Northern Ireland's Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund Accepting Applications

Funding is available towards larger capital projects focusing on the installation and improvement of natural grass or certified artificial grass pitches at community sports venues in Northern Ireland.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy recently announced that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will invest £100 million in grassroots sports facilities across the UK in 2025/26. £3 million has been allocated to Northern Ireland for 2025/26. The Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund is administered by the Irish Football Association.

Grants of between £100,000 and £500,000 are available.

The fund is accepting applications from community providers of football and multi-sport facilities, which include:

  • Football clubs based in Northern Ireland that are:

    • Accredited under the Irish FA’s People and Clubs programme.

    • In the process of accreditation (to be completed before final grant claim).

    • Licensed for the 2025/26 season (NIFL clubs).

  • Local authorities.

  • Schools, colleges and universities.

  • Football-focused sports community/charitable organisations.

The deadline for applications is 8 May 2025 (noon). For more information, please visit Irish FA/ DCMS Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund...

Breast Cancer Charities have until 30 May to Submit a Grant Application (UK)

Grants of up to £6,000 are available to breast cancer charities in the UK that assist people affected by breast cancer and organisations that work on breast cancer research and prevention. The funding is for projects and initiatives that make a direct impact on individuals with breast cancer in the UK.

For the 2025 grant period, and with requests for assistance growing, the Foundation will focus in the main on organisations with limited financial resources to deliver their services.

Application should relate to a specific project, not 'business as usual' or core costs. However, the Foundation has ‘helped out’ with core costs should the need be vital to the continuity of an organisation.

In most instances, the Foundation will consider funding delivery for projects that are already up and running. These can also be pilot programmes that are being rolled out to reach a new or much wider audience or projects that take a new approach in tackling a specific challenge.

Registered charities, community interest groups and social enterprises with a legal constitution and charitable objectives may apply.

The Foundation welcomes applications from all ethnic and minority groups. 

Grant applications must be hard copy and reach the Foundation by the deadline.

The deadline for applications is 30 May 2025. For more information, please visit The Pink Ribbon Foundation

Funding to Support Rural Communities Across the UK

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is offering grants for organisations working in agriculture, rural development, and insurance across the UK to deliver projects and activities across one or more of the Trust’s main objectives:

  • To advance the education of the public using research and the dissemination of information concerning agriculture.

  • To advance the education of young people within rural areas.

  • To relieve poverty within rural areas.

  • To promote the benefit and social welfare of inhabitants of rural communities by associating together with the inhabitants and local authorities, voluntary and other organisations to advance education and leisure.

  • To promote research into agricultural-associated activities.

  • To advance the education of the public using research and the dissemination of information concerning insurance.

Priority will be given to larger initiatives that would have a significant impact on rural communities, as well as initiatives in the areas of education of young people in rural areas, relief of poverty within rural areas, and support for the next generation of farmers.

Funding is at the discretion of the Trust. However, most grants fall within the range of £1,000 to £50,000.

Trustees met twice a year to consider applications, typically in June and November.

The next deadline for applications is 23 May 2025. 

For more information, please visit NFU Mutual Charitable Trust: What do we do | NFU Mutual

Housing & Homelessness Fund 2025

Aim of the fund

The aim of the Housing & Homelessness Fund 2025 is to support voluntary and community sector organisations serving those who are homeless or housing insecure, through developing their capacity to support their service users.

Grants will be made available in two stages. Stage 1 is focused on supporting capacity building and developmental work. Applicants who are funded through this phase and who successfully complete their capacity building projects, will be invited to apply for further funding to support direct service delivery under Stage 2.

Achieving the aim

Your proposed activity or project needs to show how it will enable significant change to occur in the capacity of your voluntary or community organisation. This change must result in demonstrated benefits being delivered by your organisation (directly or indirectly) to the individuals or communities you support.

A useful definition of ‘capacity building’ comes from the American National Council of Nonprofits [language adapted to reflect UK circumstances]:

“Capacity building is whatever is needed to bring a voluntary or community group to the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organisational maturity, so it may more effectively and efficiently advance its mission into the future. Capacity building is not a one-time effort to improve short-term effectiveness, but a continuous improvement strategy towards the creation of a sustainable and effective organisation.” 

