The grant will help improve the quality of childcare

Lottery grants worth more than �100,000 have been awarded to four childcare projects in Belfast and County Tyrone.

The money announced by the New Opportunities fund on Friday will go towards improving the quality of childcare.

The grant includes �48,000 to PHAB in north Belfast to provide play and sensory equipment for both able-bodied children and those with special needs.

The grant will also fund the installation of a lift to improve accessibility to all children using the day care facility and after school club.

The Chinese Welfare Association has been awarded �17,000 to develop a new project in Belfast which involves renovating an old building into a community centre.

These grants are paving the way for the creation of new childcare places by investing in much needed buildings and play facilities Breidge Gadd New Opportunities Fund

Newhill Youth and Community Association in west Belfast has been awarded a �13,100 development grant to begin work on a project to create 62 new childcare places.

Benburb Community Playgroup in Tyrone has been given �25,000 to add a sun room, with new toilets and a cloakroom, to its premises. Some of the grant will be used to pave and cover over part of the outdoor play area.

Breidge Gadd, of the New Opportunities Fund in Northern Ireland, said: "These grants are paving the way for the creation of new childcare places by investing in much needed buildings and play facilities.

"The Building Quality Childcare programme is enabling communities to make a real difference to the lives of parents and children across Northern Ireland."

Ruth Filson, assistant director of integrated childcare, at PHAB said it was delighted with the grant.

"All the children use the sensory room, but it is especially good for those with attention deficiency disorder, and children with autism. They find it very calming.