£20,000 will this year be split between 20 organisations, charities and community groups, selected from applications, which are open now.

It is the fifth year the initiative has been available to organisations across Northern Ireland, after SPAR NI introduced the grants in 2020 when community groups and charities felt the huge hit of lockdown. It was rolled out across the UK from 2022.

Last year, a £10,000 grant was awarded to Air Ambulance NI which enabled the charity to keep the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in the sky for an additional two days per year, while £5,000 was received by SOS Bus NI, which was put towards upgrading their first aid bus, ensuring medical equipment and provisions are adequate for all needs.

Three further organisations received a £1,000 grant each: Street Soccer NI in Coleraine, Heartbeat NI based in Newry and Pretty ‘n Pink, which has offices and information points in both Belfast and Portadown.

Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group which owns SPAR NI said they’re thrilled to be able to reach even more organisations this year.

“Where for the past five years we’ve had five recipients per year, the rise in applications year on year has shown there is a need for many more organisations to benefit from the Community Cashback Grant, which we’re delighted to be able to do this year.

“Each applicant is making a difference in their local community or providing a vital service that could even be lifesaving for all in Northern Ireland. This is a unique opportunity for organisations of all sizes to get involved and get a much-needed injection of funds.

“There are over 300 SPAR stores in Northern Ireland, each dedicated to supporting their local charities and community groups, with our store teams going beyond their work in-store to engage with their local communities and nurturing their neighbourhoods.”

The Community Cashback Grant is open for applications until Wednesday 22^nd May 2024. All information can be found via spar-ni.co.uk/community/community-cashback-grant

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The organisation is one of six local organisations that have benefitted from part of a £20,000 grant, delivered by SPAR NI as part of their annual Community Cashback Scheme.

The scheme aims to reward local groups and charities for their work and care for their community, helping them to continue, while growing and improving their services.

AANI bring the emergency room where it is needed most, whether that is at the roadside or in a farmyard, attending some of the most traumatic medical incidences across the country every day. The £10,000 grant will not only allow them to respond to more accidents, but in doing so will also enable the organisation to continue providing pre-hospital critical care, which can often be the difference in saving a life.

CRUCIAL FUNDING

Colleen Milligan from Air Ambulance NI said: “Funding is absolutely crucial to keeping us in the air and responding to Northern Ireland’s most critical incidents.

“We are living and working in the most challenging of times with everyone tightening their belts, so to have the Community Cashback Grant Scheme available is quite literally life-saving.

“We want to extend our thanks to SPAR NI for this generous donation, it is support like this that we rely on entirely and without it we wouldn’t be able to keep going, so it is so greatly appreciated.”

‘Our stores are dedicated to their local communities, going beyond their work in-store to engage with shoppers, local groups and charities’

Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group

SOS Bus has received £5,000 from the grant, which the organisation says will go towards the renovation and refurbishment of their new safe-space and first aid bus, while ensuring all medical equipment and provisions are adequate for all needs.

SOS Bus is a volunteer-led charity providing welfare support and first aid to the vulnerable and those in need in Belfast City Centre, relieving the pressure on the NHS. The charity, which currently has 200 volunteers, has been serving the community and visitors to the city for 15 years.

The Eco Rangers, a team committed to litter picking across East Antrim, received the £2,000 grant, which will help them purchase even more equipment to enable volunteers to work effectively and safely throughout the area. The volunteer group work every day of the year, regardless of the weather, to improve their local communities and raise awareness.

SUPPORT GRANTS

Three organisations have received a £1,000 grant each: Street Soccer NI in Coleraine, Heartbeat NI based in Co Down and Pretty ‘n Pink, which has offices and information points in both Belfast and Portadown.

For the second year running SPAR announced £100,000 for charities across the UK, with 1 x £10,000, 1 x £5,000, 1 x £2,000 and 3 x £1,000 grants available for organisations to apply for in Northern Ireland. The popular scheme received 1,400 entries in Northern Ireland alone this year, highlighting the need for more help and support for so many amazing charities across the country.

Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group which owns SPAR in Northern Ireland said: “We are privileged to be able to take part in the Community Cashback Scheme for another year, helping local charities and community groups. It is an honour to show support to such selfless people doing vital work, day in and day out.

“These donations are needed now more than ever, evidenced by the number of entries received this year doubling that of last year. It is easy to see just how many amazing local charities and community groups need help to continue their work.

VOLUNTEER

“Our stores are dedicated to their local communities, going beyond their work in-store to engage with shoppers, local groups and charities, helping out in any way they can and nurturing their neighbourhoods.

“We hope these grants make a difference to these six deserving groups, helping them continue their work and grow the services they are providing.”

The organisations chosen as recipients for this year’s Community Cashback Grant funding are mostly volunteer led. A recent survey from SPAR NI revealed that nearly two thirds (61%) of people in Northern Ireland would like to volunteer in 2023, the most of all UK regions.

