The public have voted and the winners of The People’s Projects competition in Northern Ireland have been announced on Wednesday night, 16th of March.

The Big Lottery Fund teamed up with ITV and The National Lottery to give the Northern Ireland public the chance to decide how £150,000 of funding could make a difference in their local area.

In Northern Ireland, five projects were shortlisted for National Lottery funding to develop their work to improve the lives of people in their communities. The projects – which all featured on tonight’s UTV’s evening news programme – campaigned to the public for votes over a two week period, with the three with the most votes receiving the money.

The New Multi-Sensory Equipment project by Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim will receive £50,000 to make improvements to the multi-sensory room in their centre to better support children with life limiting conditions and their families from across Northern Ireland.

Tina McCrossan, director of the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, said: “We are all delighted to receive these vital funds. This money will make a huge difference to children and families who need our support. The new multi-sensory room will allow children with life limiting conditions to interact with their world and improve their quality of life.

“To have the opportunity to make a complete refurbishment of the multi-sensory room and bring us up to date with the technology required for it is simply priceless. We want to thank everyone who got behind our campaign and voted for us.”

The Our World project by MAC (NI) in Rostrevor, Co Down will receive £49,155 to run educational and outdoor activities to support children and young people with autism spectrum disorders aged between four and 16 and their families.

MAC NI founder Jennifer Cumming said: “We are delighted to win the People’s Projects for the Our World project. This money will make such a big difference to the children and young people we work with and help whole families come together for fun forest, woodland and cycling activities.

“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped spread the word about our campaign and voted for us. We are so grateful and humbled at the support we received and for this amazing opportunity.”

The Recipe for Success project by Foyle Down Syndrome Trust in Derry/Londonderry will receive £49,710 to work with 20 young people aged 16-30 with learning disabilities in the Derry/Londonderry area to deliver a 36 week cookery course and install kitchen facilities.

Lorraine Gallen, manager of Foyle Down Syndrome Trust, said: “We are overwhelmed to have won. We are so happy for our young people – this is the project they asked for and so deserve. It was made possible by the whole community getting behind us and there are so many people to thank for making this happen.

“This project will provide vital life skills for our young people, and will make such a difference to the families we support. The whole of Foyle Down Syndrome Trust feel like we’re winners today.”

Films and more information on each of the projects are available at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk

Since 2005 the Big Lottery Fund and ITV have given the public a say in awarding more than £33 million of National Lottery funding to 675 good causes across the UK.

The two runners up – Positive Futures’ Connecting Caring project and Autonomie’s LILAC House project – will each be offered £5,000 for smaller projects.