Applications Open For 2018 HSE National Lottery Grants
Applications have opened for organisations and community groups involved in healthcare to apply for this year’s round of HSE National Lottery Good Causes Grants.
Almost 1,300 projects received more than €3.9 million in grants ranging from €500 to €10,000 last year. The grants have been vital in helping organisations to continue and expand the provision of their healthcare services to communities in every county in Ireland. The funding is available to community groups and voluntary organisations across nine Community Health Organisations spanning the country.
Recipients of funding in 2017 include national organisations which provide information and support for disabilities and illnesses such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, Enable Ireland and the Jack & Jill Foundation.
Other voluntary organisations that benefitted include the Irish Red Cross; the Mayo and Carlow & Leinster Rape Crisis Centres; the Errigal Truagh Centre and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Organisations and community projects can now apply for funding on the HSE website, with a closing date for applications being 5pm on Thursday 7th June 2018. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Thursday 30th August.
Speaking on this stream of funding, Dermot Griffin, CEO of the National Lottery said: “I am delighted to see that funds raised by the people of Ireland, from playing National Lottery games are making a real difference to the lives of those in society that need it most. Whether it is a vital service for people with intellectual or physical disabilities or respite care for our senior citizens, each of the 1,290 organisations and projects which have received funding last year do amazing work in communities all over the country and provide a lot of peace of mind for those who are service users and their families. I’d like to thank all of our players for enabling these worthwhile causes with their continued support”.
Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games go back to Good Causes. These funds are transferred to the national Exchequer and are used to finance expenditure by various Government Departments on projects in the area of Health, Youth, Sports, Recreation, Amenities, Welfare, Arts, Culture, Heritage and the Irish Language. Last year alone over €226 million was raised by the National Lottery and its players for Good Causes all over Ireland, equating to about €616,000 per day.