Support is being brought to 116 much needed community projects across Northern Ireland this festive season, thanks to over £6.8 million of grants from The National Lottery Community Fund.

A community group in the Scottish Borders has been given £595,500 by the Scottish Land Fund to buy an area of land in their village. Broughtonknowe Community Woodland Ltd will purchase 55.85 ha of woodland in Broughton in order to continue using it as an amenity green space and to increase biodiversity on the site.

Shane Ryan reflects on judging this year’s National Diversity Awards.