"IF YOU ARE AN ORGANISATION BASED IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND YOU PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 11-18 TO COME TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL, ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER ON A CREATIVE, PRACTICAL OR OUTDOORS PROJECT, THEN YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT FROM HOPE FOR YOUTH NORTHERN IRELAND”.

Closing date for Applications for 2025 is 31 August 2025. Grants up to £5000 are available.

The Hope for Youth criteria for awarding grants are listed below: 

• Hope for Youth supports organisations demonstrating the following:

• Projects that engage with young people in Northern Ireland normally aged 11 to 18.

• Projects that foster community integration.

• Projects that focus on outdoor activities, sport, music, dance, drama and the arts.

• Projects that promote personal or team development.

Hope for Youth will give priority to:

• Projects based in recognised areas of socioeconomic deprivation.

• Projects where the benefits or effects on the communities and individuals can be measured.

• Projects that can demonstrate sustainable benefit.

• Longer-term projects i.e. held over a number of months, where ongoing community development and improved community relationships can be realised.

• Projects that are small/locally based and those that are “start-ups”.

• Projects that can match fund from other sources.

For more information, please visit Grant Applications — Hope For Youth NI

Irish Youth Foundation: Community/Youth Projects

The Irish Youth Foundation (UK) is inviting community and voluntary groups in Northern Ireland working with children and young people who are marginalised or at risk to apply for grants of up to £10,000, however grants awarded are usually in the region of £5,000.

Projects in Northern Ireland should have a non-formal educational purpose and approach and contribute to good relations within and across communities. The following are priority areas: youth work, good relations and inclusion.

Grants can be used to extend an existing activity, to employ additional staff, to purchase equipment, to undertake an evaluation, to publish a report, to improve organisational capacity or to try something new and different.

Completed applications should be received no later than Monday 28 July 2025.

Further information available here

The Fore Increases Maximum Unrestricted Grant to £45k from Autumn 2025 Round

The Fore announced that it is increasing its maximum grant size from £30,000 to £45,000, with effect from the Autumn 2025 funding round. The increase reflects the rising costs of living and the changing funding landscape.

The Fore offers unrestricted funding to small charities and social enterprises with a turnover under £500,000 that are making a big impact and who want to significantly grow, strengthen, become more efficient or resilient.

The national funding programme is open to any sector and region within the UK with particular interest in grassroots organisations working with underserved communities.

The unrestricted grants can be spread over one to three years and can be used for any purpose, including core costs and capital funding as long as the grants will help strengthen the organisation internally and help it to take the next step forwards in its growth or sustainability.

In addition, non-financial support such as access to expertise through The Fore's Pro Bono Network, workshop programmes, peer support groups, and impact measurement training are available to successful charities.

Applications will be considered from registered charities (including those constituted as charitable trusts, charitable unincorporated associations, charitable incorporated organisations and charitable companies limited by guarantee), Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee, or Community Benefit Societies and social enterprises that are charitable companies limited by guarantee or CICs limited by guarantee.

To apply for funding, organisations must first register some basic contact details at the start of the funding round. Once their place on the funding round has been confirmed by email, they have three to four weeks to submit an application. Only organisations that have registered with the Fore and are allocated a place may submit an application for the specific funding round.

There are three funding rounds per year (Spring, Summer and Autumn) which open for registration for one week only.

Registration for the Autumn 2025 round will open on 22 July (12 noon) and close 29 July 2025 (12 noon). For more information, please visit Home - The Fore

Pixel Fund Accepting Applications for 2025

The Pixel Fund is offering grants of between £2,500 and £5,000 for UK-registered charities to deliver projects and activities that promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults aged under 26 years old and provide a measurable difference to the group’s users.

To apply, groups must first attend a Pixel Fund Applicants' pre-meeting to discuss their ideas. Eligible charities will then be required to complete an Eligibility Requirements questionnaire and due diligence form before being assessed and potentially invited to complete a full application. 

Typically, no single grant will be worth more than 5% of an organisation’s annual income. The trustees have a strong preference for charities with an annual income of less than £2 million and are unlikely to consider any organisation with an annual income of less than £20,000 per year.

To apply, groups must book a place at an applicant pre-meeting, which will be held regularly throughout the year. For more information, please visit The Pixel Fund - UK Mental Health Grants for Charities

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Accepting Applications for Third 2025 Funding Round

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust is offering grants for UK-registered charities working with communities across the UK to help those most in need.