Building capacity could therefore mean an enhancement in skills or knowledge within your organisation, it could mean increased reach, scaling up or across, diversifying services, building collaborations to deliver efficiency, strengthening your structures and processes, or strengthening your organisation’s reputation or connections – but, importantly, in a planned and strategic fashion that will deliver sustainable change. We are therefore not necessarily seeking end-to-end projects to be delivered in the period of the grant (which is relatively short). If a short-term project can be shown to deliver significant change in a group’s capability, then it will be eligible, but so will more general development activity, which may be part of a longer-term process of change within a group or organisation.

Criteria

Your Organisation 

You must be focused on serving those who are homeless or housing insecure. This may include refugees and asylum seekers, people in the criminal justice system, people with mental health needs, women, and/or young people.

We will prioritise strong applications from organisations which can demonstrate active commitment to lived experience engagement.

NB successful applicants will be supported in developing the lived experience components of their working practices.

The Grants  

Organisations should be addressing at least one of the priority areas below:

Renter rights

  • Help renters on low incomes to access decent homes at genuinely affordable rent levels;

  • Support renters in enforcing their rights, including in relation to tenancies, disrepair and preventing eviction

  • Uncover and challenge discrimination which excludes people from accessing affordable and safe homes.

Outcome – More renters are able to access their housing rights and live in decent and affordable

 

Supply and access to genuinely affordable and decent homes

  • Campaign to improve supply of homes that are affordable for people with the lowest income and/or facing the most discrimination;

  • Support different models of community ownership that benefit people with the greatest housing need; and

  • Empower communities to advocate for more homes that meet housing need.

Outcome – Increased supply of new and existing genuinely affordable and decent homes

 

Reduction and prevention of homelessness

  • Empower and support people through services that break the cycle of homelessness;

  • Develop stronger advocacy and campaigning to prevent all forms of homelessness;

Outcome – People are supported to avoid homelessness

Grants Available

Capacity building grants will be offered between £10,000 – £25,000 for a duration of up to two years.

 

Whilst the following is not an exhaustive list, we would expect to see some clear impact in at least one of these areas: 

  • A better understanding of your business model and finances;

  • A better understanding of how to access and/or develop other sources of income e.g. grants, contracts, trading etc;

  • An expanded and/or more efficient and effective service offer;

  • Leadership and governance;

  • Improved management systems;

  • Improved impact measurement systems;

  • Better strategic planning;

  • Building collaborative approaches;

  • Strengthening networks.

  • Essentially, we want to ‘unlock’ potential in organisations.

Demonstrating Change

We expect grant applicants to have systems in place to be able to effectively monitor the outcomes of the work funded by this grant.

Successful applicants to the Fund will need to be able to demonstrate at the full application stage the thinking behind their bid, the changes they are seeking to make, how the changes will be delivered, and how their organisation will be different as a result of the grant. They will also need to articulate what results these changes will have for the individuals or communities they support – directly or indirectly – and, ideally, be able to show how they will measure the anticipated results at the end of the grant period.

Eligibility

As indicated above, the Fund will award grants to capacity-building activity that impacts upon organisations that address housing and homelessness issues.

Whilst we have not set a maximum organisational income level, we will prioritise applications from smaller local organisations (taking in to account the applicant’s local knowledge and their embeddedness in the community, as well as annual turnover and reserves). We are looking to support organisations that have enough existing capacity to be able to develop, therefore we will prioritise offering funding to organisations with at least one member of paid staff.

The fund will be open to organisations with charitable purposes who aim to support people who are homeless or housing insecure in Northern Ireland.

It is anticipated that seven grants will be awarded.

