Local beach clean group win O2 grant!
30 August 2011
Marine Conservation Society volunteers working in Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey have been awarded an O2 Think Big grant.
O2 Think Big is about supporting young people aged 13 to 25 so that they can develop their ideas. O2 Think Big is for people who want to make things better. If there's something you want to create or change; design a project to make it happen!
O2 currently provide support to 739 youth-led projects across the UK, including drama, sewing, gardening and youth-development projects. The Marine Conservation Society volunteers are the latest Northern Irish group to receive the £300 funding and support from O2, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Youth Forum. The group is coordinated by Amanda Wilson, aged 21 who lives in Carrickfergus and it attracts volunteers of all ages! Amanda has been organising beach cleans for the past year and a half and is currently gearing up for Beachwatch Big Weekend - the only UK-wide beach clean and litter survey! Amanda said, "We're so grateful to O2 for providing the support we need. The funding will be used to promote Beachwatch Big Weekend, right across Northern Ireland. We'll be purchasing leaflets and promotional pencils to make sure everyone hears about Beachwatch. With the help of the O2 Think Big funding we'll also be attending exhibits at several festivals to invite as many people as possible to our beach cleans!"
If you would like to get involved with MCS's Beachwatch Big Weekend, either as a beach clean organiser or as a volunteer, please visit www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch. With 28 beach cleans happening in Northern Ireland from 16-19th September, there are lots to get involved with.
