North Belfast community care organisation to benefit from Building Better Futures Loan Fund

08 August 2017

The 174 Trust’s award winning facility, the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts, provides a safe, shared and inclusive community space from which they deliver a variety of valuable services including childcare, disability support programmes and a range of community and arts events. 174 Trust has obtained a loan from the Building Better Futures Fund to assist with working capital costs.

 

Community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises are being encouraged to access the loans available through the scheme which has been created and funded through a partnership between three leading local charities - Belfast Charitable Society, Building Change Trust and Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT).
 

Belfast Charitable Society was established in 1752 to tackle disadvantage and poverty and in doing so it built the Poor House and Belfast’s first Infirmary, which remains as Clifton House. Today, the Society continues to work to tackle disadvantage and promote philanthropy while sharing its vast heritage with others.

 

The £1 Million fund which is being managed by UCIT provides small unsecured loans of £1,000 - £25,000 which cannot currently be raised from traditional sources. The loans can be used for a wide range of purposes, including buildings and repairs, equipment purchase, making facilities more energy efficient or funding shortfalls in larger grant assisted projects.

 

“The application process was very straight forward and the help from the staff was excellent.” Geoffrey Kerr, Deputy Director, 174 Trust

 

Further information about the scheme is available by contacting UCIT on 028 9031 5003.