Funding is flexible and we are content to approve whatever costs organisations may need, however, we anticipate some of the following may form part of a request for support:

  • Consultants

  • Research

  • Service delivery to free up senior management time for strategic planning

  • Education, training or coaching

  • Convening / building networks

  • Peer exchange

For more information, please visit Housing & Homelessness Fund 2025 - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Circle of Change Fund

Background:

The Circle of Change are a group of people from all backgrounds from around Northern Ireland who have come together to talk about and learn from each other about the root causes of issues affecting our communities, particularly around North Belfast, and over 6 months we pool our fundraising and make grants to organisations working on those issues.

 

In our conversations we’ve learnt from each other, and it has reminded us of the power of connecting with other people; we’ve heard stories of how people have seen the impact of poor mental health on their communities; and we’ve heard about how racism in Northern Ireland can often remain unchallenged. We want to apply this learning to grants that we make.

Priorities:

  • The promotion of curiosity and conversations across different communities and backgrounds, recognising our shared humanity;

  • Community based approaches to improving mental health and addressing issues of trauma

  • Supporting people to take action against racism and value difference

  • The kind of work we are particularly interested in includes:

  • Peer to peer support;

Geographical Area:

Greater Belfast. We will give priority to projects in North Belfast.

Grant size:

Grants available up to £5,000

We want to fund innovation, creativity, and support flexibility.

12 months after the funding is distributed, we would like some feedback about how the money has been used but would like it to be treated as unrestricted income.

Who can apply?

  • Fully constituted voluntary organisations and community groups based within Northern Ireland;

  • We will only fund organisations with an income of less than £2m

For more information, please visit Circle of Change Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Upcoming Events

The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK. Each year we distribute millions of pounds of #NationalLottery good causes money to community groups and charitable projects around the country. 

We regularly host support sessions both online and at face to face events here in Northern Ireland. Our upcoming sessions will be listed on this page. We are always happy to chat about our funding programmes and discuss your project ideas. 
 
If you would like to find out more about our our funding programmes in Northern Ireland, you can reserve a place at one of our upcoming sessions. You can also call us on 028 9055 1455 or email us at enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

For more information, visit The National Lottery Community Fund (Northern Ireland) event tickets from TicketSource.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has announced a funding package of over £565K

£565,000 in funding announced!

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has announced a funding package of over £565K to support community and voluntary sector projects across the council area.

Two separate funds have been announced. £540K is being made available through the Community Facilities Fund (CFF) which provides funding for projects focused on community facility upgrades, event infrastructure and sports pitch maintenance/development.

£25,000 is also being made available through the council’s Good Relations Fund which provides financial assistance for projects that bring people together across cultural, religious, and political divides fostering inclusion, dialogue, and understanding.

 

Applications will close on Thursday 8th May 12 noon. To apply click here: Grant Information

 

More information on the application process is available at face-to-face or online information sessions which are being held by the council’s community team at the below times and locations.

 

  • Bridge Community Centre, Monday 14th April 2025 at 6.00pm

  • Online, Tuesday 15th April 2025 at 12.00pm (Link will be issued upon registration)

  • Ballyoran Community Centre, Wednesday 16th April 2025 at 6.00pm

 

For more information, please contact community.services@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or telephone 028 9244 7713.

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland - Thriving Futures Fund

Closing date 12/05/2025

Grants are available to not-for-profit organisations in Northern Ireland that support refugees and asylum seekers, people experiencing domestic abuse and those leaving the criminal justice system.

 

The fund aims to support:

  • Refugees and people seeking asylum.

  • People experiencing domestic abuse.

  • People leaving the criminal justice system.

 

Grants of between £30,000 and £50,000 per year for up to three years are available (maximum grant of £150,000).

It is anticipated that 8 to 10 awards will be made.

 

Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit organisations in Northern Ireland.

 

Funding is intended for organisations working in one or more of the following areas:

People Leaving the Criminal Justice System

  • Impact on services:

  • Systems and policy change:

Refugees and People Seeking Asylum

  • Impact on services:

  • Systems and policy change:

People Experiencing Domestic Abuse

  • Impact on services:

  • Systems and policy change:

 

Priority will be given to services that are:

  • Informed by lived experience and evidence. 

