It’s been a big year for The National Lottery Community Fund in Northern Ireland. Before we go into 2025, let’s take a look at some key moments:
We launched Sustainable Community Buildings
Our £5 million programme to help community organisations across Northern Ireland make their buildings more energy efficient and save money on bills, opened in early 2024.
Watch our our launch video from Cancer Lifeline from January 2024.
Applicants from the first round have now completed carbon literacy training and we are looking forward to announcing the organisations receiving grants in the new year.
We closed People and Communities and Empowering Young People
Our two main grant programmes closed for new applications this year, after being open for almost 10 years and helping countless people and areas.
This helped us prepare for opening a new programme ‘Strengthening Communities’ in the Autumn.
We announced 581 separate grants in Northern Ireland
We awarded thousands of pounds to 581 individual community projects in 2024, helping people in every area thanks to money raised by people playing The National Lottery games.
This also included three grants from our UK Wide Climate Action Fund which is helping communities take steps to support the environment.
Ulster GAA was one of the groups to receive a Climate Action Fund grant in 2024 
People supported by Happy Life Together NI. The group is running workshops and advice clinics for people from Syrian and Arab communities across Northern Ireland, to reduce barriers to accessing services, improving wellbeing and helping integration 
Young people from Liberty Consortium. They have been awarded a £20,000 grant to organise a celebration event that will build their confidence, teach new skills and showcase their talents 
Ballyrashane Women’s Institute is running health and wellbeing activities for older women to build friendships and reduce isolation
See our press releases in Northern Ireland for details of all announcements: Press Releases | The National Lottery Community Fund.
We looked back at the last 30 years
With 30 years passing since the first National Lottery draw, the first grants were awarded to Northern Ireland communities in 1995. Watch BBC Rewind coverage from then: https://www.bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/608c106c98b729001fc58b85?nic=true&q=National%20Lottery®ions=gb-nir
Our largest grant awarded in Northern Ireland, of £23.6 million, was to help create the Connswater Community Greenway, 16km of foot and cycle paths resulting in a 9 km linear park, promoting health and physical activity in East Belfast.
A memorable programme, starting in 2002, was Heros Return, which allowed World War Two veterans, their carers and families to return to the battlefields where they saw action and remember the sacrifice made by their fallen friends and comrades.
Read about Cecil Mannagh who saw action at the Battle of Monte Cassino: Belfast born Monte Cassino veteran “transformed” by trip to scene of battle – Belfast Live
Teddy Dixon who helped liberate Concentration Camp, Dachau: Belfast man Teddy Dixon helped liberate Dachau after he was drafted into 42nd Rainbow Infantry of the US Army – Belfast Live
We opened Strengthening Communities
In October, we opened for applications for Strengthening Communities which will award grants to projects that focus on preventing problems before they arise and prioritise those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.
We look forward to awarding the first grants in 2025 and to start seeing the impact of this new programme.
We celebrated the National Lottery’s 30th birthday with crossed fingers
As part of the many celebrations, we encouraged projects to take part in Crossed Finger Selfie Day. It was so inspiring to see around 100 photos posted from our funded groups in Northern Ireland and hear about the difference #NationalLottery money is making.
Screenshots courtesy of Facebook and X
Looking forward
In 2024, we’ve enjoyed looking back at the impact of National Lottery funding over the last 30 years, but our focus is on the future.
Our strategy, ‘It starts with community,’ gives a road map for our funding to 2030, our 36th birthday. It outlines how we will put equity at the centre of all we do and support communities to come together; be environmentally sustainable; help children and young people thrive; and enable people to live healthier lives.
We are excited to see what the next year will bring.
We continue to be inspired by the many projects we fund who are working hard to support local people. Thank you.
Best wishes for 2025. Here’s to the next 30 years of National Lottery funding.
The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland 