The Challenge Fund enables communities and organisations across Northern Ireland to undertake new and inspiring local environmental projects that build an environment that is essential for our wellbeing and prosperity.
Last year, Environment Minister, Mark H Durkan announced the first ever allocation of Carrier Bag Levy monies to the 2014 Challenge Fund resulting in a final spend of £2.3million.
Speaking at an event in the Beech Hill Hotel Derry to mark this year’s successes, Minister Durkan said: “The 2014 Challenge Fund has been a great success. The people of Northern Ireland delivered more than 250 environmental projects, reinvesting £2.3million of the proceeds of the Carrier Bag Levy back into the communities that contributed to this levy.
“Be it developing community gardens or removing invasive species, to name but two examples, I very much see the Challenge Fund as the ‘People’s Fund’. It inspires local communities to improve their environment and encourages and supports new and existing partnerships between local businesses, schools, environmental groups and residents. I would urge groups across the north to continue to search for projects that benefit their local communities.”
Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) administered the 2014 Challenge Fund. Further project information and electronic copies of the Results Publication will be available on Northern Ireland Environment Link’s website on Monday 16th of June.
