Fermanagh Trust’s young grant makers award their funding to local projects

At their celebration event in Fermanagh House, the ‘Grant To Give Back’ team, a grant making committee run by young people for young people, awarded grants totalling just under £4000 to five local projects.

Grant To Give Back was established by the Fermanagh Trust, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, to allocate resources to youth based initiatives, tackling issues of direct importance to young people. This group took complete ownership of the programme, leading their own research, planning, promotion and decision making.

 

Back L-R Orla Greene grant maker, Aideen McGinley Chairperson of Fermanagh Trust, Morgan McGrath grant maker, Sonya Johnston Fermanagh Trust and Eibhlinn Fee grant maker. Front L-R Roisin Conlon St Kevin’s College and Emma Corrigan grant maker.

One of the young grant makers Eibhlinn Fee said “This has been an intense process but we’ve really enjoyed it and gained lots of new skills. Thanks to the Fermanagh Trust for this opportunity and for the encouragement throughout. Also, congratulations to the successful applications which all focus on a topic we were so keen to address – young people’s mental health. We’re proud to support these great projects and look forward to seeing the positive impact they make.”

 

Back L-R Aideen McGinley Chairperson of Fermanagh Trust and Eibhlinn Fee grant maker. Front L-R Aine Cox Boho Youth Club and Emma Corrigan grant maker.

 

First to receive their award was St Kevin’s College, Parent and Teacher Association were awarded funding to carry out an ambitious emotional and mental health well-being programme for their students. A variety of workshops including reflexology, mindfulness, yoga, arts and crafts, nutrition, and coping techniques for managing stress and anxiety.

Devenish Partnership Forum will use their funding to carry out a Mental Health Programme, delivered as part of their summer activities for young people. Using arts, crafts, camping, bushcraft, cooking and outdoor games to improve well-being, they are also planning to facilitate workshops on anxiety, sleeping techniques and mindfulness to encourage positive coping techniques for young people experiencing stress or anxiety.

Enniskillen Rugby Club will use their grant to make rugby accessible to boys in traditionally ‘non-rugby’ schools. Their plan is to provide equipment to these schools, provide coaching and have a Rugby tournament with the aim of increasing access to sport to improve physical activity, have fun and enjoy new experiences. Through participation boys will not only improve their physical well-being but they will improve their confidence, their teamwork skills and their emotional well-being.

Belcoo GAA were awarded funding to carry out a 10-week programme introducing football skills specifically for young girls who have never played before. Using a variety of fun games and activities they will encourage girls to get outdoors, off screens and participate in outdoor activity, their aim to help girls build new skills, gain confidence, and improve their mental health.

Finally Boho Youth Club will use their grant award to carry out a series of summer activities. As a rural area with poor transport links, they are aiming to reduce isolation, encourage friendships and improve young people’s emotional well-being. A wide range of activities are planned including nature trails, music sessions, meditation sessions, arts & crafts, games, and team-building sessions.

 

Back L-R Sonya Johnston Fermanagh Trust and Eibhlinn Fee grant maker. Front L-R Aisling McAloon Belcoo GAA and Orla Greene grant maker.

 

Aideen McGinley, Chairperson of the Fermanagh Trust added “Congratulations to these five innovative projects funded and also our young grant makers for the hard work they’ve put in. This was a great group to work with, totally embracing the concept. Ultimately, thanks to their involvement they have provided local projects with much needed funding which will surely make a positive difference. This is why we do this process, rather than simply give the money out ourselves - Listen to the young people, because they know what their key needs and priorities are.”

 

Back L-R Orla Greene grant maker and Sonya Johnston Fermanagh Trust. Front L-R Karen Flanagan Devenish Partnership Forum and Morgan McGrath grant maker.

 

The grants distributed by the Grant To Give Back team was thanks to a recent fundraiser by Ultimate Health and Fitness, Irvinestown. The team were pleased to coincide their cheque presentation with Philanthropy Fortnight 2021, which marks the stories behind modern philanthropy in Northern Ireland, celebrating and recognising the value of what has been achieved through giving, highlighting the impact on local lives and sharing the joy of giving.

 

Back L-R Aideen McGinley Chairperson of Fermanagh Trust and Emma Corrigan grant maker. Front L-R Simon O’Hare Enniskillen Rugby Club and Morgan McGrath grant maker.