Nearly £10 million National Lottery funding to strengthen communities in Northern Ireland

Helping people make connections in their community and supporting families are at the forefront of £9,939,220 of funding announced today by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Projects being supported include activity to improve mental health by reducing isolation, supporting those with physical health conditions or disabilities and helping children and young people get the best start in life.

Across Northern Ireland, Rosie’s Trust is using a £383,143 grant to improve the health and well-being of people who are facing ill-health or older age, by helping them care for their pets.

Sandra and Chanel Angel who receive support from Rosie's Trust

Josephine Mallon, Acting Chair, Rosie’s Trust said: “We know people delay or even refuse medical treatment because they have no one to look after their pet. This National Lottery grant allows us to make a life changing difference, at a time when people need emotional support the most.”

Sandra is currently receiving treatment for cancer, and during this time Rosie’s Trust are helping her care for her dog, Chanel Angel.

Sandra said: “Chanel Angel is my best friend and I’d be absolutely lost without her. Knowing that she’ll be there for me when I get home from my treatment, wagging her tail delighted to see me, gives me such strength.

“Without Rosie’s Trust, I’m not sure how we’d manage. It is so reassuring to know that a friendly face will be visiting me each day.”

The announcement comes in the same month as The National Lottery Community Fund unveiled its new strategy ‘It starts with community,’ which outlines its funding priorities from now to 2030.

In Coleraine, Harpurs Hill Children and Family Centre has been awarded a £219,082 grant to support parents of children aged 4-7 years old.

Sharon Lyons, Project Manager, Harpurs Hill Children and Family Centre said: “We are delighted to receive this grant to build parents’ skills and confidence to support their children’s development and make connections in their community.

“Research and experience show how important the early years are, and parents tell us that our project has truly changed their family life, helping families spend time together improving mental health and behaviour. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can now change even more lives.”

Over 300 grants ranging from £600 to over £500,000 are going to every Council area across NI. For more information see table of all grants awarded in June 2023.

Paul Sweeney, NI Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “We fund projects that matter to communities, and I’m delighted to see such a wide range of groups awarded, each making such a difference across Northern Ireland.

“We want to get behind communities and help them make the difference on the ground. Our existing grant programmes remain open, so if we can be of assistance, please contact us.

“These funded projects demonstrate how positive change ‘starts with community’, which is at the heart of our new strategy. We look forward to talking to those who receive or need funding as we develop our future programmes.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, during the last financial year, The National Lottery Community Fund awarded 663 new grants totalling £27.9 million to support local communities in NI.

For more information on National Lottery funding visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/northern-ireland

National Lottery grants awarded 20 June 2023

National Lottery grants awarded 20 June 2023 (DOCX 279 KB)

Date published: 20 June, 2023
Region: Northern Ireland

Notes to Editors

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name.

We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.

We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.

As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:

1. Come together

2. Be environmentally sustainable

3. Help children and young people thrive

4. Enable people to live healthier lives.

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute around £500 million a year through 10,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4 billion of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £47 billion has been raised and more than 670,000 individual grants have been made across the UK - the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.

National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland

A quick way to apply for smaller amounts of funding between £300 and £20,000.

Empowering Young People

A larger amount of funding (between £20,001 and £500,000) for projects that work with young people (between the ages of 8 and 25) to face and overcome challenges.

People and Communities

A larger amount of funding (between £20,001 and £500,000) for projects working with your community – whether that’s a community living in the same area, or people with similar interests or life experiences.