To be eligible for grant assistance organisations must:

• be constituted voluntary /community sector organisations located in Northern Ireland
• have an annual income of less than £100,000 per year.  

This grant is only eligible for expenditure on capital items and groups must be able to incur the expenditure before 31 March 2019.

Completed applications should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and must be received by 6.00 pm on Sunday 17th February 2019.

Application forms and guidance notes can be accessed at:

http://www.cooperationireland.org/programmes/community-programmes/small-capital-grants-programme/

Big Lottery rebrands to National Lottery Community Fund

The largest organisation that distributes money raised for ‘good causes’ through the sale of National Lottery tickets has unveiled a refreshed brand that makes a clearer link between playing the National Lottery and the good causes that benefit.  

The Big Lottery Fund has changed its name to The National Lottery Community Fund – a move announced in September last year.

They have also unveiled a refreshed brand identity that incorporates The National Lottery’s highly recognisable crossed-fingers.

The new name reflects their commitment to working more closely with communities and the fact that they are proud to distribute funds raised by National Lottery players.

Groups in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area with a project idea can contact the team covering this area and have a chat. The team are:

Laura Murray – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 028 9055 1453

Janine Knox – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 028 9055 1448

Andy Hall – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 028 9055 1449

Patricia Pedlow – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 028 9055 1459

Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “National Lottery funding for good causes changes lives. As the largest community funder in the UK, we see the amazing achievements of thousands of people-led projects every year. From social groups for young carers to baking classes for the older generation, from craft workshops in rurally isolated areas to support sessions for new parents, communities are thriving thanks to The National Lottery. By deepening the connection between players and the great projects they are supporting, we can make sure more people understand the incredible difference they make across the UK.”

The National Lottery Community Fund 

The National Lottery Community Fund (previously the Big Lottery Fund) has been working to put people and communities at the heart of its grants since introducing its People in the Lead Strategic Framework in 2015.  

Last year alone it gave out over half a billion pounds (£508.5 million) of National Lottery funding to community projects across the UK. Over 11,000 projects benefitted from this, enabling people and communities to bring their ideas to life. 

While revealing its new logo, the Fund expects that its old logo may continue to be used for some time as the many small grassroots and projects it funds switch across as and when they are creating new print materials. The Fund has communicated to groups to support them in updating digital materials and to reassure them that they can continue to use previously printed materials or merchandise until they are ready to order new ones.