Moy Park awards over £60k to community

Moy Park has awarded over £60,000 to 15 community organisations across the UK for projects aimed at supporting and enriching the lives of those in need.
By Community Reporter
Published 23rd Nov 2020, 07:11 BST
Blackwater Community Barge organisation in Dungannon which helps make the Blackwater River which borders counties Tyrone and Armagh, accessible to disabled and less able people members of the publicBlackwater Community Barge organisation in Dungannon which helps make the Blackwater River which borders counties Tyrone and Armagh, accessible to disabled and less able people members of the public
Blackwater Community Barge organisation in Dungannon which helps make the Blackwater River which borders counties Tyrone and Armagh, accessible to disabled and less able people members of the public

The awards mark the first tranche of groups to benefit from the £1 million fund Moy Park established earlier this year to support community groups local to its operations across Europe.

Moy Park’s HR and Performance Director, Kirsty Wilkins said: “From community allotments and outdoor play areas to culinary workshops and volunteer training, we were blown away by the creative and caring projects aimed at supporting those in our local communities.”

One group to benefit from the Moy Park Community Support Fund in Northern Ireland is the Blackwater Community Barge organisation in Dungannon.

The organisation helps make the Blackwater River, which borders counties Tyrone and Armagh, accessible to disabled and less able people and members of the public. The group aims to support wellbeing, boost mental health – drawing on calming elements of the water - and teach users more about nature and the local landscape.

Brian MacAuley, Secretary from the Blackwater Community Barge said: “With support from Moy Park and through fundraising activity, we will be able to purchase a new purpose-built wheelchair accessible boat. With this, we can reach even more members of the community who may not have been able to enjoy riverside and water activities previously and will benefit from seeing the local area in a new way.

“While we have not been able to take users out over the lockdown period, the Blackwater Community Barge group has been busy carrying out conservation work on the river, getting it ready for when the barge arrives. We are incredibly grateful to have secured funding from Moy Park’s Community Support Fund and look forward to supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of those in our community further through this project.”

Applications can be made via https://moypark.com/community-support

Related topics:Moy ParkEuropeArmaghNorthern Ireland