Funding announced for Ennell Court community centre

Ennell Court is to benefit from a grant from the Housing Finance Agency’s Social Investment Fund.

According to the agency, the grant is to Westmeath County Council to support the renovation of a community facility in Ennell Court, Mullingar, which will serve more than 500 people in the surrounding area.

The allocation comes just ahead of the delivery of a number of new social homes in the estate this year.

The Housing Finance Agency awards funding for community initiatives through its Social Investment Fund, and this current overall allocation is of €250,000 in total to support Approved Housing Bodies and Local Authorities in the delivery of community-enhancing initiatives and facilities.

The aim of the fund is to support initiatives that will complement the communities in which HFA-financed homes are built.

Funded projects include the renovation of community centres, the development of sensory gardens, a photo memories video project for older people and barbering and hairdressing programmes targeting at-risk youths. In total, 17 initiatives from 14 organisations across nine different counties were chosen.

Announcing the funding awards, Housing Finance Agency CEO Barry O’Leary said: “The HFA is delighted to support these diverse and creative initiatives and we look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on communities across the country. We see how hard our customers work to deliver social and affordable housing and, with our Social Investment Fund, we recognise the importance of developing community facilities and supports alongside those homes.”