Community projects in Northern Ireland receive over £2.2 million through National Lottery funding

The National Lottery Community Fund has today announced more than £2.2 million of funding to 141 community projects from across Northern Ireland. This includes organisations responding to the current Covid-19 crisis, supporting mental health, reducing isolation and helping people build much needed connections in their community. For a full list of grants awarded in each area please see the attached table below.

ARC Healthy Living Centre in Irvinestown has been awarded £499,280 to develop their ‘Rethink’ project across the Tyrone, Fermanagh and Derry/Londonderry areas with their partners Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum and Business in the Community. This project is helping people aged over 25 to adapt and build resilience, many of whom have social anxiety, mental health issues or addiction by delivering courses and support while maintaining social distancing through social media and making over 150 telephone calls per week.

Aidan Ormsby, Manager of the Rethink project said: “Now more than ever people are needing to adapt to big changes in their lives and this is exactly what our project helps them to do. Now we can offer more support and to those from aged 25 due to this money. The unique thing about what we are doing is that we bring help right into the area where people live, in as many small villages we can reach, from Drumquin to Belcoo to Limavady and everywhere in between.

“People can decide to come themselves or get referred from the health service, but they all have something in common, they need support. People meet others from their area which they may have never dreamed of were feeling the same way as them - lifelong friendships are made. People are self-isolating at the minute and are really finding our phone calls so helpful to give them encouragement and keep them connected. They said that they are the highlight of their week.

“We can’t wait to get up and running physically again in communities across the West once this pandemic has passed, but until then, we will work with ways we can support people and know that our services will be invaluable to those dealing with mental health issues and bereavement as a result of this pandemic. Thank you to all The National Lottery players for making our work possible.”

The Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group is using a £10,000 grant to meet the needs of those living in Derry/Londonderry, Strabane and Limavady both during and after a cancer diagnosis. The project improves the mental, physical and emotional health of cancer sufferers and their families/carers. As part of their work they have created ‘Immune Boosting’ packs to help local people with a cancer diagnosis fight against the Covid-19 virus and they have been delivering them to their most at risk members.

Maureen Collins, Project Manager at The Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group said: “A lot of our members are coping with a range of gruelling treatments such as chemotherapy which weakens the immune system or had treatment stopped which leaves them very vulnerable during this scary time. We have moved our National Lottery funded support programme online which includes, counselling, carer activities, education and health and well-being activities to we are still fully supporting those in need. Our Immune Boosting packs help feed the body with good foods to support keeping the immune system strong. We know that a lot of families can’t afford to be buying organic products, so it’s important for us through our National Lottery funding to provide them with the best food to help build up that immunity.

“At The Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group we believe in celebrating life, we are one big family here and want people to feel safe and cared for in their own homes. When you are diagnosed with cancer that’s enough to be getting on with never mind the added worry of Covid-19, so we’re doing our bit to help lessen these burdens. We want to thank National Lottery players for this new grant which will help us continue our much needed work”

The Craic Theatre, based in Coalisland, is using a £8,110 grant to launch an interactive online drama programme to support young people and the wider community during the Covid-19 pandemic. The project is focusing on fun and creative ways to keep the community entertained during lockdown and reduce the feeling of isolation through the medium of drama and dance, all while exploring topics such as visualisation - picturing the world on the other side of the pandemic in a positive way and how the community can come out the other side fitter and stronger in both body and mind.

Joanne McDonald from The Craic Theatre said: “We have over 150 children from primary and secondary school age who normally come to our classes every week and it is a lifeline for them, building friendships and sharing a passion. This National Lottery funding will help us continue our work supporting our pupils talents and mental health online during this pandemic. This is a distraction from home schooling whilst allowing kids to engage, learn and share worries and concerns, in a safe online environment supporting their well-being during this critical time.”

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “In this time of uncertainty, we are here to give support when we can. All funding decisions we make over the coming months will prioritise getting grants to groups best placed to support their communities at this time. We appreciate that many of the organisations awarded funding today may need to delay or modify the delivery of their project, but we will work with them and be flexible to ensure that they can do this. Our funded projects can also apply for additional support to help them through the pandemic.

“We have heard of brilliant efforts being made across the sector, of our funded projects helping those in isolation or looking to the aftermath of this pandemic and the need for support for those affected in the longer-term. We know that as a small community in Northern Ireland we will work together, making a big difference and help each other, until we can physically bring communities together again.

“Thank you to those who play the National Lottery for providing our funding so projects like these can continue to do their amazing work and help those that need it.”

Maureen Collins and Jacquie Loughrey from The Pink Ladies Cancer Support group in Derry/Londonderry, just one of over 140 community projects that have received a share of £2.2 million of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund today.

All National Lottery funded projects can contact their Funding Officer if they need advice or have any questions about their grant. Full updates from the organisation regarding our response to Covid-19, information on applying for grants and general contact details can be found on our website www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk.