Football clubs kick off climate action with £1.2m National Lottery funding

An ambitious £1.2m project has been announced by The National Lottery Community Fund, that will help tackle climate change through a network of football clubs becoming more sustainable and leading initiatives in communities across Northern Ireland.

Goals for Climate Action is being run by Groundwork NI working in partnership with the Irish Football Association Foundation and Queens University.

Mark Johnston, Director of Groundwork NI explained: “A Climate Champion Network will support club members, families and communities to create change.

“Each club will develop their own local climate action plans, including things like reducing single use plastic, planting trees to prevent flooding and helping their community be more prepared for extreme weather conditions.

“This project is so important, as climate change is affecting everyone.

“We are excited to be working with the IFA Foundation and Queens University, as together we will help communities make a real impact.”

The Goals for Climate Action project is now asking local grass roots clubs, large and small, to come forward to take part.

Gareth Allen, Club Development Manager, IFA Foundation, Mark Johnston, Director, Groundwork NI and Keith Gibson, Football for All Manager, IFA Foundation

Keith Gibson, Football for All Manager, IFA Foundation said: “This initiative is a fantastic opportunity for clubs to dive into environmental conservation, enhancing their facilities and encouraging working together and relationship building across communities.

“The potential impact is significant, as they will become champions of environmental change, inspiring others to follow.

“I would encourage local clubs to get in touch, as together we can pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future for football and our communities."

This funding comes from The National Lottery Community Fund’s UK wide Climate Action Fund, which offers multi-year grants from £500,000, and is currently open for applications from groups working in partnership that can link climate action to everyday lives.

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “Goals for Climate Action is a great example of communities supporting the environment and creating change in their local area. We look forward to seeing what will be achieved over the coming months and years through this project.

“The environment is a consideration in all our funding as part of our strategy to 2030. We continue to use learning and engage with the sector and communities on future plans.”

To get involved or for more details on the Goals for Climate Action project, please contact Groundwork NI, info@groundworkni.co.uk or 028 9074 9494.

For more information on National Lottery funding for environmental projects ranging from £300 for small grassroot organisations to hundreds of thousands of pounds for more established organisations visit: https://bit.ly/Environmentfunding.

Date published: 9 June, 2025
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 £4bn 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.

About Groundwork NI

Established in 1991, Groundwork Northern Ireland is a charity that is passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny, and no-one is held back by their background or circumstances.

We help people gain skills, get into training and work; we work with communities to protect and improve green spaces; lead more active lives and overcome significant challenges such as poverty, isolation, low skills and poor health.

We have distributed over £6 million in grants to community projects; provided nearly 100 beacons for community celebrations; support over 100 Men’s Sheds across NI and transformed 4 spaces into Meanwhile Gardens.

Groundwork NI has been working with local people and communities for over 30 years to protect and improve green spaces; encouraging people to lead more active lives and overcome significant challenges such as poverty and isolation.

The charity runs several local initiatives such as the Northern allotments project and their Meanwhile Gardens project. Both initiatives have assisted in establishing welcoming growing spaces that create meaningful growing experience for beneficiaries and volunteers. These projects are thriving through diverse community engagement.