£2 million from Dormant Accounts Fund NI supports VCSE sector sustainability

In the latest round of grants awarded from Dormant Accounts Fund NI, 25 organisations from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector have received their share of £2,006,649, to help secure their long-term future. See full details of all groups awarded in October 2022.

Delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Dormant Accounts Fund NI supports activity by VCSE organisations that increases their capacity and sustainability.

One of the groups awarded is Girlguiding Ulster who are using a £77,700 grant to restructure and develop succession plans for volunteering to help future proof the organisation.

Girls from Rainbows who are part of Girlguiding Ulster who have been awarded a grant from Dormant Accounts Fund NI

Claire Flowers, Chief Executive of Girlguiding Ulster, said: “This grant from Dormant Accounts Fund NI will make such a difference to our Units across Northern Ireland, helping us continue to give the best support and opportunities to over 7,500 girls and young women.

“Over the next two years, this money will help us work with our volunteers to evaluate and grow the roles, train and develop young leaders who can move into management roles and implement restructuring and succession plans for the 515 Rainbow, Brownie and Girlguiding Units throughout Northern Ireland.

“Overall, this grant will help us give more girls and young women the space and opportunities they need to thrive and give back to their communities, through learning new skills, growing in confidence and making lifelong friendships. Thank you.”

Since this Dormant Accounts Fund NI grant programme opened for applications in January 2021, £11,461,044 has been awarded to 131 VCSE organisations including those in arts, sports, charities and community-based, helping secure the long-term future of the sector.

Another group receiving funding is the MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre) in Belfast, who are using a £100,000 grant to improve their sustainability, build their international reputation and strengthen community partnerships.

Anne McReynolds, Chief Executive of the MAC, said: “The MAC is Northern Ireland’s leading arts centre and we are always working to secure a long-term sustainable future.

“This allocation from the Dormant Accounts scheme allows us to offer something new and will help us plug into a network of universities around the world, developing an educational arts-led programme for international students.

“Students will have a work placement at the MAC and other local community organisations, which will help develop our reputation and Northern Ireland’s internationally, as well as generating new income. This is an exciting opportunity with unlimited prospects, and we are delighted to be able to get the project up and running.”

Dormant accounts are UK bank and building society accounts that have been untouched for 15 or more years, where customers who own the accounts cannot be traced. As part of this first phase of Dormant Accounts Fund NI support, organisations can apply for up to £100,000 as part of a flexible and responsive grant programme.

Kate Beggs, The National Lottery Community Fund’s Northern Ireland Director, said: “I’m pleased to announce the latest grants from Dormant Accounts Fund NI, which are helping a range of organisations plan their long-term sustainability, something particularly challenging at this time, so they can continue to deliver vital services in local communities.”

“Money from Dormant Accounts continues to support the future of VCSE sector across Northern Ireland.”

For more information on Dormant Accounts Fund NI visit: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/dormant-accounts-ni.

Grant awarded from Dormant Accounts Fund NI - October 2022

Grants awarded Dormant Accounts Fund NI October 2022 1 (DOCX 161 KB)

Date published: 20 October, 2022
Region: Northern Ireland

Notes to Editors

Dormant accounts are defined in the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 as those which have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years.
Under the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008, the Reclaim Fund releases funds from dormant bank accounts to the National Lottery Community Fund for distribution to good causes across the UK.
The Reclaim Fund Ltd. (RFL), which was established in March 2011 to receive and invest dormant account balances across the UK, transferred the first tranche of monies from dormant bank and building society accounts to the National Lottery Community Fund on 2 August 2011.
The National Lottery Community Fund received policy directions regarding the Dormant Accounts Fund NI from the Department of Finance in September 2019.
The National Lottery Community Fund are the largest community funder in the UK awarding money, raised by National Lottery players, to local communities.

Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £43 billion has been raised for good causes. National Lottery funding has been used to support over 635,000 projects - 255 projects per postcode area.
We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive.

Dormant Accounts NI

Dormant Accounts Fund NI supports the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland to be more resilient and prepared for the future by funding activity that increases capacity and sustainability.