Coastal Foundation Fund Accepting Applications for 2026 Funding Round

Sea Changers is offering grants of up to £2500 for community groups and other not-for-profit organisations to help prevent negative impacts on UK coastal and marine environments and species by reducing marine litter through the provision of well-located coastal water fountains that will significantly reduce the use of non-reusable plastic drinks bottles.

The Coastal Fountain Fund will support groups to cover the cost of purchasing a water fountain unit for installation in a busy or environmentally important coastal location. Priority will be given to new applicants who have not previously received funding.

Funding is only for the cost of purchasing a water fountain. Installation or maintenance costs will not be considered.

The deadline for applications is 28 February 2026. For more information, please visit Coastal Fountain Fund 2026 | Sea-Changers

Funding for UK Charities to Support STEM Projects in 2026

The Ironmongers’ Foundation offers grants of up to £10,000 to support initiatives that encourage young people aged 11 to 18 from disadvantaged backgrounds to study science subjects at school and go on to pursue STEM-related further education or vocational training, particularly in the area of Materials Science.

The Foundation considers Materials Science to be science applied to understanding the production, properties and engineering applications of materials. This may be considered from the perspective of physics, chemistry, mathematics or vocational studies.  

Applications are accepted from registered or exempt charities in the UK. Projects involving corporate partners must have charitable purposes and be for public benefit, not private gain.

The funding is for activities that:

• Are additional to those funded by government or other sources e.g. covered by school budgets.

• Are within the UK, with a preference for urban areas outside London and particularly areas in the north and midlands with a manufacturing presence.

• Have clear objectives and measurable outcomes, providing repeat engagement and focusing on how they will enhance the Science Capital of young learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. A written evaluation report demonstrating how impact has been measured must be provided on completion.

The Foundation prefers to support smaller projects where it is the sole funder or its contribution makes a real difference.  

Applications will not be accepted from schools.  

Applications are considered three times a year.  

Applications will next open in January 2026 with a deadline of 1 April 2026. For more information, please visit STEM Projects | Ironmongers' Company

Applications to Support ACE Mental Health Projects to Open in Early January

UK registered charities seeking funding for projects that help children and young people recover from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), plus support parents affected by ACEs, mental illness or addiction can apply for grants of up to £25,000 from early January 2026.

Application will be considered from UK-registered healthcare charities with an annual income below £20 million and at least five years’ audited or independently examined accounts. Charities can be either regionally or nationally based.

Projects should be evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions that will overcome and prevent ACEs. The programme supports children and young people affected by ACEs, plus parents (to help break the cycle of trauma across generations):

• Children and young people

• Only charities that have a specialist, single focus on one or more of the following are supported: childhood sexual abuse; living in a household where there is domestic violence, and/or physical and/or emotional neglect; living with a parent who has a mental illness and/or substance abuse.

• Parental support

• Specialist charities that solely focus on supporting parents and complex family challenges by delivering: help for parents to confront their own ACEs and help to break the intergenerational cycle of trauma and abuse; and help for families where a parent or caregiver has a mental illness or substance addiction (and is at risk of harming their children). 

The funding is flexible, designed to contribute towards overall service delivery. However, grants can also be made for a specific project.

Applications open 5 January 2026 with a deadline of 6 February 2026. For more information, please visit Mental Health Support Grant | James Tudor Foundation

Grow Wild Community Programme Opens Applications for 2026 Projects

The Grow Wild Community Programme is offering around 23 grants of up to £2,000 to not-for-profit groups across the UK to transform urban spaces for the benefit of people and wildlife through planting and championing UK native plants or fungi.

Projects should enhance the biodiversity of the urban space with planting and growing as a core activity, be led by groups who care about the environment and will use sustainable materials and practices and have the potential to reach at least 300 people.

In addition, projects need to work with one or more of Grow Wild’s target audience:

• Young people aged 12-25.

• People experiencing some disadvantage or reduced access to services.

• People who are less engaged with others in their local community.

• People who face barriers to connecting with nature.

• Disabled people.

The grant can cover 100% of project specific costs, including seeds plants, soil, materials, events, workshop charges, specialist experts and contractor costs.

Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit organisations in the UK, including:

• Constituted voluntary/community organisations, groups or clubs. 

• Charities

• Not-for-profit companies

• Community Interest Companies (CICs)

• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIOs)

• Community Benefit Societies

Grants of £2,000 are available and must be spent by the end of October 2026. There is also an opportunity for groups to apply for a £500 follow-on grant for spring 2027, to help support ongoing activities. 

The deadline for application is 4 February 2026. For more information please visit Community Programme | Grow Wild | Kew

Crest Awards Engage Grants Open for Applications 6 January 2026

Grants are available twice a year for UK schools in challenging circumstances to run CREST Awards with students (aged 3 to 19 years) who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

CREST Awards aim to inspire children and young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers. It is the British Science Association’s (BSA) flagship education programme for student-led project work in STEM. Once students complete CREST projects, they are recognised with a CREST Award certificate from the BSA.

A grant of £350 is available for schools to run CREST awards which can be spent on materials, equipment, a field trip, teacher CPD, etc. In addition, awardees will also receive up to £350 CREST Awards for free.

The funding is only available for ‘school’ settings. This includes schools; colleges; Ofsted-registered early years settings; nurseries; and preschools.

Applicants need to meet at least one of the following three criteria:

• At least 30% of pupils are eligible for free school meals or equivalent.

• At least 30% of pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

• Is based in a remote and rural location. 

Priority will be given to schools whose planned engagement clearly demonstrates a commitment to the following: 

• Involving and supporting children and young people eligible for pupil premium, from ethnic minority backgrounds, with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or from any other groups of young people more likely to be underrepresented in STEM.

• Supporting girls and non-binary young people to develop their STEM skills, understanding and passions. 

• Engaging children and young people with lower prior attainment or in mixed attainment science groupings, and those who would not normally choose to participate in STEM activities. 

• Activities that are cross-curricular and/or involve collaboration between science and other subject areas, particularly if it is outside STEM (e.g. history, art, music). 

• Engagement that involves whole classes or whole year groups. 

• Engagement outside of traditional science contexts like STEM clubs and lessons. 

 Applications are scheduled to open 6 January 2026 with a deadline of 3 February 2026. For more information, please visit Engage funding | CREST Awards

Tourism NI Fund Supports Large-Scale Events

Funding is available to support events in Northern Ireland which have the potential to attract out-of-state visitors and high levels of international media coverage.

The International Tourism Events Fund (ITEF) provided by Tourism Northern Ireland is inviting applications from legally constituted tourism and events organisations from across the public, private and voluntary sectors. The funding, which may be used to support the delivery of events occurring between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, covers a range of expenses, including marketing, performance, health and safety, venue, production, accreditation, training, security, evaluation and staffing.

There is a maximum funding value of 50% of eligible costs for private, public and voluntary sector events, with the maximum funding request from Tourism NI capped at £100,000. The minimum award that may be offered is £30,000.

Funding requests will be accepted with an aimed return of investment of 10:1, and events must have an overall minimum expenditure of £200,000 prior to receiving monies from Tourism NI.

The deadline for applications is 12 January 2026. For more information please visit Events Industry Support in Northern Ireland

The Bright Path Fund

Aim of the Fund

The Bright Path Fund is supported by Homewards NI and Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

The Bright Path Fund is focused on utilising the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to unlock homes for young people leaving care, alongside the provision of tenancy and mental health & wellbeing support. The Fund will be delivered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, in support of housing projects within The Royal Foundation’s Homewards programme.

In this phase, the fund will seek to support a pilot project across Northern Ireland which is sustainable, scalable, and inspirational for third parties to adopt.

The fund is focused on care-experienced young people aged 17-21 with low support needs.

This pilot will act as a diversionary housing pathway for this cohort who are either aging out of care or those whose return to family has broken down post leaving care.

The fund (£620,000) is available to deliver both accommodation provision and support provision. We expect the funding to deliver a minimum of 30 units in year one and a minimum of 50 units in year two. For applications, we are seeking a lead provider, although consortium models are welcomed.

For more information, please visit The Bright Path Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Closing date is 26th January 2026

Support While Waiting Grant Scheme 2025/2026

The purpose of the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme is to provide meaningful, community-based support to individuals while they await treatment on Health and Social Care (HSC) waiting lists.

It is intended that it will help to maintain or improve people’s health and wellbeing during extended waiting periods by funding projects that offer practical assistance, mental health support, and which encourage self-management.

It will also contribute to building capacity within the voluntary and community sector to deliver high-quality support programmes, aiming to ease pressure on statutory HSC services, consistent with the principles of the Neighbourhood Model of Care within the HSC Reset Plan.

Available Funding 2025/26

The Department will provide a funding pot of £0.5m to the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme.

