Community groups share Lottery fund

Community groups share Lottery fund

18 June 2025

THE National Lottery Community Fund has awarded over £170,000 to a number of local organisations. 

This funding comes as part of the latest announcement of over £6 million of grants from The National Lottery Community Fund to provide support and services to local people across Northern Ireland, to improve their lives. 

The Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland North), which is based in Bryansford, is using a £20,000 grant to buy an off-road vehicle to help the group to deliver their search and rescue services. 

 A spokesperson for the organisation said the replacement vehicle “will ensure we can continue reaching remote and otherwise inaccessible areas in the urgent search for high-risk missing persons, bolstering both our preparedness and effectiveness in times of need”. 

Newcastle Glees Musical Society has been awarded a £5,610 grant to make improvements to the Annesley Hall and make it more accessible for community groups to use. Work will include repairs to the wooden floor, guttering and the provision of an external light, storage and TV monitors. 

Other organisations being funded include Ballyhornan and District Community Association, Dundrum Village Association, Killinchy and District Beekeepers Association, Legananny Accordion Band, Ballynahinch Royal British Legion branch, Saintfield Women’s Institute, Slievenaman Women’s Institute, St Colman’s GAC Drumaness and Wincheslea LOL 438 Bryansford. 

People across Northern Ireland can apply for grants of between £300 and £20,000 for environmental projects through The National Lottery Awards For All programme.   

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund congratulated all the groups receiving funding and carrying out vital work to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland’s communities.  

“We are continuing to deliver on our strategy, ‘It starts with community’, with several programmes open for applications to support those in need,” she said. 

“Please contact us if you would like advice on which funding would best suit your project idea.” 

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