CHRISTMAS came early this year for a Derry centre which cares for children with special needs.
Little Orchids Children’s Centre in Gransha has been awarded a grant of £50,000 for its Sensory Garden – Children’s Play Area project to create a special play place to improve the lives of children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The Derry group is one of fifteen community projects across the UK that are sharing in today’s special funding package to mark the 15th anniversary of the National Lottery.
The money goes to support imaginative schemes that will enhance local facilities and help people enjoy their local area more.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, has awarded over £480 million to more than 10,500 projects across Northern Ireland, bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of those most in need.
Projects funded over the years in Northern Ireland range from youth schemes tackling underage drinking and anti-social behaviour, to initiatives refurbishing rural halls for community events and activities, and projects running tea dances and computer classes for older people.
Little Orchids, which supports 24 children with needs including profound sensory and physical disabilities, language impairments, autism and Downs Syndrome, will use the grant to turn a concrete outdoor area beside their centre into a vibrant play area and sensory garden where they can play and express themselves.