Voluntary and community sector organisations will be eligible to apply for grants between £5,000 and £30,000 to deliver programmes that support individuals on HSC waiting lists.

Applicants may only submit one application to the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme.

Funding is a one-off payment which will be awarded by the end of March 2026 and programmes should start as soon as feasibly possible thereafter. All funds must be fully spent and activity completed by 31 March 2027. Recipients must notify the Department as soon as any underspend is identified, and all underspend must be repaid to the Department no later than 31 March 2027.

Applicants must also confirm that the funding requested does not duplicate any other sources of funding already secured for the same purpose.

To be eligible for funding, an organisation must meet the following requirements:

Applicants must:

i.   Be a voluntary or community sector organisation* operating in Northern Ireland. (*Community Interest Companies (CICs) are not eligible to apply)

ii.  Demonstrate a track record in delivering health, wellbeing, or social support programmes.

iii. Propose a project that directly supports individuals currently on HSC waiting lists 
(inpatient, daycase, outpatient) in Northern Ireland with the aim of optimising their health, wellbeing, or daily functioning during the wait.

iv. Confirm appropriate governance as follows:

a) Legal Status and Governance

• Be an independent, not-for-profit organisation with a clear constitution or rules that set out its aims, objectives, and how it operates. It must be bona fide, self-governing, and not controlled by any for-profit body.

• Key policies/governance in place (e.g. safeguarding, current Access NI checks, equality, health & safety, complaints).

b) Financial Management

• A bank account in the organisation’s name.

• Annual accounts and appropriate financial controls to manage and report on grant funding.

c) Risk & Assurance

• Appropriate insurance cover.

d) Capability to Deliver

• Experience of providing health, wellbeing or social support services.

• Systems for monitoring outcomes and reporting to funders.

Funded programmes must demonstrate how they meet the following requirements:

(a) Target Group

• Participants must be currently on an HSC waiting lists for inpatient, outpatient, or daycase treatment.

• Applicants must clearly state how individuals on waiting lists will be identified and engaged. Acceptable methods include:

  • Referral partnerships with HSC Trusts or GPs

  • Verification through appointment/waiting list letters

  • Self-declaration processes supported by appropriate checks

(b) Free at Point of Access

• All sessions and activities must be free for participants.

(c) Accessible Delivery

• Sessions should be designed to reduce barriers to participation (e.g. accessible venues, online/hybrid delivery options, consideration of transport costs).

(d) Person-Centred Practical Support

• Projects should provide support that helps participants maintain or improve their health and wellbeing while waiting. Examples include:

  • Physical activity and mobility programmes

  • Nutrition and healthy lifestyle support

  • Pain management or condition-specific self-care

  • Mental health support and stress reduction

  • Peer support groups and social connection

(e) Accessibility, Inclusivity and Safety

• Projects must be accessible and inclusive for participants with diverse needs (disabilities, language needs, carers, families).

• Safeguarding policies and risk assessments must be in place.

• Projects should actively work to reduce health inequalities and promote equality of opportunity.

The following costs are eligible:

• Volunteer expenses

• Up to 25% of a permanent member of staff’s annual salary, where the cost is directly attributable to the delivery of the proposed programme

• Session costs for qualified practitioners and/or therapists

• Materials and resources required for programme delivery

• Reasonable overheads– capped at 10% of total grant

• Venue hire for programme delivery

• Direct cost of marketing, promotional, educational or awareness activity (leaflets, posters, etc) provided this is proportionate and targeted. 

The grant cannot be used to fund:

• Capital costs, such as building purchase, construction or major refurbishment

• Property running costs, e.g. rent and rates

• Salary costs already supported through other grants or funding sources

• Costs incurred before the grant award letter is issued (retrospective costs)

• Alcohol, cigarettes or other substances or activities considered harmful to health

• Gifts or entertainment

• Costs not clearly linked to supporting individuals on waiting lists

• Loan repayments of debt servicing 

The Department is now seeking applications for funding. The Grant Scheme will open on 4 December 2025 and close at noon on 30 January 2026.

For a further overview of the Scheme, please click on the link to the FAQ document below.

Support While Waiting Grant Scheme FAQ document

The application form and guidance are available by clicking below:

Application form and guidance for grants from £5,000 - £30,000

Please read the application guidance carefully before starting an application.

You may email a completed application form to:

WaitingWell@health-ni.gov.uk

Completed paper application forms can be posted to:

Support While Waiting Grant Scheme
Floor D1
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
BT4 3SQ

Completed forms must be received electronically or via post prior to the application deadline of 12pm on Friday 30January 2026.

