The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland

The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Awarding funds from The National Lottery to projects that strengthen society and improve lives. This account is monitored Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Please note that we do not monitor direct messages through this page.

Rural communities: your voice matters. 📢How prepared is your community for major emergencies? Rural Community Network (R...
24/08/2026

Rural communities: your voice matters. 📢

How prepared is your community for major emergencies?

Rural Community Network (RCN) is seeking views from people involved in rural communities across Northern Ireland. This work is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Share your experiences, tell them what works well locally, and identify the support communities need to become even more resilient. Why should you take part?

- Takes just 15 minutes
- Opportunity to enter a draw for a ÂŁ100 One4all gift card
- Open to community groups in rural areas and those supporting rural communities

Take part today: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/RCNCivilContingencies/

Want to find out about funding opportunities for Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations in Northern ...
20/08/2026

Want to find out about funding opportunities for Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations in Northern Ireland?

We are hosting some lunch time information sessions to tell you more.

Places are still available for our next session at 1.00pm on Tuesday 8 September.

Find out more at https://ow.ly/C1ru50ZAtfv

We're Hiring! 📢 Do you have a passion for influencing policy, building partnerships, and helping communities thrive? Th...
19/08/2026

We're Hiring! 📢

Do you have a passion for influencing policy, building partnerships, and helping communities thrive?

The National Lottery Community Fund is seeking a Policy Engagement Manager to join our Northern Ireland team on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

In this exciting role, you will work with the Head of Policy and Engagement in Northern Ireland to:

- Build influential relationships across government, voluntary and community sectors, and funding partners
- Provide policy insight that helps shape funding priorities
- Amplify the voices and experiences of communities across Northern Ireland
- Support our mission to tackle poverty, discrimination, and disadvantage through an equity-based approach

We're looking for someone with:

- A strong understanding of the social policy landscape in Northern Ireland
- Experience engaging with stakeholders across the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector
- A commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Excellent relationship-building and communication skills

Location: Belfast (Hybrid Working)
Apply by: 9 September 2026. Interview Date: 1 October 2026.

Find out more at
https://ow.ly/o4pJ50ZAt4z

Home-Start Lisburn/Colin is helping support young people and their families in Northern Ireland. For most people, bringi...
12/08/2026

Home-Start Lisburn/Colin is helping support young people and their families in Northern Ireland.

For most people, bringing up a child can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding they can do. However, for some, not having adequate support can overshadow the experience.

Mum of three Zoe, from Lisburn, had a history of poor mental health before having children and wasn’t prepared for how she would feel as a new mum. She said: “I suffered hugely from postnatal depression and anxiety, with a constant stream of intrusive thoughts, particularly with my second child.

“It was a vicious circle, which led to overwhelming feelings of guilt that I wasn’t being a good enough mum.”

A survey by Censuswide, on behalf of The National Lottery Community Fund, showed that 31% of parents in Northern Ireland felt unsupported or isolated when their child was born. Grant holders like Home-Start are providing compassionate support and a community, with weekly peer groups that helped Zoe feel more positive.

Zoe said: “Home-Start has helped me in countless ways, including being a better wife, a mother, and a friend. Most of all, it has helped me become me again!”

In Belfast, Northern Ireland, WOMENSTEC are empowering girls in Primary School by teaching them DIY skills. 🔨Claire King...
07/08/2026

In Belfast, Northern Ireland, WOMENSTEC are empowering girls in Primary School by teaching them DIY skills. 🔨

Claire King, programme coordinator at Women’s Tec, explains that Building Girls project gave "P7 girls the knowledge, skills and confidence to break away from gender stereotypes and show them the opportunities available to them in the world of construction”.

Thanks to players, we funded 14,063 projects in 2025-26, with projects in Northern Ireland receiving ÂŁ35.7 million in funding.

“We want to show the girls that non-traditional female jobs roles are opportunities for them in the future and we use female tutors to reinforce those messages – like our tutor Joanne, who is a qualified joiner and mechanic. She is a great role model for the girls.”

“The girls are so proud of what they create in our workshops and so excited to bring them home to show their families. We hear stories about them using tools at home and can see how empowered they feel to be able to build something from start to finish.”

It Starts with Community. And it starts with you.There are just seven weeks left to respond to the UK Government’s call ...
05/08/2026

It Starts with Community. And it starts with you.

There are just seven weeks left to respond to the UK Government’s call for evidence, on how the money raised for good causes by National Lottery players should be spent – and they want to hear from individuals and groups across Northern Ireland.