  • Holistic

  • Person centred. 

  • Relational.

  • Focused on lasting impact.

  • Focused on improving systems. 

Any associated costs, including core costs, are eligible for funding, provided organisations clearly outline how these costs support work that meets the fund criteria and priorities.

 

There is a two-stage application process:

  • Stage One: Initial applications must be submitted by 12 May 2025 (13:00).

  • Stage Two: Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to present to a panel early to mid-June 2025.

Guidance and an online application form are available from the Community Foundation Northern Ireland website.

Contact the Community Foundation Northern Ireland for further information.

Thriving Futures Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland - Fibrus Community Fund

Closing date 09/05/2025

Grants are available for local community groups and voluntary organisations to address digital poverty in rural communities in Northern Ireland.

The funding is intended to assist grassroots organisations in providing digital technology for the most vulnerable, promoting connectivity, community and facilitating a strong, sustainable broadband connection across rural communities in Northern Ireland.

 

Grants of up to £2,000 are available.

 

Applications will be accepted from community groups, voluntary organisations and other local, grassroots or community-led organisations with an annual income below £50,000.

The fund offers grants for projects that address digital poverty with a particular focus on older people, people on low income and people with disabilities.

In the event of oversubscription, the fund will prioritise:

  • Applicants who have not previously been awarded a grant from the fund.

  • Those who more clearly articulate the need in relation to the beneficiaries.

Applicants should note the following:

  • Applicants that currently hold a live Fibrus Community Fund grant and who are considering re-applying to the fund must ensure all outstanding information is provided for the current grant held. This includes details of spend and any monitoring.

  • In cases where broadband installation/connection is being requested, applicants should check Fibrus availability at www.fibrus.com. If their premises are not connectable/yet connectable, they should consider applying for other types of digital equipment from the fund such as laptops, visual aids etc.

 

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is used to support projects and activities that may, for example, include:

  • Projects that provide access to engage with a range of digital devices (laptops, tablets, iPads, smart phones, etc), such as a community loan facility, etc.

  • Projects that strengthen the capacity of individuals to use a range of available digital services, such as training workshops or courses.

  • Projects that provide access to enhance connections with others, such as a community-use internet hub, or internet café, etc.

Priority will be given to projects that:

  • Focus on the positive contribution of people within the community, and support those most in need of support to use and access digital technologies.

  • Intend to build on the assets within the community, to support those who have faced digital challenges.

  • Focus on the need of their beneficiaries in terms of digital poverty, as well as focus on what is good about their community, and how this project will build on previous successes as a community, and support the beneficiary/beneficiaries in the longer term.

Projects are expected to commence from early June 2025.

Available Grants - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

The Fibrus Community Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

PCSP Small Grants 2025

Closing date 29/04/2025

Up to *£5,000 funding available for Community Safety projects.

The PCSP Small Grants Scheme is a fantastic opportunity for local community and voluntary groups to develop community-led projects that address local safety concerns, including hate crime, cybercrime, road safety, anti-social behaviour, drugs & alcohol issues, and other relevant community safety concerns. For more information about funding or to obtain an application form, see ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/pcsp-grants or email pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk The closing date for applications is 4pm on Thursday 29th April 2025.

*Up to £5,000 available per grant application

https://ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/pcsp-grants

Bank of Ideas 2025

Do you have an idea for something creative you’d like to make happen in your local area? This could be an interest you’d like to share, something you’d like to change with the help of your neighbours, or any fun activity that brings people together.

By submitting and sharing your idea, you can be in with a chance to get up to £2,000 to make it happen!

Lots of things can be creative. That includes recycling, baking, walking, stamp collecting, gardening, skateboarding, sewing, cutting hair, telling stories, caring for others, music, movies, nail art, teaching languages, bird watching, hopscotching and more…

The Bank of Ideas is run through participatory budgeting, which means that residents decide how public funds are used in their area. Individuals and groups can submit their creative idea for funding and the people of Belfast vote for projects they want to support at a voting event.

