Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Deserving groups battle for store’s funding help
So when we qualified we thought, ‘Oh OK!’”
Since qualifying, the dance students and their families have been busy fundraising to cover the cost of going to Blackpool.
Samantha added if the studio won the Lidl funding the money would go towards kitting the girls out for the milestone trip.
She said: “I’ve got tracksuits designed for the girls but it would be great to be able to wear the tracksuits and show everyone that although we haven’t been going for long that we’ve here and proud.”
Samantha started Studio 86 in May last year in the wake of Carrickfergus hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
She added: “I was seeing all this stuff on the news of anti-social behaviour in Carrick and I thought there must be something I could do to help. I was running another
CARRICKFERGUS
business to do with ballet and I’m trained in other forms of dancing so I thought why not give this a go and see if there is an interest in it.”
Starting with just 10 students, Studio 86 now has 250 young members, including many boys.
Samantha said: “All of my students are extremely passionate about dancing.
“There are definitely some wee superstars in Carrick and I can’t wait for them to show Carrick it’s not about where you are from but who you are and that you are driven to get there.”
The monthly lunch club doesn’t receive any funding from the local council and is in danger of closing its doors.
CR Forum runs a drop-in on a Monday night at Barron Hall for women of all backgrounds and ages tackling problems including mental health, loneliness and lack of family nearby.
Group aims to improve the lives of the villagers with plans for a play area and improved seating.
The allotments encourage a sense of community while providing homes with nourishing food as well as being an outlet for outdoor exercise.
Volunteers want young people to face their fears through drama production.
A crosscommunity group that aims to educate women in all aspects of local politics and history. It enables mostly senior citizens and carers to establish friendships and have a much needed respite.
ARK works closely with schools and agencies to ease the financial burden of children starting a new school year.
CJG is a voluntary-run charity that exists to create social opportunities for young people with learning disabilities. It is affiliated to Mencap.
This is a friendship service for older people in the area. The group’s volunteers ring older people every morning to make sure they are OK and to have a friendly conversation with them.
This group organises social and cultural events to bring the community together.
A new local charity with a vision that everyone should be able to participate together, regardless of their ability or age.
An emergency search and rescue response unit, on call 24/7 at all times of the year.
Volunteers provide support to more than 200 senior citizens by calling them and bringing them to doctor/hospital appointments or shopping.
Provides somewhere for senior citizens to meet and have a three-course meal once a week, costing members just £3 each.
A place for men aged 60+ to meet, discuss issues, share skills and explore new interests.
Every year this charity finds new homes for around 1,000 cats and dogs, which have been saved from possible destruction.
This class for older people aims to develop traditional handicrafts such as quilting and embroidery while helping to reduce social isolation and promote good mental health.
This group delivers a wide range of activities and programmes, including a food growing project, for people of all ages.
This is somewhere children can attend for sensory needs, counselling and more. The project has contact rooms – sensory and toddler – and farm animals for the family to enjoy while at the centre. They hope to open a children’s community sensory garden.
A charity run by volunteers with a friendly atmosphere. The people there are always ready to help and listen to everyone with an open mind. A good place for people to share their problems and be cared for.
This school has been running for 25 years to provide a fun facility through football for boys and girls throughout July and August on Saturday Mornings. It is run by local volunteers. They need new sportswear for the children.
This charity makes telephone calls to the elderly and vulnerable adults in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough. Due to lack of funding it now faces closure. This is a daily telephone service to the housebound, vulnerable and often more mature residents of the area.
This is a cross community group that gives food to those in emergency situations. Most people are referred through social services or citizens advice. They are signposted to the foodbank and given food for their families for three days. Some supermarkets donate out-ofdate bread, other goods and the local community donates food items.