Late applications will not be accepted.
 

Funding for Children Experiencing Disadvantage to Take a UK Holiday in 2026

This grants programme helps to provide opportunities for children aged 13 years or younger who face financial hardship, systemic inequity or disability to go on a short recreational holiday or outing they would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. Priority is given to fun and new experiences, such as camping, adventure activities, or visits to the seaside. Trips must take place within the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.

Youth groups and UK based non-profits with an organisational income below £2 million and schools in the UK can apply for a one-off grant of between £500 and £3,000 (an increase of £250 for 2026) to support a day trip or a longer residential of up to a week for groups of children aged 13 years or younger.

Trips should be to low-cost places. Trips to high-cost places such as expensive theme parks, musicals or sporting events will not be considered as the funder wishes to support as many applications as possible. The average cost per child per day in 2025 was £64, though higher costs will be covered for groups with children who need additional support to meet their additional needs.

Applications should be received at least six weeks before the date of the trip.

This fund is open for applications three times a year and applications are accepted based on when the trip is happening.

Applications for trips between 12 January and 30 April 2026 open 1 December 2025 and close 10 March 2026. For more information, please visit Holiday grants - Henry Smith

New Fund to Support Youth Organising Across the UK Launches in December 2025

Alliance for Youth Organising is launching the Anchor Grants Fund, offering unrestricted funding for organisations across the UK working to support youth organising to strengthen, sustain, and expand their core work and build youth power.  

The Anchor Grants Fund will support organisations that already have a track record of supporting youth organising and do one or more of the following:

• Provide training, coaching, or capacity building, specifically for youth organising groups.

• Run organising and/or political education training programmes, or leadership development specifically for young organisers or activists.

• Offer resources, advice, guidance, tools, or platforms that strengthen youth organising capacity or help new groups to be established.

• Facilitate networks or coalitions that connect and strengthen youth organising.

• Provide legal, communications, or other specialist support services to young organisers.

• Offer fiscal sponsorship, incubation, or infrastructure support for young organisers.

Priority will be given to:

• Youth-led organisations.

• Supporting organising in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or in rural areas or small towns in England.

• Supporting organising led by young people from marginalised and minoritised communities.

• Supporting youth organising that strengthens international solidarity and learning from outside the UK (although funding is for UK-based organisations only).

• Supporting organisations that engage young people who are new to organising.

Grants of up to £40,000 per year for two years are available. Successful applicants will also receive an additional £5,000 to support learning and to provide strategic insight into the Alliance to shape its future strategy.

Applications will be accepted between 1 December 2025 and 26 January 2026.

For more information please visit Core Fund

Grants to Support Women in Career Development

The 2026 Diamond Education Grant is now open for applications, offering financial support to women seeking to enter or return to the workforce or transition into growing industries by gaining new skills.

The grant prioritises women facing significant financial need or barriers to employment, with an average award of around £1,000. Funding can be used for course fees or essential materials, such as books or equipment, but not for living expenses.

Applications are open to women who are permanent residents in eligible Federation countries, which includes the UK. Preference will be given to applicants aged 30 and over.

Grants are available for courses taking place during the academic year from September 2026 to July 2027. The funding is intended for one year only, with vocational courses receiving priority.

Applications must be submitted by 15 April 2026. For more information please visit Diamond Education Grant | SIGBI

Funding for Charities Working with Ex-Offenders and Young People in the UK’s Criminal Justice System

UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations based and working in the UK that can demonstrate impact with ex-offenders, young offenders or young people at risk of offending, either within a local area or nationally may apply for small grants of up to £5,000 or larger grants with no set limit.

The funding is intended for registered charities working in the current priority areas:

• Supporting offenders and ex-offenders into work, specifically for those looking to build skills and capability to get into sustainable work.

• Helping specific groups within the criminal justice sector that are less popular with funders than others.

The secondary funding area is focused on projects that specifically work with young people (aged 16 years to 25 years) already involved in the Criminal Justice System to ensure they are given every chance to realise their full potential and to participate fully in society rather than general youth development projects.  

Preference is to fund new and innovative projects. Applicants must show they have investigated other sources of funding and made plans for future funding.

Grants are normally awarded for one year only.

The grants can be used for pump priming, project funding, associated project costs, core costs, and innovative or pioneering work.

Applications will be accepted from UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) with an income of up to £5 million.