The Trust operates a three-year rotation system, with different fields of interest being funded each year. There are normally four application rounds per year, with applications accepted for one month only, usually in February, April, July, and September. Charities can apply for one round per calendar year.

In 2025, Rounds 3 and 4 will accept applications for projects that focus exclusively on refugees and asylum seekers without extending services to other groups.

In this round, grants of £1,000 are available for UK-registered charities with an operating income of between £100,000 and £1 million. Applications will not be accepted from CICs or other not-for-profit organisations that are not a UK-registered charity.

The deadline for Round 3 is 31 July 2025. For more information, please visit Home - The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

7Stars Foundation Inviting Applications for Third 2025 Funding Round

Registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £1.5 million across the UK can apply for grants of up to £2500 to deliver projects and activities that support young people aged 18 years and under across the priority themes of abuse, addiction, child carers, and homelessness.

7Stars Foundation offers grants across the following streams:

• Project grants to cover the costs of projects that respond to one or more of the funding priorities of the 7stars Foundation.

• Apprenticeship grants for organisations to support staff apprenticeship training that will positively impact young people aged 18 or under, aligned to the Foundation's themes.

• Direct grants funding to individuals affected by the Foundation's priorities, supported by outreach/social/care workers or legal professionals.

• Social Impact funding for three charities across the year for projects that align with awareness days across the year.

The trustees typically meet three times a year to review grant applications.

The next deadline for applications is 31 August 2025. For more information please visit Apply for Funding - the7stars foundation

Asda Foundation’s New Foodbank Fundamentals Fund to Open on 15th July

Asda Foundation’s new £400,000 Foodbank Fundamentals Fund has been set up in response to the continuing cost-of-living crisis across the UK.

Groups in the UK who distribute food and other essential items for disadvantaged members of the local community will have two weeks to apply for a grant of up to £750.

Applications will be considered from not-for-profit organisations who distribute food to the most disadvantaged in the community, such as food banks, community pantries, social supermarkets, soup kitchens and breakfast clubs.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be not-for-profit.

• Have an annual income below £250,000.

• Have governing documents.

• Have a safeguarding policy.

• Have a bank account (that accepts cheques) in the group’s name and be able to provide proof.

For groups that have more than one branch or sub-group in the same community, Asda Foundation can only support one of these groups with an award.

Costs for the foodbank or food service providers are supported.

Funding can only be used for:

• Essential food (including baby food/formula).

• Basic hygiene items (including toiletries, nappies and baby wipes).

• White goods (e.g. fridge, freezer).

• Storage and essential fixtures/fittings (containers, shelving).

• Fuel costs for delivering food provisions to isolated members of the community.

Applicants are advised to apply early as the scheme may close early if demand for funding is high.

Applications will be accepted from 15 July to 29 July 2025. For more information, please visit Foodbank Fundamentals Fund | Asda Foundation

Funding to Help People Move Toward Paid Employment in the UK

The Society Foundation is an independent registered charity, funded and supported by the executive search firm Society.

Each year, the Foundation offers a small number of micro-grants of up to £2,500 to support people from the following groups move toward paid employment:

• The recently homeless or vulnerably housed.

• Ex-offenders.

• Young people (16-24 years old) not in employment, education or training (NEET).

The funding can be used for:

• Capacity building activities, including IT infrastructure and equipment.

• Staff training and development

• External consultancy/support.

The funding aims to play a transformative role by increasing the sustainability and effectiveness of organisations that are doing really vital work.

The funding is for small or growing organisations with a turnover of up to £500,000.

Applications are accepted from UK registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO) or Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIO) and organisations with a governing document showing a clear charitable aim/purpose as defined by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

The deadline for applications is 12 September 2025. For more information, please visit About Us

ScottishPower Foundation Invites UK Applications for Funding in 2026 (18 July Deadline)

UK registered charities with an income of between £75,000 and £10 million can apply now for one-year grants of between £35,000 and £150,000.

Applicants must address at least one of the following specific objectives which have been set for the 2026 funding round to support the Foundation’s overarching strategic aims:

• Education, training and research - specific objectives are:

• STEM: inspiring young people to pursue qualifications and a career in STEM in order to contribute to energy sustainability.

• Raising aspirations: using innovative educational solutions to address society’s needs and challenge the next generation.

• Biodiversity and climate change - specific objectives are:

• Environmental protection or improvement: protecting and enhancing the environment.

