The recipients of SPAR NI’s 2026 Community Cashback Grant have been announced, with a charity that delivers projects and support for the older farming generation to combat rural isolation, receiving a £10,000 grant.
Plough On, based in Cookstown, is an innovative and impactful organisation that directly addresses a significant and well evidenced gap in provisions for older farmers within rural communities across Northern Ireland and who are disengaged from existing community services.
The grant will be used to deliver the charity’s programme across 17 rural locations, providing highly cost effective intervention that improves health, wellbeing and social inclusion for older farmers.
Skywatch NI, the charity which delivers drone-based search and support to emergency services in Northern Ireland, has received the £5,000 grant. The organisation will use the grant to strengthen its operational capacity and continue to deliver this vital, life-saving service to communities across NI, particularly in rural and hard to reach areas.
Five additional charities will benefit from £1,000 each from the grant: Accidental Theatre, K9 Search & Rescue NI, The Road Ahead NI, Together 21 Northern Ireland and Include Youth’s Give and Take programme.
Bethany Priestly from SPAR NI met with representatives from Plough On to present their £10,000 cheque, and commented; “We are very proud that our SPAR stores reach so many communities across Northern Ireland, particularly in rural areas. Each and every one of our stores is a hub for our local communities, and quite often our retail colleagues provide conversation that could be the only one many older people have that day.
“Plough On provides important services across these areas and for this particular demographic, so we are delighted they have been chosen to receive our £10,000 grant.
“Each charity organisation that is receiving a grant this year provides voluntary services across NI communities, from vital search and rescue to cultural and inclusive performance programmes, support for families affected by road traffic collisions, social meets and support sessions for children with Down Syndrome, and helping vulnerable young people develop life-long skills to build confidence and opportunity. We are very proud to help them reach even more people with their grants.”
Nikki Foster-Moreira, Social Farming & Innovation Programme Manager at Plough On added; “We’re absolutely delighted to receive the SPAR Community Cashback Grant. This funding will make a real difference by supporting our Plough On groups, which provide a welcoming space for older male farmers to come together, connect with others, and support their mental health and wellbeing.
“Farming can often be an isolated profession, particularly for older men, so these groups play a vital role in reducing loneliness, encouraging conversation, and building a strong sense of community. Thanks to this grant, we’ll be able to continue creating opportunities for people to share experiences, form meaningful connections, and access support in a relaxed and understanding environment.
“We’re incredibly grateful to SPAR for recognising the importance of investing in rural communities. This funding will have a lasting impact on the wellbeing of the farmers who attend our Plough On groups, helping to ensure they know they are not facing life’s challenges alone.”
Over 400 organisations applied for this year’s Community Cashback Grant, which is now in its seventh year, and has now distributed £140,000 to 60 organisations since 2020.