Local health and wellbeing boost

Across all council areas, 81 projects are receiving £2,651,839 with grants from £1,000 to half a million pounds helping isolated older people, children as they return to school, those living with poverty or challenges around long term health conditions or disability.

One of the groups funded is Desertcreat Women’s Institute in Cookstown which is using a £2,000 grant to replace the heating system in their building so that local community groups can continue to use the space.

Pomeroy and District Sports and Cultural Association has also been awarded a £4,900 grant to buy catering equipment for their premises so they can run more activities for the community.

Also receiving funding in the area is Six Counties Bus Preservation in Magherafelt which is using a £10,000 grant to deliver activities based on the restoration of buses and coaches which will help members build new friendships, learn new skills, and improve their wellbeing. The project will also have an intergenerational element, as older members pass on skills to younger members.

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.

Paul Sweeney, The National Lottery Community Fund’s NI Chair, said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce these grants today supporting such a diverse range of projects, who are meeting the needs in our local communities.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how these projects improve the lives of people from across Northern Ireland as we start to re-build and re-connect following our experiences of the pandemic over the last 18 months.

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

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