£2.6m National Lottery funding to improve health and wellbeing for people across Northern Ireland as we recover from the pandemic

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced £2.6 million of funding to 59 projects across Northern Ireland.

The National Lottery funding is going to a range of projects, including support for carers, and groups running activities to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing as COVID-19 restrictions ease. (A full list of awards can be downloaded below)

One of the groups receiving funding is Derry Well Women. They are using a £465,000 grant to partner with several charities working across the Western Health and Social Care Trust area to integrate care for cancer patients.

Over three years the project will connect people affected by cancer to each other, to support in the community and will also link them to the people who deliver cancer services so they can use their experiences to make improvements.

Susan Gibson, Manager of Derry Well Women said: “This is the first time that multiple charities along with the WHSCT have come together in a coordinated way to improve services for cancer patients. This is a great achievement and a commitment to work together and make change happen.

“In the last two years 3,995 people* were diagnosed with cancer in the WHSCT area which has a population of roughly 300,000. So, we have a lot of people to help, and we need to make sure the support they get is meeting their needs.

“As we recover from COVID-19, this project is needed now more than ever. We have challenges to overcome but connecting people and giving them a voice to create change will help.”

Patrice Doherty, 39, a pharmacy technician from Derry/Londonderry knows how vital connections and improvements to services like this will be for cancer patients. Patrice was diagnosed with Breast Cancer three years ago and has been supported by Derry Well Women for the last two years.

Patrice explained: “Everyone's cancer journey is different, so they need different support and information. I was seriously ill for weeks in hospital after suffering side-effects from chemotherapy and the doctors decided it was too risky to have radiotherapy or surgery, so I’m now on long-term immunotherapy. Being able to have a voice and use our varying experiences to improve services is brilliant.

“The support group at Derry Well Women has meant I’ve never felt alone - we’re a support system for each other. This project is going to make a big difference to people like me.”

L’Arche Belfast has also been awarded a £499,987 grant to provide personal development activities for people with learning disabilities and marginalised groups such as asylum seekers, ex-prisoners and isolated older people, as well as those referred through social prescribing. The project is bringing people together to improve community mental wellbeing and reduce social isolation.

Carers Unite Carers Support Group in Portadown also received a £4,314 grant to buy equipment and deliver a programme of recreational and educational activities for carers and their families. Activities include arts and crafts and visiting another carers group to share experiences, build friendships and widen their support network.

National Lottery players raise around £36 million every week across the UK for good causes like these. The vast majority of grants awarded are for smaller amounts of under £10,000, going to the heart of communities to make a big difference.

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “It’s great to see such a variety of vital projects being funded to help people as they recover from the pandemic. I’m looking forward to seeing how these projects improve communities and the lives of people from across Northern Ireland as people start to come together again to re-build and re-connect.

“National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is making such a difference to people's lives.”

For more information on applying for funding, please visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/northern-ireland.

*Source: Statistics from Western Health and Social Care Trust in years 2019/20 and 2020/21.