The overall Bank of Ideas funding pot is £50,000, which will be divided evenly between North, South, East, West Belfast and the city centre or citywide projects.

  • A minimum of 25 projects will be funded, each receiving up to £2000.

  • There is a short and simple form to fill out for your idea.

  • There will be a final celebration event bringing together all projects in December 2025.

For more information, please visit Bank of Ideas 2025 | Your say Belfast

Home Instead Charities - Grants Programme

Money raised from our dedicated network of Home Instead Offices and external supporters fund groups who support the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of ageing adults.

**We are changing our application windows from January 2024**

We will be opening applications for funding 4 times per year: January; April; July and October. Applications received outside of these windows will not be processed. Please build these new application windows into your funding timelines.

Applications received in January will be processed and awarded in February

Applications received in April will be processed and awarded in May

Applications received in July will be processed and awarded in August

Applications received in October will be processed and awarded in November.

Please bear in mind we are a small charity with limited resource. We aim to fulfil all eligible requests for funding, but limited resources means that this may not be possible.

Please note: If you opt out of email communications we are unable to contact you to tell you about the progress of your application. This effectively stops us processing your application for funding. We DO NOT use your email address for ANY marketing purposes, we use your email purely to communicate with you on the progress of your funding application.

Our eligibility criteria:

  • If you are a small grass roots organisation you can apply for funding up to £500.

  • If you are a small local registered charity you can apply for funding up to £1,500.

  • If your group is a registered charity, you must attach a copy of your governing document AND your last set of accounts. If either of these documents are missing, we will not be able to process your application. 

  • Most of your group members must be over 55 years old or the project you are requesting funding for must benefit people aged over 55

  • The project must support its members through activities and projects that support wellbeing or reduce social isolation and/or loneliness

  • Your group must be open and inclusive irrespective of race, religion, disability, sex or sexual orientation

  • We will only fund individuals if it is to provide access to your group, i.e. transport costs or communications devices to access your groups activities.

  • We will only fully fund grant requests from organisations who hold no more than 3 months operating costs in reserve. If you have more than this, the charity will only co-fund your project up to a maximum 50% of the funding required.

  • We will consider applications from groups, associations and charities that do not service the over 50s directly but the project they require funding for does, i.e., a local school wishes to hold a special afternoon tea for its local care home residents.

  • If you are a registered charity your application must be accompanied by a copy of your constitution and annual accounts.

  • Community Interest Companies (CIC) are eligible to apply in the same was a registered charity is able to. This is because of the governance structure of these organisations.

What we can fund:

  • Regular weekly or monthly events and activities such as weekly cinema club, weekly knit and natter or Thursday lunch club

  • One off activities such as a day trip or a Christmas lunch

  • Activities such as yoga or a guest speaker for your group such as a local historian

What we cannot fund:

  • Salaries

  • Core/running costs

  • Capital and/or revenue projects

  • Set up costs

  • We are not able to fund the same project twice in one year.

For more information, please visit Apply For A Grant | Home Instead Charities

Community Relations / Cultural Diversity

Key Principles of the Community Relations/Cultural Diversity (CR/CD) Funding Scheme

  1. The work MUST be intentional.

    Your programme must have a clear good relations purpose from the outset with deliberate and planned activities which directly address sectarianism and/or racism (the two main aims of the CRCD grant scheme).  This can be achieved in a variety of ways including facilitated workshops, discussions, Q&A, Speeches at events, showcase of cultural diversity through music, art, dance, food from different cultures, storytelling etc.  If your project does not include this learning element then it will not be considered a priority and will most likely be rejected.

  2. It must address an identified good relations need.

All applications must be able to clearly demonstrate the good relations need they want to address and how they have identified this need.

The scheme supports a wide range of work and offers support and assistance whether you are a first-time applicant or have been supported in the past.

If you are planning events for the forthcoming year, please feel free to contact a member of our team to discuss your proposals prior to submitting your application. We can give you advice on how to plan your work and to source additional funding, if required.