• Habitat conservation: contributing to the protection and conservation of habitats and enhancing biodiversity.

• Knowledge and research: developing new solutions to the challenge of climate change.

• Art and culture - specific objectives are:

• Restoration, development and conservation: protecting and safeguarding artistic and cultural heritage.

• Cultural initiatives: celebrating diversity and cultural identity through the arts.

• Social initiatives - specific objectives are:

• Economic security: supporting social inclusion and reducing poverty, prioritising child and in-work poverty.

• Economic opportunity: supporting entrepreneurship and skills development for the most vulnerable groups, in particular women and those living with disability or serious illness.

In addition, projects must also address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Funding is for the delivery of specific projects and not for general unrestricted running costs. This can include salary costs

Grants are available for one year only. Projects must start between 31 March 2026 and 31 December 2026 and be completed within 12 months.

The deadline for applications is 18 July 2025. For more information, please visit Annual Grants Programme - ScottishPower

The Central Good Relations Fund Small Grants

The Central Good Relations Fund Small Grants is now open for applications up to a maximum award of £2,000.

Small Grants funding should be used for the delivery of projects which  aim to address any of the following: 

• where there is an identified good relations need and the aim is to work with those most in need of a good relations intervention within specific areas of impact;

• where there is, or potential for, heightened social unrest;

• where there has been a significant change in local demographics;

• where there has been an increase in racist/sectarian hate incidents; and

• where emerging issues within communities warrant a Good Relations intervention.

Further information on the Small Grants Fund can be found at: https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/articles/central-good-relations-small-grants-fund

New Community Infrastructure Fund for NI to Launch in Autumn 2025

The Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, has announced a new funding programme for community buildings used by voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland.

The pilot scheme will provide around £4 million in capital funding to enable organisations to refurbish buildings such as church halls, village halls, Orange halls, and sports clubs.

Funding is intended for essential works such as repairs, energy efficiency upgrades, disability access improvements and other minor capital works.

Examples of eligible projects include:

• Repairs.

• Heating upgrades.

• Disability access improvements.

• Internal refurbishments.

It is anticipated that projects will begin in the 2026/27 financial year.

The Fund is expected to open to Expressions of Interest in Autumn 2025. Further details on the eligibility criteria and application process for funding under the programme will be provided when they become available.

Funding to Support Social and Criminal Justice Projects in the UK

The Charles Hayward Foundation supports projects which help to prevent people entering the criminal justice system, and which support those in contact with the system to rebuild their lives.

UK registered charities with an annual income of between £350,000 and £4 million can apply for grants of between £15,000 and £25,000 per year over one to three years.

The funding is for projects that address the following:

• Targeted early intervention programmes aimed at reaching the most troubled and vulnerable families in a community.

• Tailored preventative and diversionary projects for young people at risk of offending, including interventions identifying and addressing the particular needs of girls and young women.

• Programmes combining prison-based and community interventions dealing with the rehabilitation of offenders, accommodation and support on release, maintaining family relationships, mentoring, and creating pathways to employment.

• Schemes offering viable alternatives to custody, in particular for women and young people.

• Programmes of support that alleviate the consequences of domestic abuse.

The trustees look for projects which:

• Address multiple and complex needs with a range of appropriate interventions.

• Are tailored to individual needs and local situations involving families and communities; these can be designed and delivered in partnership.

• Are of appropriate duration and intensity, have a clear rationale, and are properly monitored and evaluated.

• Have a plan for the future, including an ‘exit strategy’.

The Foundation is also open to creative and specialist approaches and trialling new solutions.

There is a two-stage application process. This year, there are three deadlines for Stage 1 applications. 

Applications are currently being accepted for the third round of 2025.

The deadline for Stage 1 applications is 19 September 2025. For more information, please visit Social & Criminal Justice - Charles Hayward Foundation

Applications Invited to Arts Council NI Small Grants Programme

Funding is available for voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland to buy equipment and make minor improvements to their premises, helping them stay active in the arts sector.

The Small Capital Grants Programme provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland is intended to support organisations in maintaining their creative spaces and addressing any issues that hinder their work. This includes ensuring necessary equipment is in place to welcome staff, artists and audiences, and supporting the delivery of the arts to maintain and improve artistic quality, accessibility, environment and audience experience.

Grants of up to £25,000 are available. The following criteria apply:

• Applicants do not have to be primarily an arts organisation (for example, community groups may apply to the scheme); however, the purpose of the requested equipment and/or minor works must be clearly focused on the arts.

