A new £20million lottery funding programme has been launched aimed at helping communities focus on “preventing problems before they arise”.
Grants from the National Lottery Community Fund will be provided to projects that also prioritise those experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.
The ‘Strengthening Communities’ initiative also hopes to support people to fulfil their potential, be more involved in their communities and improve their lives.
This new programme will start by targeting two of the fund’s mission areas - to help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.
Multi-year grants of up to £500,000 will be available.
Paul Sweeney, NI chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We want to fund projects, led by communities, that focus on early intervention and building strength – equipping people with the skills, networks and resources to protect them from adverse experiences and break negative cycles.
“We know that this type of preventative support works best.”
One group already focusing on preventative activities is Invisible Traffick, who are using a £500,000 National Lottery grant to educate young people to recognise the signs of modern slavery, criminal exploitation and human trafficking and protect them from being exploited.
Megan Phair, Project Leader from Invisible Traffick, said: “We are absolutely delighted to hear about the aims of Strengthening Communities. Even the name is clear, showing that communities need to work together and be supported to help themselves.
“Our work shows that focusing on supporting and educating young people before an issue turns to a crisis, such as being groomed by a criminal gang, is the best way to prevent damage and improve their lives in the longer term.”
Strengthening Communities will open to applications on October 21.
Please phone 028 9055 1455 or email enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk for information.
