 400 years, an old bank, a former Presbyterian Church, and a thatched, mudwalled cottage.
Proposals for the buildings at risk address local community need and include delivering mental health and wellbeing support for young people; a Men’s Shed; a mixed-use hub for a diverse range of community groups; affordable housing; childcare provision; and flexible workspaces.
A full list of successful projects can be found below. [summarised]
Project Viability Grants:
- Convent Hall, Rostrevor – Kilbroney Finance Council
- Former Danske Bank, Castlewellan – Glór Uachtar Tíre
- Poyntzpass National School – Poyntzpass and District Local History Society
Project Development Grants
- The National School, Bushmills – The Bushmills Trust
- Caledon Stores – Caledon Regeneration Partnership
- Culmore Fort – Culmore Community Partnership
- Kilmore Cottage – Kilmore O’Neilland Building Preservation Trust
- The Old Meeting House – The Cloughey Heritage Group
- St Patrick’s Hall, Fintona – St Patrick’s Hall Fintona Management Committee
