The grant funding from the Prince’s Countryside Fund is understood to help contribute towards the cost of part-time staff.

Gerald Knox, director of The Courthouse Kesh Limited said, “Our project is to equip and help with the staffing of our new local basic services delivery hub being provided by The Courthouse Kesh Limited at 45 Main Street, Kesh.  

“The centre will be a base for the delivery of much needed services for our North Fermanagh and border region addressing rural isolation, addiction, health services and other needs .”  

Kesh Councillor John McClaughry added, “The old courthouse was being used for some activities, the AA and a few other groups would have used it. The problem was that it was just the old courthouse, it’s now a new facility which is right in the centre of the village and is now a nicer environment for people to use with greater space within it. 

“Hopefully this investment will go some way toward attracting other services to the courthouse. For example, the blood transfusion service currently use the school, which restricts it to outside school hours. If the hub was available, maybe it could be used and ease access for members of the public in day time hours. I do believe there is good scope and potential for this building. It is a very attractive building.” 

The Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster have also received £30,000 funding. Their project is to improve land use by matching older and younger farmers in partnership, share agreements, or long-term leases to provide succession for farm businesses and access to land for new entrants.