National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland

We want to support people to bring about positive changes in their community. We’re interested in projects that improve people’s lives and strengthen community activity by:

• Helping people to participate in their communities.
• Developing people’s skills and broaden their experience.
• Building better and safer communities.
• Improving people's physical and mental health and wellbeing.

We want all the projects we fund to embrace the two key themes of:

• People-led – This means the people you’ll be working with will be meaningfully involved in the development, design and delivery of your project. Have you spoken to people in your local community about what they need and what’s important to them? Have you listened to what they've said & used it to develop your project

• Strengths-based – We’d like to support people and communities to build on the knowledge, skills and experience they already have to make the changes they want. What is working well in your community? How will your project help to build on these successes and make the most of the resources the community already has?

To help you understand what we are looking for, here are some stories about successful projects that are already people-led and strengths-based.

• Read the Key Information for Applicants guide (PDF 118KB)
• Complete the eligibility checklist (DOCX, 173KB)
• When you have completed the eligibility checklist and have found that you are eligible complete the application form (DOCX, 201KB)
• Save the application form to your computer and fill it in. (Remember to keep saving it as you work, so that you don't lose any information)
  
• Print the form and sign it. Please note – we cannot accept signatures which have been typed into the application form on a computer. We can, however, accept signatures which have been scanned and digitally inserted into the application form as an image.
• Scan it and email it to us at applicationsni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk, along with a copy of a recent bank statement. You will receive an email back from us to let you know that we have received your email. If you do not receive a confirmation email from our team please contact us on 028 9055 1455.
  
• If you don't have email, you can post it to us at: The National Lottery Community Fund, 1 Cromac Quay, Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 2JD.

We will usually tell you our decision within 6 to 8 weeks of receiving your application, although this may take longer during busier periods.

If you have any questions about this process please get in touch. Telephone: 028 9055 1455 or email enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Checks

As an organisation that gives out public funds, we carry out some checks on the information you provide us. Learn more

We aim to process your application within 6 to 8 weeks of receiving the fully completed form and bank statement, but in busy periods we may take a little longer. Whether your application is successful or not, we’ll be in touch to let you know our decision.

We may also get in touch if we need more information from you while we’re processing your application. Make sure you keep a copy of your application form, as well as any information relevant to your application – for example, quotations that you used to help work out your costs.