Over 100 community groups and charities receive an early Christmas present from the National Lottery

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.

With grants ranging from £830 to £500,000 the National Lottery funding is being used for a range of projects, including bringing isolated people together to make connections, building skills to empower people to improve their lives, and supporting people in need over winter and throughout 2025. Read more about all the projects.

One of the organisations receiving funding is Children’s Heartbeat Trust. They are using a £199,068 grant to support young people with congenital heart disease from across Northern Ireland.

Joanne McCallister, Chief Executive, Children’s Heartbeat Trust, said: “Pre-teens, teens and young adults are going through many changes in their lives and having congenital heart disease adds more complexities to this.

“But thanks to this funding we will be able to improve the lives of these young people and show them that they can lead full lives with their heart condition.

“We will use the grant to run activities at different locations across NI – east, mid and west - including support groups, educational workshops, training programmes, and residentials, which will all be tailored to the needs of different age groups. The project will also run a pilot support programme for siblings.

“This project is a brilliant opportunity for young people to be more independent, build connections, have fun and improve their mental health.”

Since the first National Lottery draw 30 years ago in 1994, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded £786 million to good causes across communities in Northern Ireland. Over this time, UK wide, £50 billion has been raised for good causes, thanks to people playing the games.

Including in Ards and North Down where Bangor Foodbank and Community Support has been awarded a £351,559 grant. They are using the funding to provide emergency food parcels and support services for people experiencing food poverty.

Ken Scott from Bangor Foodbank said: “Receiving support from The National Lottery Community Fund has been transformative for us, empowering us to expand our services and reach more people in need.

“From setting up a new foodbank in Portaferry to providing low-cost Christmas cookery lessons, these three years of funding will help us to create a lasting impact in the Ards and North Down area for people struggling with the rising cost of living.”

Also receiving funding is The Diamond Community Development Association in Loughgall, a rural area outside Armagh. They are using a £9,350 grant to run activities, including reminiscence sessions and festive events, to improve the wellbeing of the local community.

In Derry/Londonderry, the Woodland Trust is using a £19,792 grant to run an outdoor activity programme in Faughan Valley. The project will bring people together to connect with nature, improve wellbeing and learn new skills on tree planting, woodland yoga, outdoor navigation and conservation.

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Congratulations to all the groups receiving funding today. I’m proud to see the impact our funded projects are having in people’s lives and across communities in Northern Ireland.

“Wintertime and especially the festive season can be difficult for many, but thanks to these projects, people are being supported to cope with the challenges they face and can look forward to a better 2025.

“As the new year approaches, we’re building on the work and impact already made through these 30 years of National Lottery funding and continuing to meet the needs of communities.”

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