£1.2m for N Ireland Challenge Fund from plastic bag levy
Howard Lake | 28 October 2013 | News
Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mark Durkan has announced new funding of £1.2 million for local environment projects.
The Challenge Fund has been provided from the Carrier Bag Levy which introduced a 5p charge for carrier bags in Northern Ireland earlier this year and is designed for communities and organisations to develop a number of local environmental projects across Northern Ireland.
The Challenge Fund was run as a pilot scheme for the last two years. Due to its success it is now being allocated this core funding of £1 million for 2014. In addition, this year the Forest Service is providing £200,000 for forest–based partner/community–led projects.
Minister Durkan said: “This fund is about challenging and inspiring local communities to look at what they can do differently to improve the environment. It’s about encouraging and supporting energetic partnerships between local businesses, schools, youth groups and residents; those who want to transform and shape their local environment for the better.”
Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) has been contracted to administer the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s (NIEA) Challenge Fund for 2014.
Application and guidance forms can be downloaded from the NIEL website and the deadline for applications is 15 November 2013.
Photo: Used plastic bags by daizuoxin on Shutterstock.com
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.