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

Applications Invited for Community-Pharmacy Partnership Funding in Northern Ireland

Funding is available to community organisations working in partnership with community pharmacists on projects that meet local health and social wellbeing needs across Northern Ireland.

The Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) is a joint venture between the Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and the Health and Social Care Board with strategic direction offered by a multi-agency Steering Group. The programme works towards:

• Enabling project participants to reach their full potential.

• Promoting the role of community pharmacies in public health advocacy.

• Supporting community partners to address and recognise health inequalities in their community.

• Increasing social capital to build connected and engaged communities.

Both of the programme's grant streams are currently open to applications from community organisations working in partnership with community pharmacists:

• Level 1 - for groups interested in developing ideas and a community pharmacy partnership. Grants of up to £2,500 will be awarded for projects lasting up to six months.

• Level 2 - for groups seeking to develop a community pharmacy partnership that will address a range of locally identified health and well-being needs. Grants of up to £12,000 will be awarded for projects lasting approximately one year.

Participants must be key in the planning, delivery and evaluation of initiatives. The closing date for submissions depends on the level of funding being sought:

The deadline for Level 1 applications is 26 February 2026, and the deadline for Level 2 applications is 26 March 2026. For more information, please visit Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership Programme | Community Development and Health Network

UK Community Tree Planting Programme: Approaching Deadline

Community-based organisations across the UK have until 12 December 2025 to apply for funding to deliver tree-planting projects that protect and restore indigenous trees and woodlands, support community engagement in tree planting, and increase awareness of the importance of trees and forests to environmental and human well-being.

The UK Community Tree Planting Programme will support projects that meet the following essential criteria:

• Plant trees in public/publicly accessible spaces: sites that are readily accessible to the public, including schools, parks, rights of way, and sites managed by community groups.

• Plant indigenous tree species: this may include traditional fruit trees and ‘honorary’ natives, where appropriate.

• Engage community members in tree planting and enjoy the benefits of woodlands.

• Have clear plans for maintenance and sustainability.

In addition, for this funding round, proposed projects must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Engage children and young adults in tree planting and learning about trees.

• Engage vulnerable groups and groups with low access to woodlands.

• Create biodiversity in habitats.

• Conserve soil and water.

• Demonstrate new approaches, such as agroforestry.

• Support rewilding and natural regeneration.

• Support work or research on tree pest and disease resistance and climate change adaptation.

• Support urban tree planting.

There is a two-stage application process. Groups must first submit an online Expression of Interest form before being shortlisted to complete a full application.

The deadline for applications is 12 December 2025. For more information please visit International Tree Foundation

The October Club

Three Simple Rules and a Clear Ethos

1. We fund small and growing charities with donations and legacies, and income arising from charitable activities, of between £750,000 and £2.5m per annum.

2. The funding is for a transformational project based in the UK.

3. The funds must be used within 3 years.

Please note: The 2026 application process is now open. All completed applications should reach us by the close of business on Friday 6th February 2026.

Advice for Charities Applying for a Grant

The October Club is passionate about supporting small and worthwhile UK charities with transformational projects. We are keen to maximise each applicant’s chance of success and see it as our responsibility to help them to allocate their fundraising resources wisely.

The charities that we support are generally UK based, doing remarkable work with the ambition to extend their scope, and normally not in the same field as our beneficiaries of the previous two years. There are no particular causes we fund or avoid. All are welcome to apply as long as you meet the stated criteria.

Do make us aware on the application form if you have any connection to a committee member.

We support one charity per year and, while we cannot guarantee a figure, the average amount raised in recent years has been £500k.

If you have any questions for the committee or any queries/concerns you would like to discuss regarding the criteria please email enquiries@theoctoberclub.co.uk.

For more information, please visit Funding Criteria – The October Club

The Schroder Charity Trust is an independent grant-making family trust which supports charitable activities.

Following the temporary suspension of applications in October 2024, we are delighted to announce that we are open to applications with a more focussed grant-making strategy.

The Schroder Charity Trust will now be accepting applications in two application windows each year.  The eligibility questionnaire and application form for the next application window will go live at 9am on the 1st October 2025 and the window will remain open from 1st October – 30th November 2025.  

We anticipate making decisions on grants within four months of the application window closing. Application window dates for 2026 will be published on the Schroder Charity Trust website by the 31st December 2025.

Please read the FAQs before making an application.

WHAT WE SUPPORT

Following a strategic review of the Schroder Charity Trust’s grant-making programme, we are only considering applications for work under the following two objectives:

Objective (1): Enabling children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to thrive and achieve their potential in education and employment.

Objective (2): Strengthening communities through services and opportunities which enhance the wellbeing and life outcomes of vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

A full list of funding priorities and criteria can be found in the FAQs.

