Community groups get lottery cash

£2m of lottery money will go to community schemes

Northern Ireland community projects have been given more than £2m by the Big Lottery Fund.

The five schemes to benefit include suicide support and young people's drug and alcohol addiction programmes.

The fund's Reaching Communities Northern Ireland programme eventually aims to distribute £18m to projects.

Big Lottery Fund NI Chair Breidge Gadd said the grants were a vote of confidence for the work of the voluntary and community sector.

Focus on Family in Coleraine, has received a grant of more than £400,000 to continue to deliver the Family Links Nurturing Programme.

Suicide Awareness and Support group in west Belfast are another group to benefit.

It has received a grant of more than £200,000 to support those at risk of suicide and for families bereaved through suicide.

Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum in Belfast was awarded the most money - nearly £500,000 to help young people improve their self-esteem.

Drumgor Detached Youth Work Project in Craigavon offer help to marginalised and "at risk" young people, between the ages 10 and 18. It has received £469,115 to help their work.

HURT, who provide support for substance users and their families in Londonderry, Limavady, Strabane and Dungiven, have received a grant of £491,926.