Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) is delighted to announce that £59,525 will be awarded to local community groups through its VE-Day 80 Small Grants Fund.
This funding will support a variety of community-led initiatives to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, ensuring that this historic milestone is honoured across the council area.
The VE-Day 80 Small Grants Fund has provided support to 85 individual community groups, enabling them to host their own commemorative events.
These initiatives will complement the council-led programme of events, fostering widespread community engagement and intergenerational learning about the significance of VE-Day.
All Saints Parish Church, one of the many groups who applied to the grant scheme, will be using the funding to host a family fun day on 25th May with music, food and a reflection on the history aspect of the time.
Councillor Kurtis Dickson, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, welcomed the successful applicants, stating: “I am thrilled that so many local groups have taken the opportunity to apply for VE-Day 80 funding and play a vital role in marking this significant anniversary. This funding will allow our communities to come together in remembrance and celebration, ensuring that the sacrifices and resilience of those who lived through the war are never forgotten.”
Alderman Hazel Legge, Chair of LCCC’s VE-Day Working Group, added: “Through the small grants fund, we are supporting a range of community-led events that will reflect on the past while bringing people together in the present. VE-Day 80 is an occasion for remembrance, unity, and education and I am delighted to see so many groups embracing the opportunity to mark this important milestone.”
Councillor Jonathan Craig, Chair of the council’s Communities and Wellbeing Committee, commented: “We are immensely proud to have allocated £59,525 to community groups through the VE-Day 80 small grants fund. This initiative empowers our communities to create meaningful commemorations, ensuring that the legacy of those who served is honoured in a personal and impactful way.”
Councillor Nicholas Trimble, Chair of the council’s Corporate Services Committee, noted: “It is fantastic to see our local communities coming together to mark VE-Day 80. This funding will enable groups to host engaging events that not only pay tribute to our history but also reinforce the bonds that strengthen our community today.”
For more information about VE-Day 80 events and how your community can get involved, visit https://www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/ve-day-80