Information Sessions on National Lottery Community Fund Held in Downpatrick

Downpatrick, Rowallane, and Slieve Croob District Electoral Area (DEA) Forums, in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund, held information sessions in Downshire Civic Centre on Thursday 26 September 2019. The sessions were organised by the DEA Forums to support both fledgling and long-established community groups to ensure that they are able to access the funding available.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Oonagh Hanlon, Chairperson of Downpatrick DEA Forum said, “My fellow councillors and I commend our District Electoral Area Coordinators who organise these workshops every year.

“These important sessions give community groups an opportunity to meet the funding experts and get advice and guidance on the type of projects that might attract funding and how to prepare their applications. It is heartening to see so many of our groups attend today’s event and I hope that this will result in more national Lottery Community funding coming to the area.”

Over 30 local community groups had the opportunity to book a half hour one-to-one appointment with representatives from the Community Fund. In addition to meeting representatives from the Community Fund, groups were able to network with other similar organisations and share experience and expertise.

The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK with various strands of funding available. These include National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland; People and Communities; and Great Ideas and Dormant Accounts Fund with grants ranging from £300-£500,000.