Two charities based in Bangor and Newry, which provide vital emergency and support services for people across Northern Ireland have been awards grants to futureproof their operations.
K9 Search & Rescue NI and The Road Ahead NI each received £1,000 as part of SPAR NI’s Community Cashback Grant initiative, which delivers an annual £20,000 in grants to local charities.
K9 Search & Rescue, based in Bangor, works alongside police and other emergency services and agencies to bring swift resolution to high-risk incidents. A team has recently travelled to Venezuela to help victims of the earthquake that has devastated the country.
The charity’s volunteers give countless hours to training, callouts and community engagement, ensuring operational readiness at all times. This directly contributes to saving lives and reducing stress for families during emergency situations. The grant will go towards purchasing a new engine for the organisation’s operational boat, which plays a vital role in water-based searches, particularly in rivers, lakes and coastal areas where missing persons cases are often time-critical and require specialist access.
The Road Ahead NI provides vital, free, specialist service supporting individuals and families affected by road traffic collisions (RTCs). Since becoming a registered charity in 2025, demand for services has grown significantly, reflecting both the scale of need and the trust placed in the charity by communities and professionals alike. The grant will go towards funding specialised trauma counselling for children and adults affected by RTCs, providing localized support and reducing barriers such as travel and waiting times.
Bethany Priestly from SPAR NI commented; “We are very proud that our SPAR stores reach so many communities across Northern Ireland. Each and every one of our stores is a hub for our local communities, which is what makes our Community Cashback Grant so special and a vital source of income for many organisations that our shoppers care about.
“Both K9 Search & Rescue and The Road Ahead NI provide support for families at their worst moments, providing the expertise to make a difference and bring some light to an unthinkable situation. We are delighted this grant will help them both sustain and grow their services.”
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.
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