For immediate release
Monday, 29th February 2016
Autonomie Shortlisted For UTV People’s Projects Awards
Belfast-based youth disability charity Autonomie is delighted to announce that it has been selected as a finalist in this years ‘UTV People’s Projects Awards’ competition.
Run by UTV and the Big Lottery Fund people vote to decide which local community project succeeds in getting up to £50,000 of National Lottery funding.
Trevor Boyle, Volunteer Coordinator at Autonomie said: “This money would enable us to develop LILAC House (Linked Independent Living and Advice Centre). This Belfast-based centre will provide support to children and young people with different disabilities from across Northern Ireland. One way it will help is by offering short-term living accommodation to school leavers that still live at home or who live in residential care to help these young people to learn skills to become more independent and reach their potential.
“We want to increase the range of services and education provision for young people with additional needs. This money would mean we are able to open LILAC House and increase our capacity and number of support programmes that we offer. It would mean so much to so many families.”
Viewers of UTV Live News will be able to watch a short film on Autonomie’s ‘LILAC House’ project on Tuesday 1 March at 6.00pm
Mr Boyle added: "It would be absolutely fantastic if the people of Northern Ireland vote for us.”
You can vote for ‘LILAC House’ project online at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk you will then be emailed a link that you need to click on to confirm your vote. You can vote between 9am on Monday 29 February 2016 to 12pm on Sunday 13 March 2016. Alternatively, you can vote by post by sending a postcard to ‘Freepost THE PEOPLE’S PROJECTS’. To be counted, the following details must be clearly written on the postcard: ‘LILAC House’ your name, address and telephone number. Postal votes must be received by 12pm (midday) on Sunday 13 March 2016.
You can vote for Autonomie here.
For more information visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk
ENDS
For interviews photographs and further information please contact Kirsty McQuoid, PR’s Me: T. 07713 956 128 or email Kirsty at kirsty@prs-me.co.uk Twitter: @KirstyMcQuoid_
Notes to Editor:
About Autonomie
Established in 2005, Autonomie is the new name for The Lilac Service. The award-winning organisation operates across Northern Ireland empowering young people with additional needs to develop the skills to live independently and reach their potential. Located at 2 Falcon Road, Belfast BT12 6SJ, Autonomie delivers a wide range of services for children; young people; families and schools. This support is offered through training programmes; independent living skills; signposting; listening; inclusion and recreational activities. Services include Early Years Support; Emotional and Practical Advice for Families; Freedom 2Choose Programme, Transition to Independent Living and Inclusion in mainstream schools support. The organisation aims to promote self-confidence; support active participation; encourage ‘natural’ interaction; development of friendships and enable and encourage independence. It achieves these by delivering a wide scope of services delivered by a highly dedicated team. Autonomie Twitter handle is @Autonomieinfo
About the People’s Projects
Since 2005, the Big Lottery Fund and ITV have given the public a say in awarding more than £30 million of National Lottery funding to 600 Good Causes across the UK. This year 95 organisation are up of the vote to win a share of more than £3million of National Lottery funding. Voting opened on Monday 29th February at 9am and closes at 12pm on Sunday 13th March 2016. Five projects have been shortlisted in UTV region. Autonomie is one of five projects shortlisted in Northern Ireland (UTV region). The three projects that receive the highest number of votes in Northern Ireland will receive a winner’s cash award up to a maximum value of £50,000. The projects receiving the fourth and fifth highest number of votes in each region may receive a runners-up cash award to the maximum value of £5,000, at the discretion of the Big Lottery Fund. Public can vote online at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk (the “website”) and follow the instructions attached on the voting page. Postal votes are also accepted. Send the name of the project e.g. Autonomie LILAC House to which you think a grant should be provided, your name, address and contact telephone number to Freepost The People’s Projects. The outcome of the vote will be shown on UTV Live during the week commencing 14th March 2016. For more information, please visit: www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk
