Today we are launching our new grant programme, Strengthening Communities. This will provide multi-year funding of up to £500,000 for projects which make communities stronger, healthier and more inclusive. The annual budget for this new programme will be around £20 million, and it will open to applications from voluntary and community sector organisations on 21 October 2024 with no closing date.
Our strategy, ‘It starts with community’, puts equity and fairness at the heart of our funding. In Strengthening Communities, we will invest most where the need is greatest, ensuring that those who experience poverty, discrimination and disadvantage – adults, children and young people alike – have the same opportunity to fulfil their potential, participate in their communities and live healthier, happier lives.  It will be our main funding offer up to 2030 and will start off by specifically targeting two of our strategy mission areas:
- help children and young people thrive
- enable people to live healthier lives
We will continue to expect project proposals to be community-led, to build on existing strengths and to increase connection and strengthen networks. We will also want people applying to the programme to tell us why they are best placed to deliver, how they will know their project has made a difference and how they will measure that impact.
We would be grateful if you could help us to share the news about Strengthening Communities with your networks. We will be sharing details of information sessions for any groups interested in applying on our social media channels in the coming weeks. We want people to contact our team and chat to us about their ideas if they would like to apply – here’s a link where there are some more details about the programme.
If you would like to meet with us to discuss in greater detail our ambitions and aims through Strengthening Communities, please get in touch by calling 028 9055 1455 or email enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
The National Lottery Community Fund
1 Cromac Quay, Cromac Wood, Belfast BT7 2JD
Enquiries: 028 9055 1455Â | Text relay: 18001 plus 028 9055 1431
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