Since 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes – through projects that help people connect, grow and build a better future, all across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

Our priorities, and our strategy It Starts With Community, have been shaped by 18,000 people across the UK who told us what their communities needed. And last year, our funding teams covering every postcode area of the UK funded an idea every 8 minutes.

Find out more and share your thoughts: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/national-lottery-good-causes-fund-what-matters-to-you

Help shape a better future for children and families across Northern Ireland. The Department of Health is inviting exper...
31/07/2026

Help shape a better future for children and families across Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health is inviting experienced Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to join webinars to find out more about delivering Enhanced Family Support Services through the new Together for Families programme. Five sessions will be taking place next week (two on Monday, two on Thursday and one on Friday).

Together for Families is a partnership between the VCSE sector, the Department of Health and The National Lottery Community Fund that aims to transform how children, young people and families are supported across Northern Ireland.

It will help shift the current system from reactive, high-cost statutory intervention to earlier, community-based support so that families can access the right help at the right time, closer to home.

These webinars are aimed at VCSE organisations with experience of supporting families in Northern Ireland with complex needs.

Find out more about next week's webinars and how to reserve a place by visiting https://ow.ly/mUWR50Zv5K3



Department of Health NI Belfast Health and Social Care Trust Southern Health and Social Care Trust South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust Western Health and Social Care Trust Northern Health and Social Care Trust Action for Children Northern Ireland Barnardo's Northern Ireland

Super stitcher Roz volunteers at Repair Cafe Belfast, where she’s helping her community live a bit more sustainably 🧵. ...
31/07/2026

Super stitcher Roz volunteers at Repair Cafe Belfast, where she’s helping her community live a bit more sustainably 🧵.

A dab hand at mending and altering clothes, Roz now teaches others to sew so they can do their bit to reduce clothes waste.

Roz said: “People come to get their items mended at the Repair Cafe, but it’s so much more than that. One elderly gentleman, who is a carer for his wife, brought pyjamas that were missing a button – in the past she would have fixed them herself, but she’s no longer able to. Now he brings items to us every month. The companionship over tea and a chat means as much to him as the mending. Educating people on waste opens up a new way of life."

We know how powerful local action is in tackling climate change. That’s why we’re proud to fund communities across the UK who are coming together to make a difference for people and our planet - while also making friends!

Repair Cafe NI

We’re on the lookout for four young people to join our Youth Voice Advisor team - one from each of England, Scotland, Wa...
23/07/2026

We’re on the lookout for four young people to join our Youth Voice Advisor team - one from each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Join us and help bring young people’s perspectives into funding decisions and projects that tackle climate change and support environmental action.

In this new role, you’ll:
- Work as part of a team to ensure Youth Voice is represented in the Fund’s grant making

- Work with Fund staff and at times with the Head of Youth Voice to develop future funding opportunities for youth organisations and young people

- Shape processes for Youth Voice to be included within the Fund's Environment Mission

- Be an ambassador for the Fund at related events promoting our Youth Voice work.

We will be hosting a Q&A session on 27th July at 1:00pm, on Microsoft Teams. We will go through top tips for applying and it's an opportunity to ask questions about the role. To register or ask any questions please email: [email protected]

Apply by 11:59pm, 4th August. Find out more in our blog: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/join-our-youth-voice-advisor-team

Could your community turn one small idea into something that helps people and planet? 🌱 Today, The National Lottery Comm...
22/07/2026

Could your community turn one small idea into something that helps people and planet? 🌱

Today, The National Lottery Community Fund is launching Small Eco Awards, a new funding programme for communities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales who want to take practical action for their local environment.

We know communities care deeply about the places where they live, meet, volunteer and spend time together. We’ve heard from groups who want environmental funding to feel accessible, practical and rooted in real local action and this funding responds to those needs.

Small Eco Awards can support ideas that bring people together and make local places greener, healthier and more resilient.

That could be:

- creating a community garden
-️ starting a repair café
- ️reducing waste or reusing resources
- supporting wildlife and pollinators
- making a shared community space more sustainable
- helping people connect with nature close to home

You do not need to be an environmental organisation to apply. You just need a practical idea that could make a positive difference where you live.

Read our new blog to find out more about Small Eco Awards and how to apply: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/call-for-your-community-take-a-small-step-for-the-environment-small-eco-awards-is-now-open-to-applications?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sea

Address

1 Cromac Quay, Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT72JD

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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