A West Belfast football club is set to benefit from a £25,000 grant to improve their home ground.
Belfast Celtic - based at Glen Road Heights - have received the significant sum from the Whitemountain Programme which will help them undertake the next phase of their ambitious plans to transform facilities at their Glen Road Heights pitch.
The funding will be used to replace the existing spectator fencing which is no longer fit for purpose. It will build on recent improvements to the club's car parking and toilet facilities, with the club's long term aspiration being the development of a floodlit 3G pitch.
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Breedon Ireland’s Whitemountain Programme provides funding for community amenity and biodiversity projects within 15 miles of Mullaghglass landill site through the Landfill Communities Fund. To date over £8.5million has been allocated to almost 250 projects.
These range from sports facilities to community halls, and from wildflower meadows to play areas.
Richard Rogers of Groundwork Northern Ireland said: "We are delighted to be able to help Belfast Celtic improve their facilities through this grant.
"Sports clubs like this play a vital role within communities and investing in their playing facilities is essential if they are to continue to be successful."
John Morgan of Belfast Celtic added: "We really appreciate this support from the Whitemountain Programme. Our current fencing isn't fit for purpose and this will be another big step forward in our efforts to develop a state of the art facility for the community in West Belfast."
Meanwhile, Russell Drew of the Whitemountain Programme said the company was proud to invest in local clubs and initiatives.
He said: "The Whitemountain Programme has invested over £8.5 million in community amenity and biodiversity projects since it was established in 2007. We're particularly pleased to be able to support projects like this which are only a couple of miles from our site at Mullaghglass, and wish the club every success with their ambitious plans to enhance their facilities.
"With the forthcoming closure of Mullaghglass landfill site there will only be two further rounds of funding, so please check out the fund guidelines and, if your project is eligible, we'd be delighted to receive an application."
How to apply
If you have a great community or biodiversity focused project which lies within the 15 mile radius of Mullaghglass landfill site near Lisburn (and within 10 miles of a licensed landfill site), then applications will be welcome.
The programme is currently open for applications. To find out more visit their website www.groundwork.org.uk/whitemountain or contact them at whitemountainprogramme@groundworkni.co.uk
Grants of up to £25,000 are available for projects making a positive impact at ground level, either developing facilities for community use or encouraging biodiversity and environmental improvements.
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