Health and wellbeing boost for older people in NI thanks to £171,000 National Lottery arts funding

The funding is part of the National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme, a pioneering initiative funded by The National Lottery and Public Health Agency, which aims to tackle loneliness as-well as promote positive mental health and well-being among older people, through engagement with the arts.

The programme is the longest running scheme of its kind in the UK and to date has provided over £2.5m funding to community organisations and voluntary groups across Northern Ireland in the delivery of over 286 arts projects benefitting older people.

Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said,

“Thanks to The National Lottery players and the Public Health Agency, we’re delighted to provide funding for £171,000 to support a further twenty-five creative projects that will benefit older people across NI. Research has proven that taking part in arts activities can boost health and wellbeing, raise self-esteem, confidence and motivation, as well as aid in relieving loneliness and stress.

The National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for older people to engage in the arts, enriching their lives for the better. The arts have a vital role to play in helping our older people find their voice, bring people together socially and benefit physical and mental health.”

Among the successful applicants offered National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme funding are:

Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre, Fermanagh and Omagh.

Funding amount offered: £5,750.

Project title: Dancing Now Dancing Then: A creative project with older people in rural Fermanagh and Tyrone.

Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre will deliver an exciting dance and photographic engagement project with older people living in various rural locations of Fermanagh and Tyrone. The project will include dance workshops for older people living in the community and in care settings, photographic workshops during which participants will be invited to bring in photographs of themselves at dances from the past for exhibition, and the bespoke touring Dance Corner which was created as part of a commission by Luail, Ireland’s National Dance Company.

Greater Shantallow Community Arts, Derry~Londonderry

Funding amount offered: £7,200.

Project title: 'Recovery to Discovery' Creative Pathways to unlocking your creativity, embracing new artforms, making friends.

This project will place older people at the centre of a rich programme of participatory arts, including visual arts, music, movement, storytelling, and digital creativity. Activities will be facilitated by professional artists experienced in community engagement, ensuring high-quality creative experiences for participants that are both inclusive, inspiring and promote a sense of belonging in their local community.

Bardic Educational Arts and Media, Mid-Ulster.

Funding amount offered: £8,982.

Project title: Young at heART.

Young at heART will run weekly over six months cumulating in a showcase exhibition of artwork in Donaghmore. The project will engage forty older people from the Dungannon district area between January - June 2026 and use arts-based techniques to include ceramics, textiles, fine art and reminiscence song writing. The project will target older people who are not currently involved in older people’s groups within the community, and organisers will work closely with Age NI, Alzheimer's Society, Doctors, Clergy and Carers Coordinator to identify participants.

Enterprise Causeway, Causeway Coast & Glens.

Funding amount offered: £6,696.

Project title: Making Connections: Art & Craft Workshops for Older People to Combat Isolation and Build Connection.

The Making Connections project will use the arts as a catalyst for connection, confidence, and inclusion among older adults in rural areas of the Causeway Coast and Glens. Led by Enterprise Causeway through The Courthouse Creative Hub in Bushmills, the project offers regular, high-quality creative workshops that reduce isolation, promote wellbeing, and strengthen community life.

Radius Housing, North Down & Ards.

Funding amount offered: £7,970.

Project title: Rural Roots: An Intergenerational Arts Programme.

Rural Roots is an intergenerational arts initiative designed to reduce social isolation among older people while strengthening connections across generations. The project will take place in Hillhall, Warren, Ballybeen, Glenbank, Tyndale, Whitewell and Scrabo. The project will engage both older and younger residents through storytelling, shared heritage, and visual and digital arts, using creativity as a catalyst for inclusion and community resilience. The project will culminate in a community showcase event, celebrating participants’ achievements.

Rathfriland & District Regeneration Company Ltd, Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon.

Funding amount offered: £5,814.

Project title: Weaving the Line: Connecting Gilford and Rathfriland through Art.

This visual arts project focuses on bringing two rural Co. Down communities together collaborative creative exploration and expression. The project will take place over the period of one year, with three individual project themes each running simultaneously in Rathfriland and Gilford.

Warrenpoint Women's Group, Newry, Mourne & Down.

Funding amount offered: £6,356.

Project title: Warrenpoint Women Get Creative.

Warrenpoint Women will deliver a six-month arts programme engaging participants in beginner sessions of each acrylic painting, willow weaving, pottery and textile art.

Off the Rails Dance Ltd, Belfast.

Funding amount offered: £9,270.

Project title: A Tapestry of Time.

A Tapestry of Time is a sensory movement and storytelling project that celebrates the beauty, wisdom, and value of older people in society. In a world often focused on youth, many older adults experience invisibility, loneliness, and a diminished sense of purpose. This project seeks to honour their stories, promote social connection, and support both mental and physical well-being through creative expression. The project integrates movement, nature, visual arts, and poetry, and will be led by a team of experienced professional artists.

The National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme was established by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 2010 and is now a cross-governmental partnership with funding also from the Public Health Agency. The programme has been designed to challenge perceptions of what it means to be an older person, empower participants, and give older people a voice.

To view a list of all of those offered National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme funding visit National Lottery Funding 2025-26 | Arts Council NI