Asda’s charity, Asda Foundation, is awarding £72,650 of funding to six local community groups and charities across Northern Ireland including one from Fermanagh, with the aim of improving and transforming community spaces and places to meet, after customers said the cost-of-living crisis has impacted their social and community interaction.

The grants are part of Asda Foundation investment of £750k in 60 local community groups and charities across the UK, with the aim of transforming community spaces and places.

Over 60 ‘Spaces and Places’ grants ranging from £5,000 to £25,000, have been awarded across the UK by the Asda Foundation.

Asda Enniskillen recently surprised local charity, Cancer Connect NI with a £5,000 donation from Asda’s charity, Asda Foundation to help transform their outdoor community space so they can host outdoor sessions for those affected by cancer.

Phil McGrenaghan, Trustee from Cancer Connect NI, said: “Over the last few years, we have all become more aware of the importance of our surroundings and the value of being exposed to nature and its contribution to our physical and mental wellbeing. The £5000 donation from Asda will allow our volunteers and service users to enjoy a healthy and relaxing outdoor space. Thank you to everyone at Asda for the incredible support.”

Alexandra Preston, Senior Manager Asda Foundation, says: “We know our communities are having a tough time right now with the rising cost of living, which is further increasing inequalities and setbacks seen during the pandemic. Small grass roots organisations play a vital role in making positive change and improving people’s lives every day. They understand the needs in their community and are constantly adapting to meet those needs.

“They’re telling us that having safe, inclusive spaces to meet, learn, celebrate and come together builds connection and resilience in their community. The challenge for many of these groups is having the affordable space to bring people together to deliver this fantastic work - that’s why we’re investing £750k in our biggest-ever single grant round to breathe new life into community spaces across the UK.”

Research by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership is informing Asda’s Spaces & Places programme. Early insights derived from interviews with community groups indicates meeting space affordability can be a significant barrier to bringing people together, and that the existence of a ‘trusted, neutral and accessible’ space for local groups to meet and interact is likely to be an important resource for community wellbeing.