Thirteen community groups across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough have secured funding for environmental projects designed to improve local places, protect wildlife and encourage civic pride.
The awards were announced by ABC Council on September 24, 2026, through the annual Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme. The campaign supports community-led work to enhance and protect local environments, with this year’s successful applicants planning projects including community gardens, green spaces and other sustainable initiatives.
Projects planned across the borough
The council said the funded work is expected to bring several benefits for residents and the natural environment. These include reducing emissions linked to climate change, improving biodiversity, protecting wildlife and supporting people’s well-being.
Successful organisations named in the announcement are Rectory Community Action Group; Glenanne Community Association; Portadown BBOB FC; Tandragee Junior HS; St Brendan’s Primary School and Nursery Unit Craigavon; Carrick Primary School in Lurgan; Aeon Community Arts Ltd; Richhill and District Trust; Ardress Area Regeneration Group; Healthy Club Committee at Madden Raparees Armagh; and St Patrick’s Primary School, Aghagallon.
Both Killicomaine Residents Group and Friends of St Michael’s Primary School, Clady also secured funding from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The announcement said 13 groups from the ABC Borough had ambitious plans in place, while separately identifying those two organisations as NIHE-funded recipients.
Volunteer effort behind environmental action
Orla McGrady, Live Here Love Here grants officer, said the scheme was supporting a wide range of locally led initiatives, from biodiversity-focused community gardens to projects aimed at protecting and cleaning coastlines and waterways.
“Small Grants continue to empower community-led change, supporting initiatives ranging from biodiversity-focused community gardens to projects that help protect and clean our coastlines and waterways.”
She said the range of applications showed strong interest in environmental action across the borough and that the programme would help bring people together through volunteering and collaboration.
“The strength and variety of applications from across ABC Borough this year has highlighted the appetite for local environmental action, and we are proud to be supporting more projects that will deliver real benefits for local people and nature.”
The scheme also builds on work completed during the previous year. Volunteers involved in small-grants projects across the ABC Borough contributed 812 hours to improving their local environments, according to the announcement.
“Last year, volunteers working on small grants projects across the ABC Borough contributed 812 hours to improving their local environments, and we now have another opportunity to bring people together through volunteering, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose.”
Where to find more information
Further information about the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme, including previously funded projects, is available through the Live Here Love Here website.