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Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

A guide leads a tour inside Templemore Baths
A tour of Templemore Baths. Credit: Neal Campbell.
Since 1994 we have awarded over £290m of National Lottery and other funding to almost 2,000 projects in Northern Ireland.

From Belfast’s rich industrial and maritime heritage, to luscious landscapes and parks, to museums bursting with the stories of local people, Northern Ireland has it all.

We’re proud to play a role in protecting and celebrating Northern Ireland’s vibrant places, coastal landscapes, historic sites and diverse heritage. It’s part of our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

Get inspiration for your project

Take a look below at project case studies and latest news from your area. 

Our National Lottery Heritage Grants funding programme is open – if you have an idea for a project in Northern Ireland, we would love to hear from you. Grants are available from £10,000 up to £10m. 

Find out more and explore available funding.

Watch our video to help you apply for a £10,000–£250,000 grant

Our regular funding advice sessions are a great opportunity to:

  • find out about our funding
  • get tips on how to make a good application
  • network with other organisations from your area
Book onto an upcoming session

Thinking about applying to us for a grant of up to £250,000? Submit a Project Enquiry to get feedback on your project idea before making a full application. We'll get back to you within 10 working days.

Submit a Project Enquiry

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We work flexibly and conduct some of our day-to-day business from home. 

Please send all items electronically via northernireland@heritagefund.org.uk and not by post.

Contact details

Email: northernireland@heritagefund.org.uk

Telephone: 028 9592 1901 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am–5.00pm)

Postal address:

Arthur House
41 Arthur Street
Belfast, BT1 4GB

A group of seven people are gathered together in front of red signage for a coal sellers. Text reads John Kelly limited. They are smiling at the camera
Credit: CITB NI / Peter O'Hara Photography.

Projects

Building Next Generation Traditional Skills

Addressing a skills gap and building a strong supply chain of skilled craftspeople to repair and maintain heritage buildings is the aim of this four-year project.

An aerial view of islands on the west coast of Strangford Lough.
Aerial view of islands on the west coast of Strangford Lough taken from Sketrick Island near Whiterock. Credit: Ards and North Down Borough Council.

Projects

Protecting the Strangford and Lecale landscape

Covering over 90,600 hectares, this Landscape Connections project will restore habitats at scale and support communities to lead nature recovery.

The exterior of two eighteenth century buildings, one is black and white with arched doorways and the other is pale yellow with green accents and arched windows
The existing museum at 59 Castle Street (pictured right) will expand into number 57, to make a gallery space nearly four times its current size. Credit: Causeway Coast and Glens Museum Services.

Projects

Reviving Ballycastle Museum – the gateway to a coastal community

A listed 18th-century courthouse and market building in Ballycastle’s Conservation Area will undergo conservation repairs. Together, they’ll become a dedicated space for exploring local heritage.

A black and white archive image of doctors and nurses in the 1900s gathered around medical equipment in an operating theatre
Medical and nursing staff in one of the original operating theatres of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, early 1900s. Credit: Collections of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Projects

Bringing 125 years of hospital history to life

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is leading a three-year project to mark the 125th anniversary of the Royal Victoria Hospital and establish a social and medical history collection.

six people stand in a field with tall grass, with countryside fields and a lough in the background
Peter McEvoy, Director of Land Management at Ulster Wildlife stands far right. Also pictured visiting Fedian are, left to right, Sharon Archer, Senior Investment Manager at the Heritage Fund, John Witchell, Ulster Wildlife Chair, Dawn Miskelly, Ulster Wildlife Chief Executive Officer, Giles Knight, Environmental Farming Scheme Advisor and Nikki McVeigh, Northern Ireland Committee Member for the Heritage Fund.

Stories

Grantee Q&A: the Heritage Fund’s flexibility in supporting natural heritage surprised me

Peter McEvoy from Ulster Wildlife shares reflections and advice on the different stages of the nature conservation charity’s project – from writing an application at speed to the surprising amount of nature recovery it’s already supported.
Domingas Gusmão poses beside a table displaying a bouquet of flowers
The project is capturing the stories of women like Domingas Gusmão, who moved to Dungannon from East Timor. Credit: First Steps Women's Centre.

Projects

Honouring women’s migration stories

First Steps Women’s Centre is recording the experiences of migrant women who have made Mid Ulster their home.

A person stands in front of a thatched building showing a butterfly in resin to a group of school children
Ulster Folk Museum is creating new facilities and ways for people to get involved. Credit: Johnny Frazer.

Stories

New investment is reawakening Ulster Folk Museum

The transformative £50million redevelopment project will help bring people closer to their shared heritage.
five people on a tour of an allotment garden on a sunny day
An activity in the community garden for Roots, part of Belfast 2024's Our Future Heritage programme.

Stories

Grantee Q&A: delivering a heritage-inspired creative programme

We asked Christine Osborne from Belfast City Council to share what she’s learned from the Council’s Belfast 2024 project journey – from developing their application to building a legacy plan.
A young person walks through a moorland landscape
Nature recovery and improved facilities are helping this special place flourish for the benefit of both wildlife and people. Credit: National Trust images/Chris Lacey.

Projects

Reconnecting people and nature at Divis and the Black Mountain

In 2004, National Lottery players’ support helped The National Trust purchase Divis and the Black Mountain. Now our £3million grant is restoring its natural habitat and improving access for local communities.

Visitors stand among the Calanais Stones
The visitor centre at Calanais Stones is now open for a preview season. Credit: Marie Martin.

Stories

Heritage sites to visit this summer

From historic ships to archaeological sites, there’s plenty of recently opened heritage attractions to visit.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.