68 more community projects in line for funding as £1.97m boost announced
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons pictured at Atlas Women’s Centre, which is being supported through the NI Community Infrastructure Fund.
Sunday 20 September 2026
A further 68 community projects across Northern Ireland are in line to receive funding for repairs and improvements to buildings used by local organisations, following an additional £1.97million investment in the Community Infrastructure Fund.
The new allocation increases the overall value of the programme to £10.29million, with projects able to use the capital funding for work including essential repairs, small-scale refurbishments, accessibility improvements and measures to improve energy efficiency.
Eight organisations across local council areas
Across the three council areas covered by Love Ballymena, eight organisations are among those under consideration for the additional funding, with provisional allocations totalling £211,215.
In Mid and East Antrim, Raloo Presbyterian Church has been provisionally allocated £33,972, while Whitehead Congregational Church is in line for £15,819 — a combined £49,791.
Two organisations in Antrim and Newtownabbey are included. Ballyrobert Recreation Club has a provisional allocation of £28,500 and Crumlin Masonic & Social Club £27,166, bringing the borough total to £55,666.
Causeway Coast and Glens has four organisations on the additional list: Boveva Purple Star LOL 260 and Dunloy Union Defenders LOL 496 have each been provisionally allocated £40,000, Garvagh Development Trust £14,207, and Mosside Rising Sons of Ulster LOL 1173 £11,551. Together, the four allocations total £105,758.
The awards remain provisional and are subject to each organisation formally accepting a Letter of Offer and complying with the relevant grant conditions.
Funding remains provisional
The Department for Communities has stressed that the allocations are not yet confirmed grants. Each remains subject to the organisation formally accepting a Letter of Offer and complying with the relevant grant conditions.
Publication of a provisional allocation does not guarantee payment and awards may be amended or withdrawn before confirmation. Confirmed grant awards are expected to be published once the acceptance process has been completed.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:
“I am pleased to announce a further £1.97million for the Community Infrastructure Fund. This will enable us to extend support to more organisations and help them make practical improvements to the buildings at the heart of their communities.
“Community organisations provide valued services, create opportunities and bring people together. By investing in the places from which they operate, we are helping them continue that work in facilities that are safer, more accessible and better able to meet local needs.”
Programme reaches £10.29million
The latest £1.97million has been secured through the Local Growth Fund and adds to £6.32million from the Department for Communities and £2million from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
Applications were assessed against published criteria, with Co-operation Ireland responsible for administering the process and carrying out assessments. Subject to acceptance of the grants and compliance with the conditions attached, successful projects are expected to begin delivering their improvements during autumn 2026.
Mr Lyons said demand for the scheme had also highlighted the longer-term challenge of maintaining community buildings across Northern Ireland.
“The strong demand for funding demonstrates the need for a longer-term approach to supporting community facilities across Northern Ireland.
“My Department is continuing to develop proposals for a future recurring programme of support, informed by the evidence and learning from the current fund. I look forward to announcing further details in due course.”
For the 68 organisations now under consideration, the immediate next stage will be completion of the grant acceptance process before individual awards are confirmed and improvement work can move ahead.