• Local authorities are eligible to apply but they are a low priority.

• Registered charities and other fully constituted organisations which cannot distribute a profit are eligible to apply.

• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the equipment and/or minor works is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.

• If the organisation has a limited membership, it must show that the equipment and/or minor works will benefit the wider public.

• Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects may apply.

Grants are used to support the costs of equipment and/or minor works to help adapt the organisation's venue or working practice. Eligible costs and activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• New equipment/structures to enhance accessibility/delivery.

• Accessibility equipment and minor works.

• Creation of safe spaces.

• IT equipment to assist/improve arts delivery. 

• Software (pre-loaded operating systems and packages only). 

• Works in relation to upgrading and maintaining existing systems.

• Transport.

• Tablet computers (maximum ACNI contribution of £500).

• Laptops/PCs (maximum ACNI contribution of £1,200).

All purchases and minor works must be completed by 31 March 2026.

The deadline for applications is 28 August 2025. For more information, please visit Small Capital Grants Programme | Arts Council NI

Police Property Fund Grant Schemes

Applications are opening on 30 June 2025 for the Police Property Fund Large Grants Scheme!

This call for applications will award a total of £150,000 in large grants of between £20,000 and £30,000 to eligible projects.

What is the Fund?

The Police Property Fund is made up of assets recovered by the PSNI as a result of criminal investigations, and administered by the Board in line with the Police (Property) Regulations NI 1997. The Policing Board agreed to implement the Fund through a Small Grants Scheme (80% of available Funds) and a Large Grants Scheme (20% of available Funds). 

To date the Board has progressed two Small Grants Funding Calls which have seen almost £320,000 awarded to eligible projects across Northern Ireland.

What projects are eligible?

Applications for funding will need to demonstrate that the project

• is strategic in nature

• engages with local police

• contributes to building community safety and/or confidence in the police in your area

• is aligned to a charitable purpose

Register your interest and get notified when the Scheme launches by emailing at policepropertyfund@nipolicingboard.org.uk

Thomas Wall Trust Accepting UK Applications for Autumn Meeting

Grants of up to £5,000 are available for UK registered charities for specific projects that improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports NEET people into employment.

The Trust views communication skills as critical capabilities for people who want to improve their employment prospects, self-confidence, resilience, and life chances.

The funding is for registered UK registered charities with an annual turnover of between £25,000 and £500,000 that are working to develop communication skills for people from disadvantaged groups who want to improve their employment prospects. Beneficiaries must gain at least one accredited vocational qualification during delivery.

Proposals are welcome which target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups demonstrably facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, and refugees.

Priority will be given to match funded projects and self-sustainable projects, with a view to becoming less reliant on grants in the future.

Grants cannot be used for capital costs.

There is a two-stage application process.

The deadline for stage one application is 22 September 2025 for consideration in November 2025. For more information, please visit Thomas Wall Trust | Thomas Wall Trust

Funding for Social and Environmental Projects Across the UK

The W F Southall Trust is offering grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 for registered charities across the UK with an annual income of less than £1 million to deliver projects and activities that align with the Trust’s key areas of interest.

Funding is for charities working in at least one of the following four areas:

• Quaker Work and Witness.

• Environmental Action and Sustainability.

• Peace and Reconciliation.

• Social Action.

Priority will be given to the following:

• Projects that encourage wider support of the four areas above.

• Projects where grants of up to £5,000 will make a quantifiable difference.

• Grassroots initiatives.

• Projects that show creativity and innovation.

• Projects that promote social justice, inclusion, and diversity.

• Projects that challenge structural inequalities and injustice.

• Projects that can demonstrate clear support from the communities in which they are based or operate.

• Projects that are engaged with the local community and show clear evidence of support through local giving, volunteering etc.

Funding can be used for capital and revenue costs associated with project delivery. Multi-year funding of up to three years may be available for charities the Trust has previously supported.

Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information, please visit The Southall Trust – A grant-making family charitable trust

Children in Need Emergency Essential Programme Reopens for Applications

This programme, delivered by Family Fund Business Services, supports children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances with items that meets their most basic needs.

Applications must be completed by a registered referrer who is part of an organisation that is supporting the family or young person and capable of assessing their needs. The referrer’s organisation should also be able to administer and supervise the grant on their behalf.

