National Lottery funding awarded to community groups across County Derry

The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded funding to organisations in the County Derry area. 

The funding comes as part of an announcement of over £2 million of grants from The National Lottery Community Fund to provide support and services to local people across Northern Ireland, to improve their lives.  

One of the organisations receiving funding is Bovalley Community Association in Limavady. They are using a £20,000 grant over two years to run activities to improve the lives of people in the local community. The project will include wellbeing workshops, social trips, volunteer training, and support for people affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

Northern Counties Development Association also received an £18,218 grant to create a community gardening hub in Swatragh to bring people of all ages together and improve community spirit. The project includes a solar powered tea hut, raised vegetable beds, and a planting area.

Repair and Share Foyle has been awarded a £20,000 grant to create a tool and equipment library and deliver repair workshops for the local community. The project will encourage people to share skills and resources and reduce waste. 

Caroline McGuinness-Brooks, Managing Director, Repair and Share Foyle, said: “We're absolutely buzzing about this award as it enables us to give our Library of Things the best start ever. We're excited to settle into our new home at RathMor Business Park and can't wait to kickstart the sharing economy model here in Derry/Londonderry, where residents can choose to borrow rather than buy new.” 

 Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million a week is raised for good causes like these across the UK, including Dromboughil Community Association, based outside Dungiven. They have been awarded a £20,000 grant over two years to run a community fridge and a programme of craft and wellbeing classes. The project will bring the local community together to socialise, learn new skills and reduce food waste and food poverty. 

Aideen O’Neill, Project and Funding Coordinator, Dromboughil Community Association, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding from the National Lottery Community Fund towards our extensive class programme here in our community centre. This project will bring tremendous benefit to our local community promoting health and wellbeing and reducing the impact of social isolation through a variety of art, crafts and exercise classes and workshops. We are very grateful to the National Lottery community fund and its players for making the continued success of our programme possible.”   

Lifestart Foundation in Derry has been awarded a £155,169 grant to provide support to new parents to cope with pre-natal and post-natal issues affecting them and their children. Over three years the project will run parent and child group sessions in Strabane, Derry, Omagh, Antrim and Dunmurry, to bring families together to share their experiences and concerns in a safe, nurturing environment and receive support from trained facilitators. The sessions will also run activities to improve the bond between parents and their children while promoting positive parenting and supporting child development. The project will reduce loneliness, improve mental health and help parents build connections with other parents and within their own communities. 

Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “I’m looking forward to seeing the difference these grants make across Northern Ireland thanks to the charities, community organisations and voluntary groups which are doing vital work every day to support people in their community.  

“As we approach the 30^th Birthday of the National Lottery later this year, celebrating these new awards is a great way to thank National Lottery players who raise this money, which is going back into communities, to strengthen them, and improve lives.” 

More information on National Lottery funding here