Over £1.4m National Lottery funding announced to strengthen Derry and Strabane communities

The National Lottery Community Fund has today announced grants of £1,434,835 to 33 organisations in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

Projects being supported include activity to improve mental health by reducing isolation and helping children and young people get the best start in life.  

Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum, in partnership with the Old Library Trust in Derry/Londonderry, are using a £499,028 grant to provide support for older people. 

Mary Breslin, Older Peoples Programme Manager at Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum said: “Thanks to this National Lottery grant, we are rolling out programmes to improve the overall health and well-being of older people and integrate them into their area.

“Classes such as DIY, lantern painting and woodwork are a big hit so far and we already see it having a positive impact on the local community." 

The announcement comes in the same month as The National Lottery Community Fund unveiled its new strategy ‘It starts with community,’ which outlines its funding priorities from now to 2030 https://www.tnlcommunityfund. org.uk/about/our-strategy.

Foyle Women’s Aid in Derry is using a £562,055 grant to support young people who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence.  

Marie Brown, CEO of Foyle Women’s Aid said: “Over five years, the project will design and build a specialised Camp Hope facility that will complement our Teenlink service by providing yearly summer camps that have been designed to engage young people in physical activities, mentoring and support programmes, helping them address the difficult emotional and physiological impacts of domestic abuse to promote healing, recovery and hope for the future.  

“Thanks to this innovative National Lottery project, we have been afforded a brilliant opportunity to create this unique Camp Hope facility to bring young people together for six-day residentials within Camp Hope, which will help them connect and learn from each other, and then follow up with long-term support at a time when they need it the most.” 

Foyle Friends of Ukraine are using £9,580 grant to support newly arrived Ukrainians in the North West area.   

Carrie McCafferty, Project Manager from Foyle Friends of Ukraine said: “This National Lottery support has been vital, giving us an opportunity for Ukrainians to come together, get support and share their experiences of life in NI. 

“This grant not only helps us see Ukrainians safe and settled but have the ability to integrate into the local community, adapt better to a new life and culture through peer-to-peer experiences, and to find a sense of self and contribution whilst in NI.” 

Stanislav, aged 10 who received support from the group said: “I want to thank you for opening the kids club. I really like it there, it's fun and very interesting. I also made a lot of friends."  

The Gemma Mc Hale Foundation, based in Castlederg, is using a £9,000 grant to set up a Bereavement Support Group for people to meet, share stories and enjoy activities together. The project includes holistic therapies, cookery classes, creative art workshops, and day trips.

Over 300 grants ranging from £600 to over £500,000 are going to every Council area across NI. For more information see table of all grants awarded attached. 

Paul Sweeney, NI Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “We fund projects that matter to communities, and I’m delighted to see such a wide range of groups awarded, each making such a difference across Northern Ireland. 

“We want to get behind communities and help them make the difference on the ground. Our existing grant programmes remain open, so if we can be of assistance, please contact us. 

“These funded projects demonstrate how positive change ‘starts with community’, which is at the heart of our new strategy. We look forward to talking to those who receive or need funding as we develop our future programmes.” 

Thanks to National Lottery players, during the last financial year, The National Lottery Community Fund awarded 663 new grants totalling £27.9 million to support local communities in NI.  

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