The National Lottery Community Fund is happy to talk to anyone in the Ards and North Down area about their ideas and give advice.  Since March, we have given over £11.2 million in grants to 469 new projects in Northern Ireland, as well as supporting current grant holders with additional funding. Recent grants in this area include:

Ballysallagh Women's Institute who is using a £6,900 grant to host a 70th anniversary dinner, safely and in line with government guidelines for women from Bangor, Helen's Bay, Crawfordsburn, Holywood, Newtownards, Dundonald and Belfast. They are also using the funding to run arts and craft workshops and trips for members as part of anniversary celebrations. The project helps improve mental health and well-being of members.

The Committee of Trustees of Masonic Temple Crawfordsburn are using a £10,000 to carry out repair works to their building so that it can be used for wider community activities. The upgrades are helping to create a more welcoming environment for community events.

Portaferry Men’s Shed is using a £8,850 grant to purchase equipment for their shed so they can provide safe, socially distanced activities as COVID-19 restrictions ease.  The shed provides a place where men can socialise, take part in various activities and receive support. This new equipment allows the group to reopen the shed safely to alleviate some of the mental health problems raised by their members as a result of lockdown.

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said: “People know best what is needed in their area. We want to fund projects that have been developed by people in an area, not projects that are done to them. This is more important than ever during this ever-changing pandemic.”

If you would like to talk about an idea you have or applying for funding, please phone The National Lottery Community Fund on 028 4378 0003 or visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/northern-ireland.