Application Process

The Council tries to process applications as quickly as possible; this will depend upon current resources and demand. Applications usually take between 8 to 12 weeks to process. Applications that have been registered before the project takes place but have not been processed by CRC until after the event are still eligible. However, it is at the group's own risk to undertake an event before it has been assessed or awarded funding.

Applicants should understand that careful consideration is given to each application. Due to the large volume of applications received, it may not be possible to extend grant aid to each applicant or assist applicants to the extent requested, even if applications meet the criteria set out.

There is no restriction on the number of applications any one group can make to the scheme. However, if a group has received funding in the past, it may need to demonstrate that the new proposals will build upon earlier achievements. Please note any grants held in the previous financial year with outstanding claims must be completed and closed off before new applications can be considered.

It is always best to apply during the early development stages of the project as this allows time for CRC staff and the group to adequately discuss the project.

Current Good Practice

CRC has been gathering current good practice in relation to delivering programmes online and in different formats.

Please check out the examples of work currently taking place:

CR/CD Funding Details

  • All projects in receipt of CR/CD funding must be completed within this financial year.

  • Grants are up to £10K maximum and for project costs only.

  • Average grant is £2K – £5K.

Aims of the CR/CD Scheme

The Community Relations Council, with the support of Government, has established a fund to spend each year on community relations projects. This funding is intended to help community/voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland develop their capacity to engage in community relations work and to enhance the community relations potential of projects they undertake.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a proposal prior to submitting an application please contact a member of the Funding and Development Programme or phone 028 9022 7500.

T:BUC Requirement

Applicants are required to outline the outcome in Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) to which the proposed project will contribute.

Read more about the T:BUC strategy.

Eligibility Requirements

There are certain specific criteria you must adhere to when applying for funding:

Read about the CD/CR scheme criteria.

Apply for the Scheme

Closing date for applications: Friday 16 January 2026 at 4 PM.

Apply for the CR/CD Scheme now(external link opens in a new window / tab)

VE DAY 80 – Grant Funding

Re-opening for a 2nd round for applications for the VE Day Commemoration Fund 2025

Ards and North Down Borough Council are re-opening the funding scheme for local constituted community and voluntary groups who may wish to run a community event in the Borough for VE Day 80 years commemoration. The maximum amount that can be applied for is £1,000.00

Small local community events that mark the commemoration of VE Day must take place

between Saturday 3rd May and Monday 12 May 2025.

 

Funding Stream - VE Day Commemoration Fund 2025

Open date and time - Thursday 10th April 2025 at 9am

Closing date and time - Thursday 24th April 2025 at 12 noon

Applications and guidance available at https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/grants

 

Commemoration/Celebration Packs will also be available - These packs will be available for those who did not qualify for the grants scheme, but who wish to hold Street parties / Tea parties in their local neighbourhood or village. Celebration packs will be allocated on a first come first serve basis until the scheme is depleted. If you wish to apply for a pack, please contact Esther or Sharon at cdadmin@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

 

Creating Opportunities

Introduction

Project Creating Opportunities is the next phase of funding to connect communities, enabling more people to take part in sport and physical activity throughout Northern Ireland.

In particular, a focus of the project is to ‘level the playing field’, so that accessibility and inclusion is felt and experienced by those who have been traditionally excluded from not only participating in sport, but playing an active role within the club (e.g. coaching, officiating and leading as part of a board).

You will need a crowdfunding project to apply for funding. Start creating your campaign project at Start crowdfunding | Crowdfunder UK and, if eligible, you’ll be prompted to apply for our funding. Have a look at the videos below which will explain the process in more detail. This investment aims to support projects and initiatives that are creative and innovative and will engage or re-engage people back into sport.

Important Documents

Funding Conditions

Guidance Information

Creating your Crowdfunder Campaign Page

Creating Opportunities FAQs

Terms & Conditions

Phase 2 – Your Guide to Being Successful

Who is Creating Opportunities for?