The programme can deliver or fund critical items such as:

• Cookers

• Furniture

• Kitchen equipment and small appliances

• Children’s beds and bedding (including cots)

• Washing machines and tumble dryers

• Fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers

• Baby equipment

• Clothing for an emergency/crisis

The support is for children and young people  under 18 years of age, who are UK or EU citizens normally resident in the UK, and whose family does not have access to support and insufficient resources to meet the child’s needs.

There are no deadlines. Applications are processed usually within 10 working days. For more information, please visit BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme - Family Fund Business Services

Funding to Support Disadvantaged Families with Young Children in the UK

The Woodward Charitable Trust (WCT) has changed the focus of its funding from previous years, and it now only provides grants to organisations:

• Supporting disadvantaged families with young children up to age 11.

• Working directly with children of the same age group (0-11 years).  

The Trust offers grants of up to £10,000 per year for core costs for a maximum of three consecutive years. The Trustees will also continue to provide one-off grants. An organisation may receive funds for a maximum of three years in any five-year period.  

Registered UK charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), Community Interest Companies (CICs) or exempt charities with an income up to £200,000 for the last financial year and whose unrestricted reserves did not exceed 50% of income in the last financial year may apply.

Priority will be given to organisations who are working in one or more of the following areas:

• Parenting / caregiving support.

• Educational programmes for children both in and out of school, such as those that aim to boost attainment, attendance or emotional wellbeing.

• Programmes and activities that benefit children’s wellbeing and development.

• Pre-natal and post-natal support services.

The Trust makes grants for core costs rather than specific projects. This includes:

• Staff salaries.

• Rent.

• Utilities.

• General office costs.

• Accountancy and audit costs.

• Fundraising.

• Governance and compliance.

• Costs supporting the core programmes of the organisation.

There are two application windows each year with applications usually considered in March and November.

The next deadline for applications is 31 July 2025. For more information, please visit General Application Guidelines – The Woodward Charitable Trust

Branching Out Funding Accepting Applications for 2025/26 Planting Season

The Tree Council is offering grants of between £250 and £2,500 for schools, constituted community groups and charities, community interest companies, Tree Warden networks, and other organisations across the UK to deliver tree-planting projects during the 2025/26 Winter planting season.

Through the Branching Out Fund, groups can purchase:

• Bare root, UK-sourced and grown, native trees of an appropriate size (priority will be given to younger trees that will establish better).

• UK-sourced and grown, bare-root whips (saplings) and cell-grown (root trainer) stock for hedging projects (between 40-120cm height).

• Hedgerow trees.

• Orchards, such as fruit trees on semi-vigorous, vigorous, and very vigorous rootstocks.

• Cardboard/bioplastic tree/hedge guards.

• Non-plastic ties.

• Stakes (coppiced material such as chestnut or hazel is preferred, although machined softwood will also be considered).

• Mulch.

• Non-peat-based soil improvers if needed.

The following may also be considered:

• Non-native tree varieties if appropriate to the setting.

• Non-native varieties and species that are chosen with climate change adaptation and resilience in mind.

• Fruit trees on dwarfing rootstock if the setting is appropriate.

• Trees in containers/raised beds if the reason is adequately explained and supported by a robust and comprehensive irrigation and aftercare plan.

• More robust and costly guards if the setting justifies it.

Funded projects must have been planted and groups submitted a claim form before 15 March 2026 (midnight).

The deadline for applications is 14 November 2025. For more information, please visit Grant funding to support tree, hedgerow and orchard establishment

The Equity in Action Fund

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is offering grants of between £3,000 and £5,000 for not-for-profit organisations in Northern Ireland to deliver projects focused on addressing hate crime and misinformation.

Projects should align with one or more of the following themes:

• Prevention of Hate Crime: Community engagement, education, or interventions that reduce bias-motivated incidents.

• Countering Misinformation and Disinformation: Fact-checking initiatives, public education campaigns, or media literacy efforts.

• Support for Affected Communities: Programmes offering legal, mental health, or community support to those impacted by hate crimes or targeted misinformation.

• Digital Resilience: Tools, workshops, or campaigns helping communities recognise, report, or resist online manipulation and hate speech.

• Youth Engagement: Youth-led or youth-targeted initiatives addressing online harm, radicalisation, or bias.

Applicants must:

• Be a constituted organisation with charitable purposes.

• Demonstrate experience or a clear plan to engage in work aligned with the fund’s themes.

• Be able to deliver the proposed project within a 12-month period.

Applications may be made at any time. For more information, please visit The Equity in Action Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland