Northern Ireland

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 UK-wide session

Upcoming events led by the Northern Ireland team

You can also meet our team at one the following events (see event web page for further information and to book):

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

Follow us on Facebook: @HeritageFundNI

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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

Panoramic view of Castlewellan Forest Park, with lake and castle visible on the hill

Projects

Re-rooting our past in the future: Castlewellan Historic Demesne

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have been awarded a £2.69million National Lottery grant to protect and rejuvenate Castlewellan Forest Park in County Down, Northern Ireland.

11/12/2018

People sitting on grass in front of large building

Belfast City Hall

News

Shared History Fund: bringing people together to mark Centenary of Northern Ireland

Thirty nine projects have received grants totalling £1million to mark the Centenary of Northern Ireland in a thoughtful, inclusive and engaging way.

12/03/2021

Credit: Chris Ridley

News

Dr Simon Thurley CBE appointed as new Chair

The Prime Minister has appointed Dr Simon Thurley CBE as Chair of The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

25/02/2021

Ss Nomadic ship and Titanic Belfast building in background.

Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic

News

Northern Ireland heritage on the road to recovery thanks to £5.28million funding

£5.28million Department of Communities funding will support 50 heritage organisations and 41 heritage workers, reaching across the sector and keeping vital skills alive.

15/02/2021

Two adults and two children looking at a wall mural

News

Connecting Northern Ireland communities with their local heritage

Through the Community Heritage Fund, we’ve awarded 29 grants across Northern Ireland to help strengthen people’s connection with the heritage on their doorstep.

04/02/2021

Stories

Conserving stories of Northern Ireland’s LGBTQ+ heritage

Richard O'Leary, project co-ordinator for The Troubles I’ve Seen, tells us how the project is going, how it has adapted during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and offers some advice.

Whitehead Railway Station

News

Five Northern Ireland heritage venues to visit this summer

As lockdown restrictions continue to lift in Northern Ireland, we're celebrating heritage sites that are opening up across the country. Where will you visit this summer?

24/05/2021

Stonehenge at sunset illuminated with eight people

News

Stonehenge illuminated in dedication to unsung champions of UK heritage

The 5,000 year old sarsen stones of Stonehenge have been temporarily illuminated with the faces of eight committed individuals from heritage projects across the UK. Their work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been supported by National Lottery funding. “Without the graft and tireless effort of

02/12/2020