National Lottery players raise an historic €289 million for Good Causes fund throughout 2021

Sonya Lennon to chair this year’s Good Causes Awards judging panel

Last year was a record-breaking year in which National Lottery players all over Ireland raised an incredible €289 million for the Good Causes fund. The Good Causes fund provides vital funding for on average 4,000 groups, projects, organisations and clubs throughout the country every year and this amount will contribute to the extraordinary impact that these beneficiaries have on their local communities.

The National Lottery Good Causes Awards honour the inspiring work and achievements of the Good Causes beneficiaries, who, with the help of National Lottery Good Causes funding, make a difference each and every day to those around them.

The National Lottery has announced that the application deadline for this year’s Good Causes Awards has been extended to Friday 1st April 2022.

Speaking at today’s announcement, Sonya Lennon was delighted to be named as the Chair of the judging panel for this year’s Good Cause Awards. The Entrepreneur and Fashion Designer spoke of the importance of the event in recognising the incredible work being carried out all over the country by organisations who have a far-reaching effect on their communities.

She said: “The last two years have not been easy on people but throughout the hardships of the pandemic and lockdowns, the shining light that really came through was the importance of community for each and every one of us. We saw individuals, groups and organisations come together to make a difference and help those around them who really needed it.”

Sonya Lennon was pictured today following the announcement that she will be the Chair of the judging panel for the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2022. 

“The Good Causes Awards are essential as they really do provide a way for us to recognise the extraordinary people all over Ireland who go out of their way to help others and who work tirelessly to have a positive impact on those around them. I am delighted to be chairing the panel of judges this year and I am looking forward to meeting the amazing beneficiaries at the judging stage.”

Organisations, projects and clubs nationwide who received funding through the following National Lottery part-funded schemes between 2017-2021 are encouraged to submit their applications ahead of the Friday 1st April deadline:

• Sports – Sports Capital Programme or any funding issued through Sport Ireland
• Arts & Culture – Any funding provided through the Arts Council of Ireland
• Heritage – Any funding provided through the Heritage Council of Ireland.
• Youth – Funding issued by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (i.e. UBU Your Place, Your Space grants, Targeted Youth Funding Schemes or Youth Information Centre’s)
• Health – Funding from the HSE National Lottery Grant Scheme
• Community – Any National Lottery part-funded scheme administered by Department of Rural & Community Development (Senior Alert Schemes or Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO)
• Irish Language – Any Irish Language support provided through the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

 

National Lottery CSR and Good Causes Manager, Jennifer Crowe, urged the many extraordinary beneficiaries who have received Good Causes funding between 2017 – 2021 to make sure to get their applications in ahead of the Friday 1st April deadline.

“It’s never an easy job judging our Good Causes Awards entries but it is such an inspirational experience hearing about how Good Causes funding has made a difference for the extraordinary volunteers, coaches, care givers and organisations all over Ireland. Last year alone, our players raised an astonishing €289 million which marked a significant increase on the previous year. We are certain that these funds will go on to make an ever-lasting impact in every corner of Ireland and now, we are keen to honour the groups who received funds over the past five years. We are thrilled to be able to extend the application deadline for this year’s Good Causes Awards. Our Good Causes beneficiaries now have an extra week to polish off their applications and submit them ahead the new deadline of Friday 1st April – our advice is to get those entries in as soon as possible!”

Applications for the Awards are now open and beneficiaries can enter and check eligibility at www.lottery.ie/good-causes-awards.

The Awards will have seven categories which are:

• Sport
• Health and Wellbeing
• Arts/Culture
• Heritage
• Community
• Youth Affairs
• Irish language

 

The total prize fund for the National Lottery Good Causes Awards is €130,000. Each of the 35 finalists will win €1,000 when they are announced at the National Finals stage this summer. At the awards ceremony later this year, each of the seven category winners will receive €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will win an additional €25,000.

Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on all National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage, and the Irish Language. In total more than €6 Billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 34 years ago. In 2021 alone, €289 million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.

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