Projects in Northern Ireland to tackle isolation among older people and support young people at risk of homelessness are among good causes to share £5.8m in National Lottery Community Fund grants.

Among the 134 charities to benefit is Northern Ireland Youth Forum, which has been handed just under £500,000 to support young people with housing issues, including homelessness. The money will be used to run drop-in centre activities, support and life skills training.

“We are so grateful for this National Lottery grant which will help us empower young people with lived experience of homelessness to support those in similar situations, helping them make connections,” said the Forum’s director Chris Quinn.

Elsewhere Greenisland Football Club has received £193,000 to develop a ‘Cuppa Club’ for older people in the area to tackle isolation and improve access to support for local services.

“With this funding we’re able to provide 60 older people with one hot meal every week of the year, and we’ll deliver the meal to their house if they can’t attend,” said the football club’s outreach community coordinator Aaron Anderson.

Meanwhile, charities in Northern Ireland are being asked by the National Lottery Community Fund for their views on how it awards grants in the region over the next eight years.

This is part of a wider consultation on how the grant distribution can be improved at the funder.

National Lottery Community Fund launches ‘important conversation’ on its future - Charity Times

In April the funder announced plans to renew its strategy to ensure “we are future fit and continue to deliver funding that is for all”, according to its chief executive David Knott.

Now charities in Northern Ireland are being specifically asked for your views on how “our grant making will look like between now and 2030” said NLCF Northern Ireland chair Paul Sweeney.

“We want to ensure communities across Northern Ireland help shape the future of how we invest money. We intend to do this by listening, learning and responding to ideas and suggestions,” he said.

Charities are urged to contact the funding body in Northern Ireland by email YourViewsNI@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk  or telephone 028 9055 1455.

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