Applications should focus particularly on people from at least one of the following priority groups:

  • Women & girls;

  • People with disabilities;

  • Children & young people – especially those aged between 11-18 years;

  • Older people aged over 50;

  • Ethnically diverse communities;

  • LGBTQ+ community;

  • People living in areas of greatest need (based on NISRA postcode, quartile1);

  • People living in rural areas (based on NISRA postcode)

Our match funding, of up to £5,000, aims to help the sports sector ‘level the playing field’.

To be eligible to apply you must be one of the following organisations:

  • A constituted sports club which is affiliated to a governing body of sport which is recognised by Sport NI OR Sport Ireland.

o   Recognised Sport NI Governing Bodies

o   Recognised Sport Ireland Governing Bodies

  • A community/voluntary sector organisation that delivers or enables sport and/or physical activity as your primary activity. Sports and activities must be recognised by Sport NI.

  • A charitable trust that delivers or enables sport and/or physical activity as your primary activity. Sports and activities must be recognised by Sport NI.

  • A constituted Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that delivers or enables new/additional extracurricular sport and/or physical activity including outdoor activity residentials. Sports and activities must be recognised by Sport NI

Pledge Criteria

If your application is approved you will get match funding of 50%, up to a maximum of £5,000

This offer will be valid for 2 weeks after the date of notification, if you do not launch your crowdfunding campaign within 2 weeks of notification the offer will be rescinded.

Following approval for funding, you MUST NOT make any amendments to your campaign page (otherwise any offer of funding will be rescinded).

Tips for 2025-26

  • Applicants are required to demonstrate how the participation project they wish to deliver will contribute towards ’Levelling The Playing Field’. How does the project address those who have been traditionally excluded from, not only participating in sport, but playing an active role within the club.

  • Proposed projects must be new or additional to what your club or organisation/association normally delivers on a day-to-day basis.

  • Projects targeting specific groups mentioned above, can receive 50% match funding from Sport NI (up to a maximum of £5,000)

  • Projects requesting from £4,000 to the maximum £5,000 match-funding, must include a project video within their campaign providing information on their specific project.

  • Clubs and organisations can only have one application to the programme within a 12 month period (April – March)

  • All applications MUST be submitted by the specified Phase date:-

PhaseApplication Closing DatePhase127th January 2025Phase229th January 2026Phase325th January 2027

 

PhaseClosing DatePhase131st March 2025Phase231st March 2026Phase331st March 2027

  • All projects MUST be completed and Sport NI monies spent by the specified date

To receive a pledge, you will need to do two things (the ‘fund conditions’):

1) Raise at least 25% of your initial target,

2) Raise this from a minimum number of supporters. To verify whether Supporters are unique we will take account of information including, but not limited to: name, address, email addresses and payment card used.

The minimum number of unique supporters required is 25: Following receipt of a pledge you will also need to reach 100% of your initial funding target to receive the funds from Sport NI. If the project fails to reach 100% of the target the Sport NI pledge will be rescinded.

Note – Sport NI reserve the right to vary these pledge criteria; projects will be notified if their pledge criteria will vary from the stated terms above. Before completing your application, you will need to read the full Eligibility and Pledge Criteria as detailed in the programme guidance document on our website. Funded projects will be required to agree to the terms and conditions of award.

Applicants will be offered support during the application process. Sport NI staff will be on hand to answer any questions or queries that you may have. Crowdfunder will deliver a suite of online training tutorials and videos which will guide applicants from developing your initial project idea, right through to delivery.

Have you got questions?

Get in touch via e-mail: creatingopportunities@sportni.net

This project has been made possible thanks to the support from The National Lottery and the National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million every week for good causes.

Creating Opportunities | Sport NI

Funding to Support Disable Children and Children with Life-Limiting Conditions Across the UK

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for registered charitable organisations with an annual income of less than £350,000 across the United Kingdom to deliver projects that work to improve the lives of disabled children and young people up to the age of 25, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families.

The True Colours Trust Small Grants Programme will support projects such as:  

  • Activities for disabled children, children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

  • Activities which support siblings of disabled children or siblings of children with life-limiting conditions.

  • Bereavement support for children and young people and families bereaved of a child.

