National Lottery grants awarded in Mid Ulster

This includes Loup Women’s Group that received a £19,980 grant over two years to run a wellbeing programme to bring local women together to reduce rural isolation and learn new skills.

Helen Andrews, Chairperson, Loup Women’s Group, said: “We are delighted to receive this grant to give women in the rural community opportunity to avail of a range of activities in the area. This will reduce isolation and loneliness allowing them to gain confidence and skills.

“Women will acquire knowledge and hands on in growing vegetables in the community garden. This will lead to healthier lifestyles and improved mental health and wellbeing. Everything we do helps us to get to know others in the locality and beyond. Lasting friendships are made.

“Thank you The National Lottery Community Fund for making this possible and to those to play The National Lottery.”

Also receiving funding in Mid Ulster are Me You and Them in Dungannon, Sperrin Cultural Awareness Association in Magherafelt, St Colman’s Parish Community Group outside Ardboe, Brackaville Senior Citizens in Coalisland, Castledawson Community Partnership, Desertcreatives and Dungannon West Recycled Teenagers.

These grant awards come as The National Lottery Community Fund announced a new multi-million pound funding programme, ‘Strengthening Communities,’ to support people in greatest need, investing £20 million each year across Northern Ireland.

Strengthening Communities is different from previous programmes delivered by The Fund, as it will award grants to projects that focus on preventing problems before they arise and prioritise those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. It will also support people to fulfil their potential, be more involved in their communities and improve their lives.

This new programme comes from The Fund’s strategy to 2030, ‘It starts with community,’ and will start by targeting two of its mission areas: help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.

Multi-year grants of up to £500,000 will be available and it will open to applications on Monday 21 October 2024. Organisations applying will be expected to show how their project has made a difference and how they will measure that impact.

Paul Sweeney, Northern Ireland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, announcing this new programme, said: “We’re delighted to launch Strengthening Communities, which takes the best of what we’ve done before and builds on our work to make communities stronger, healthier and more inclusive.

“We want to fund projects, led by communities, that focus on early intervention and building strength – equipping people with the skills, networks and resources to protect them from adverse experiences and break negative cycles. We know that this type of preventative support works best.

“I want to pay tribute to all the National Lottery funded projects, like these awarded in Mid Ulster, that continue to step up for communities to support people in need. We look forward to working with them and seeing what can be achieved.”

This year marks 30 years since the first National Lottery draw in 1994, and thanks to those who play the games and raise £30 million for good causes each week, £786 million has been awarded to communities across Northern Ireland over this time.

Groups with ideas for funding are encouraged to get in touch to discuss their idea on 028 9055 1455 or email [email protected].

For more information on all funding available from The National Lottery Community Fund visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/NorthernIreland.