There are usually three funding rounds per year.

The deadlines for application in 2026 are midday on 12 March, 2 July and 12 November 2026. For more information please visit Charitable Grants – The Weavers' Company

The Randal Foundation Small Grant

The Randal Foundation works to deliver the vision of Founders, Dr Nik and Moni Kotecha – saving and significantly improving the lives of 1 million people, across the UK and globally. We work in partnership with inspirational organisations, bringing support and essential funding to both create opportunity and foster hope, for those in greatest need.

In partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland we will offer grants to support grassroots activity that directly save or significantly improve lives, in line with the Randal Foundation’s mission.

Purpose of grants

Projects must address the following priority areas:

• Poverty alleviation

• Support for women and children at risk of immediate harm

Grants available

• Small grants of up to £3,000 will be available through an open call.

• Funding is for project costs only, and not to support core organisational overheads or capital campaigns.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be registered charities, community groups, or not-for-profit organisations operating in Northern Ireland.

• Organisations should have a turnover of less than £50,000p/a.

• Organisations must demonstrate a clear track record of delivering impactful work in one or more of the following areas:

• Poverty alleviation

  1. Support for women and children at risk of immediate harm

• This strand will focus on supporting projects addressing violence against women & girls and projects supporting refugees & asylum seekers and include proposals more broadly focused on alleviating poverty in general.

• Preference will be given to grassroots and smaller organisations, especially those with lived experience represented in their governance or delivery teams.

Assessment Criteria

• Clear demonstration of how the project will save or significantly improve lives.

• Evidence of community need and how the project addresses this need.

• Inclusion of monitoring and evaluation plans to measure outcomes.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including representation of lived experience in project design or delivery.

• Ability to deliver the project within the grant period and report on outcomes.

For more information, please visit The Randal Foundation Small Grant - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

The Inspiring Growth Fund

Aim of the Fund

The community sector has faced many challenges in recent years with a global pandemic and more recently a cost-of-living crisis. The sector has continued to support communities, and demand is increasing for their services, yet their costs are rising, and many community sector organisations are constantly firefighting to meet the demand of their services, and source funding to deliver.

The pandemic showed us the importance of digital inclusion and connectivity. The pace of change and progress in digital technology, and the opportunities (and challenges) that digital brings, is vast. However, lack of digital skills, together with access, confidence, trust and motivation issues present barriers for many, not least the community and voluntary sector.

Unless organisations in the sector become more digitally able, they risk being left behind.

The aim of the Inspiring Growth Fund is to help organisations in the community sector to take that time and space and increase their digital capacity, with a particular focus on building on and availing of the opportunities that AI (Artificial Intelligence) may bring to better support communities, as well as to ensure that the sector is not left behind.

What we hope to achieve

We want to fund activity or projects that will enable significant change to occur in the digital capability of the voluntary or community sector. This change must result in demonstrated benefits being delivered by organisations (directly or indirectly) to the individuals or communities they support.

Fund criteria

Grants will be offered between £5,000 to £10,000 for up to two years.

For more information please visit The Inspiring Growth Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Round five funding application window is now open!

We’re delighted to be offering financial support to community projects in the following categories:

• Groups working with those facing chronic diseases & conditions affecting quality of life 

• Groups working with those facing financial hardship

• Youth Clubs (and comparable organisations)

• Half size classical guitars

• Descant recorder packs with sheet music pack

Applications should be received by 12 noon on Wednesday 14 January 2026 (with witness statement forms received by 12 noon on Friday 16 January 2026).

Please read the eligibility criteria for community applications carefully before applying. For further information and FAQs, see here. For information on witness statements, see here. 

For award related enquiries, email help@musicforall.org.uk

The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland

The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls to a combined value of €4.6 million supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland.

These new funding opportunities advance Creative Ireland’s mission to support inclusive, meaningful participation in creativity, strengthen communities, and nurture everyone’s creative potential.

­Closing Date: February 27, 2026 — 1pm

Two in-person Grant information sessions will take place, and all are welcome to attend. Booking is required:
 

­14th January 2026 | MAC Belfast, (Booking link)

22nd January 2026 | Raddison Blue Hotel, Golden Lane Dublin (Booking link) 

­An online information session for the Creative Youth grant call will take place on December 15 (Register Here).

For full eligibility details and application guidelines please visit Creative Grant Call 2025 — Creative Ireland Programme
 

­

Crighshane and Churchill Community Benefit Fund

Purpose of the Fund

This local community benefit fund was originally set up by Energia Renewables, and has now been taken over by Greencoat Capital.