66% of those surveyed in Northern Ireland said they had volunteered in their community before, and a whopping 71% said they felt an improvement to their wellbeing – another stat which topped the UK-wide poll.

To find out more about the work of Air Ambulance NI, view the video below:

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The Automated External Defibrillator, over 240 of which can be found outside SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores across Northern Ireland, has been donated by Henderson Group’s Bronagh Luke and Mark Baillie of MKB Medical, who supplies the devices.

Glenn O’Rorke, Operational Lead Paramedic with the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) received the device on behalf of Air Ambulance NI, saying, “Henderson Group has done a fantastic job extending the number of defibrillators throughout NI and we are very pleased to now have one at our airbase. We hope that it is never needed but it could help save a life.”

Community campaign 

Bronagh Luke spearheaded the Heart of the Community campaign throughout the local SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO network to install devices outside stores, therefore available 24/7 for the local community.

Bronagh commented; “Air Ambulance NI needs to raise £2 million each year to maintain the vital services it provides in Northern Ireland including providing essential, life-saving devices such as this AED. Recently, we have called upon retailers with devices already registered on the NI Ambulance Service network to register them on the British Heart Foundation’s new National Defibrillator Network, The Circuit, enabling even faster response times and more lives saved.”

Air Ambulance NI’s new device will reside outside the organisation’s headquarters on Halftown Road in Lisburn, which will also be registered to The Circuit and available 24/7 should it be needed locally.

Heart of the Community

Glenn O’Rorke finished; “We share a lot in common with the Heart of the Community initiative. Our aim is to save lives and ensure the local community have pre-hospital critical care, should it ever be needed. We’re so grateful to all at Henderson Group, SPAR NI and MKB Medical for helping us offer more of these services locally.”

Air Ambulance Week is the only week in the year dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities. It takes place from 06 – 12 September, with Air Ambulance NI organising a series of initiatives. More information is available at https://airambulanceni.org.

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Since its first deployment in July 2017, Air Ambulance NI has been tasked on over 1,943 occasions to serious or life-threatening situations throughout the province but, to sustain this invaluable service, the charity aspire to raise £2million per year.

This year AANI and Boost have created The Big Raffle to help raise much-needed funds for the charity. Tickets can be purchased via www.airambulanceni.org/thebigraffle/ for a chance to win the following prizes from as little as £1: £1000 cash, £500 food shopping voucher , £500 home heating oil from Scott’s Fuels, £500 home heating oil from Lisburn Fuels, a Texas Nimbus Gas BBQ, £100 Hastings Hotels voucher, two tickets to an Ulster Rugby home game at Ravenhill and a Special edition Ulster Rugby shirt, framed Air Ambulance NI t-shirt signed former Manchester United and Northern Ireland hero Harry Gregg, Garmin Vivoactive 3 GPS Smartwatch, AANI water bottle and beanie hat with Boost Drinks hoodie, return travel to Liverpool or Cairnryan with car and two people with Stena Line , Mitchell & Brown 43” 4k UHD TV and 10 cases of KP Snacks treats – and a Makeup party for up to four people at S.A.K MAKE UP.

Urgent medical assistance

All proceeds from this raffle, that will run over 10 weeks, will go to Air Ambulance NI which brings urgent medical assistance to any location in the province. The charity operates seven days a week, for 12 hours per day and can travel to anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately twenty-five minutes.

This Doctor / Paramedic service benefits those whose lives are at serious risk following significant injury or trauma and brings critical pre-hospital care directly to the causality at the scene.

Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising at Air Ambulance NI, said: “Due to Covid-19, Air Ambulance NI has seen a significant downturn in donations and support, particularly through fundraising events, so this raffle will be key to raising much-needed funds and awareness.

“The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team are operational every day, helping those who have suffered a serious trauma.  To ensure the service keeps going continual support is crucial, so we encourage everyone to become an AANI fundraiser and be in with the chance to win such fabulous prizes by visiting www.airambulanceni.org/thebigraffle/ .

“We would like extend our sincere thanks to Boost Drinks for their continued support and to all of our sponsors who have donated such special prizes,” she added.

Boost’s chosen charity

Boost Drinks selected Air Ambulance NI as its chosen charity for the second consecutive year in 2020 and after a difficult year for the charity is continuing its support with this raffle.

Boost Drinks Marketing Director Adrian Hipkiss said: “We are thrilled to support AANI again as we are in awe of the life-saving work they do for the NI public. We hope to raise as much as we possibly can for them with this raffle so urge everyone to get involved.

“Whether you are planning a trip to Liverpool or Cairnryan in the future, in need a £1000 cash boost, or could really do with a fabulous new TV, there is something here for everyone,” he added.

Raffle tickets can be purchased via www.airambulanceni.org/thebigraffle/ and cost just £1 per ticket. The raffle will close to entrants on March 26 and the draw will take place on April 1. Prizes are subject to terms and conditions.

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