  • Family and parent-led peer support for parents of disabled children.

  • Respite which supports the whole family.

Priority will be given to organisations that operate in areas of high deprivation.

Eligible costs include renovation work, upgrading, and additional equipment for hydrotherapy pools and multi-sensory rooms, minibuses, and specialised play equipment or access to play for disabled children, children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information, please visit The True Colours Trust | UK small grants

Ultach Fund for Irish Language Community Activities Accepting Applications

An annual funding programme available to community organisations in Northern Ireland wishing to use and promote the Irish language is accepting applications.

The Ultach Fund is administered by Community Foundation for Northern Ireland after originally being established with capital from The Iontaobhas Ultach Trust.The fund is accepting applications for projects taking place in 2025/26 from registered charities and constituted grassroots community and voluntary groups based in Northern Ireland.

Funding is intended for projects that promote and encourage the use of the Irish language at community level and demonstrate cross-community aspects. Examples include:

  • Irish language classes, courses and other relevant learning opportunities.

  • Structured Irish language social events to improve fluency and/or support fluent Irish language speakers, including families.

  • Production of Irish language learning or awareness resources, such as innovative publications and relevant digital resources.

  • Irish language arts based activities.

Eligible costs include:

  • Small capital costs, where essential to the project.

  • Running costs may be deemed eligible for Irish language centres.

Grants of up to £4,000 are available.

The deadline for applications is 2 May 2025. For more information, please visit An Ciste ULTACH / The Ultach Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Support Offered for Initiatives Showcasing Quality Northern Ireland Food

An annual programme for sectoral organisations in Northern Ireland for projects and activities that promote quality regional food and increase its consumption within Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain is inviting applications.

The Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme (NIRFP) provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in collaboration with Invest Northern Ireland is accepting applications from not-for-profit groups, regional development agencies and registered charities to help support a sustainable and thriving rural economy by raising the profile of quality NI food.

Successful applicants can obtain up to 40% financial contributions on eligible project expenditure for regional fairs/exhibitions, seminars/workshops, or information programmes. A further management fee of 10% of total project costs may also be available, subject to budgetary constraints.

Applications are open for projects taking place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.

The deadline for applications is 16 April 2025. For more information, please visit Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Call 2 Financial Assistance 2025/2026

Call 2 Financial Assistance Opened 31 March 2025 at 12.00 midday and is closing on the 23 May 2025 at 12.00 midday.

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

Application and Guidance Notes can be viewed online via our Grants & Funding portal visit: 

https://www.newrymournedown.org/residents-grants-and-funding

 Information workshops can be booked via TicketSource:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/call2grantsandfunding2025-2026

Information workshops, will take place as follows:

  • 7pm Tuesday 8 April 2025, Newry Leisure Centre

  • 7pm Thursday 10 April 2025, Downpatrick Leisure Centre

  • 12.30pm Tuesday 15 April 2025, Online Workshop

Groups wishing to be notified of future funding opportunities, should request their details be added to the Council’s database by contacting:

Grants & Funding Unit

T: 0330 137 4040

E: grantsandfunding@nmandd.org

 

 

Calisen Impact Charitable Trust

Grants are available for charitable initiatives that champion sustainable energy solutions and foster inclusive, safe, and diverse educational and work environments within the UK.

The funding is for UK registered charities whose work reflects and supports the following Calisen Charitable Impact Trust values:

  • Help to achieve the UK climate targets.

  • Move the UK towards zero emissions.

  • Create a more sustainable energy system.

  • Embrace and promote inclusion and safe, diverse educational and working environments.

  • Extend economic and social development relevant to the communities within which Calisen operates in the North West and across the UK.

UK registered charities can apply.

  • To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be registered with the Charity Commission.

  • Represent that they do not discriminate in employment practices or services they provide on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, age, marital status, disability, pregnancy or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

  • Agree that they comply with all applicable laws.

The funding is to be used for project costs. Closing date  30/04/2025

 For more information, please visit Charitable Trust Home - Calisen Impact