The fund has been established to ensure that the Crighshane and Church Hill wind farms, whilst having obvious environmental benefits, also provide significant social and economic benefits to the local community.

Funding is available to local community projects that are planned and run for the benefit of the local population and are within 6km of the Wind Farms.

The fund will support projects addressing issues within the following theme areas:

• Energy efficiency and sustainability

• Social, cultural or sporting benefit for the local community

• Educational issues with a sustainability angle

• Environmental benefit or economic benefit

Examples of who can apply:

• Constituted voluntary organisations and community groups

• Local youth groups

Funding available:

Grants up to £5,000

In very exceptional circumstances the panel may decide to award grants up to £10,000.

Please be advised that applications should request up to £5,000. If you wish to be considered for additional funds, please complete the additional question included on the application form.

For more information and to apply please visit Crighshane and Churchill Community Benefit Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Closing date is 8th January 2026.

A B Charitable Trust Accepting Applications for Spring/Summer 2026 Projects

The AB Charitable Trust (ABCT) offers grants to UK-registered charities working to champion human dignity and support marginalised and excluded groups within the UK.

Grants range from £10,000 to £30,000 and can be awarded for one to three years. Eligible organisations must have an annual income between £150,000 and £1.5 million and be registered and working in the UK.

The Trust supports charities across four priority areas: migrants and refugees, criminal legal system and penal reform, access to justice and the human rights framework. Organisations can apply for core or project funding within these categories.

Applicants must demonstrate effective work that makes a tangible difference, listen to the people they support and engage individuals with direct experience of the issues they address.

Charities can apply for funding to deliver services such as legal advice, policy influencing, rehabilitation support and advocacy work. The Trust typically supports single-focus organisations working exclusively in these priority areas.

The fund is competitive, with only around a third of eligible applicants receiving funding. Applications are considered on a quarterly basis.

The next deadline for applications is 30 January 2026 for decisions in April 2026. For more information, please visit The A B Charitable Trust, an independent grant-making organisation

Call 1 Financial Assistance 2026/2027

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council invites applications for Financial Assistance towards the programme areas outlined below:

• Arts & Culture

• Community Engagement

• Community Events & Festivals

• Community Summer Schemes

• Good Relations

• Community Growing – ‘Let’s Grow’

• Local Biodiversity

• Suicide Prevention and Promotion of Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing

• Irish Language

• Minority Communities

• Sports Programmes

• PCSP Community Safety Support

• Tourism Events

• Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)

Opening date: Monday 17 November 2025 at 12.00 noon

Closing date: Monday 12 January 2025 at 12.00 noon

Information Workshops, booked via TicketSource (https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/nmddc-call1-grantsandfunding-2026-2027) will take place as follows:

• Wednesday 26 November 2025, 7.00pm – Newry Leisure Centre, Newry

• Tuesday 2 December 2025, 7.00pm – Down Leisure Centre, Downpatrick

• Wednesday 10 December 2025 12:30pm – Online by Teams

For further information please contact:

Grants & Funding Unit

T: 0330 137 4040

E: grantsandfunding@nmandd.org

Programme with Grant to Engage More Women and Girls in Sport (Northern Ireland)

Engage Her is a volunteer-supported programme designed to increase grassroots clubs/groups’ understanding and knowledge on how to help engage women and girls from their local area.

With funding from the National Lottery, the programme is being delivered as part of Sport NI’s Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong campaign, which aims to level the playing field and ensure that women and girls have the same opportunities as men and boys in sport.

Through training and resources, clubs will be supported to develop a plan to engage women and girls within their sport, to challenge attitudes and remove barriers to participation and to increase capacity to provide opportunities for women and girls activities. Each club will receive an unrestricted grant of £2,000 to support the implementation of their engagement plan.

Not-for-profit organisations, including charities, community groups and traditional sports clubs, based in Northern Ireland can apply.

Priority will be given to applications from organisations that operate in and support people from areas of high deprivation. 

Commenting, Judith Rankin, National Manager for Sported NI said:

“We know from our own research that there are significant barriers for women and girls in taking part in sport. A lack of confidence is high on that list, as is a lack of awareness of the opportunities and poor past experiences. We see the increased demand to be active and participate. And through this programme, we plan to address some of the issues head-on so that the playing field is levelled.”

The deadline for expressions of interest is 8 December 2025. For more information please visit Engage Her - Sported