NI Peoples' Millions Winners

• National Lottery

Congratulations to the five local winners of £50,000 or more from the National Lottery People's Millions programme. The winners were: Maydown Community Association, Foyle Women's Aid, Gran Tots Playgroup, Belmont Pre-school Playgroup and St Bernadette's Primary School.

The Five Winners:

Maydown Community Association - Regeneration of Maydown Play Park

Maydown Community Association would use the grant to create a recreational space, which will provide a community focus and benefit local residents of all ages. £50,000.

Martin McCartney from Maydown Community Association said:

"Words can't describe how we feel - this is fantastic news. Getting the support of people from the city and across Northern Ireland has been really great and this project will make a big difference to many people." 

Foyle Women's Aid - Foyle Secret Garden

Foyle Women's Aid will use the grant to transform an area of its garden into a sensory garden, wilderness area, vegetable patch and an oasis garden to create a therapeutic environment for women and children who have suffered from domestic violence. Derry £58,750.

Muire Coyle from Foyle Women's Aid said:

"We are just delighted. We can't believe the support we have received from people across Derry and Northern Ireland. This project will mean so much to the children and mothers who we support. It's a great day for us."

Gran Tots Playgroup - Building Our Children's Future

Gran Tots Playgroup will use the grant to provide a fit for purpose playgroup/nursery school building and stimulating outdoor play area and sensory garden in the Swatragh area of Maghera. £58,750.

Fiona Tohill from Gran Tots said:

"It's a dream come true. We are so pleased to have won and would like to thank everyone who voted for us. We desperately need a new building and this grant will help us achieve this. It will make a major difference to so many families here." 

Belmont Pre-school Playgroup - Belmont Early Years Centre

Belmont Pre-school Playgroup will use the grant to buy a new building to provide quality pre-school support for local families in the east Belfast area. £50,000.

St Bernadette's Primary School - Better Play in Whiterock

St Bernadette's Primary School will use the grant to develop an under-utilised space between the school and nursery into a play area for 250 children in the Whiterock area of West Belfast. £50,000.

The unsuccessful finalists on this occasion were Royal National Institute of the Blind; Women's Tec and LA Project.

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_peoples_millions