Front row from left; Edwin Poots MLA; Alan Givan, Mayor of Lisburn Castlereagh; and Mark Graham, CEO of Co-Ownership.  Back row from left; Bobby McCormick, Sharon McCormick, Andrea Wiltshaw and Nicola Lavery, all from Hillhall Regeneration Group; and Sam Purdy, Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Co-Ownership, a non-profit organisation that provides shared ownership housing, gave community groups across Northern Ireland the opportunity to apply to their Community Fund to receive up to £15,000 for projects to help regenerate, rebuild and revitalise neighbourhoods and communities.

One of the successful applicants was Hillhall Regeneration Group which provides services for residents within Hillhall Estate and the surrounding area, including housing, environmental, health and welfare rights and community safety issues.

The funds received from Co-Ownership will be used for the ‘Keeping Hillhall Safe’ project which supports older, vulnerable people within the community.

The project provides security packs for elderly residents and advice on how to keep safe.

Since receiving the funds, the group has been able to supply the elderly within the community with 32 safety doorbells, which includes a camera to see callers.

Mark Graham, Chief Executive of Co-Ownership said: “Co-Ownership funds have provided significant help in communities, for three years we have seen real impact for community groups, partnerships and voluntary organisations.

“As a result of the tremendous response, we increased this year’s fund to even further support the meaningful work of communities across Northern Ireland.”

Andrea Wiltshaw from Hillhall Regeneration Group said: “Following a spate of burglaries in the area, we felt it was essential to provide advice on how to keep safe. This support has enabled us to provide essential funds for the ‘Keeping Hillhall Safe’ project.”