For more information, please visit Schroder Charity Trust

Macmillan CARE Grants – Funding Community-Led Change in Cancer Care

At Macmillan, we believe everyone deserves high-quality cancer care—no matter who they are or where they live. But right now, too many people face unequal experiences across the UK. That’s why we’re inviting community organisations to help us change that.

We’re launching the Macmillan CARE (Culture • Agency • Respect • Equity) Grants Programme, a new pilot initiative to support community-led projects that challenge inequality and reimagine cancer care.

We’re offering grants of £50,000–£150,000 to voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations with a track record of tackling health inequities and co-designing impactful solutions.

Projects should focus on one or more of these key areas:

• Cultural Responsiveness: Making cancer care more sensitive to diverse cultural needs

• Shared Decision Making: Empowering people to actively participate in their care

• Dementia-Friendly Cancer Care: Supporting those living with both cancer and dementia

Up to £1.5 million is available in this first round, the application deadline is Friday, 23rd January 2026.

If your organisation is ready to lead change, we’d love to hear from you.

Further information about the Macmillan CARE (Culture • Agency • Respect • Equity) Grants Programme can be found on our website: Macmillan CARE Grants | Macmillan Cancer Support including information on a series of webinars where you can register to attend and hear more about the new grant programme, as well as our current support grant offer.

Funding opens for Voluntary Youth organisations worth nearly £12million

Launched on Monday 3rd November, youth organisations can apply for funding across a number of opportunities including Local Area Based, Regional Project, Regional Development and Regional Strategic funding.

The funding awards released for 2026-2029 are an increase of 11% (£1.2 million) from the 2023-2026 period.

Following a year-long engagement process with youth service stakeholders, including children and young people, the funding opportunities are the first step to providing youth services in the right places, at the right time and for the right young people.

Having recently published the Regional Assessment of Need and Regional Youth Development Plan, the Education Authority have released today the Local Assessment of Needs and Local Youth Development Plans which set out an ambitious vision for youth service regionally and locally over the next three years. 

 The Assessments of Need put young people’s voices at the forefront of plans ensuring that all youth services delivered between 2026 to 2029 are evidence based and children and young person centred.

The funding awards released today have a focus on universal youth services, ensuring that the EA Youth Service and the Voluntary Youth Sector can deliver quality youth services, through an open access approach and ensure youth services are open to all and delivery is based on children and young people’s needs.

All regional and local youth organisations who are registered with the EA Youth Service are eligible to apply.

There are a series of support workshops hosted by our Funding Support and Assurance Officers to provide information on current funding opportunities and assist with any queries in relation to the application process.

Funding opportunities open on 3 November 2025, with applications closing on 28 November 2025. Assessment will begin in December 2025 and successful applicants will be notified by 15 December 2025. Funding will be made available to the successful applicants from 1 April 2026.

All funding awards open for applications are subject to budget from the Department of Education. For more information and to apply, please visit Funding – EANI Funding

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Grants Now Open for Applications

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has launched its latest round of community funding, with applications now open and closing on Friday 28 November 2025 at 4pm.

The funding programmes include:

• Community Support Grant

• Community Festivals Fund

• Arts Grants, Bursaries and Awards

These schemes are designed to empower local groups and organisations to deliver meaningful projects that enhance community life and cultural wellbeing across the council area.

In addition, two one-off funding opportunities have been launched:

• Inclusive Communities Fund – supporting programmes and events that promote community integration and inclusion

• Community Cohesion Fund – strengthening relationships between diverse communities and fostering mutual understanding through partnership delivery

📅 Information Workshops

To help guide groups through the application process, the following sessions have been arranged:

• Thursday 13 November, 7pm – Moneyreagh Community Centre

• Wednesday 19 November, 7pm – Online via Microsoft Teams

All forms and detailed guidance are available here:
🔗 Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Community Grants

For any queries, please contact Community Services at
📧 community.services@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or ☎️ 028 9244 7713.

CFI Cross Border Partnerships Funding

Safefood is inviting applications for funding for its Community Food Initiatives (CFI) Cross Border Partnerships Funding.

The Community Food Initiatives programme aims to empower people in low-income communities to make healthier food choices. It funds local projects that improve access to healthy and safe food using a community development approach. Since 2010, over 65,000 people have taken part in a Community Food Initiative activity.

The Community Food Initiatives Programme 2025-28 is funded by Safefood and administered by SECAD Partnership CLG.

Safefood is an all-island implementation body set up under the British-Irish Agreement (1999) to promote awareness and knowledge of food safety and healthy eating on the island of Ireland.

CFI Cross Border Partnerships

Four cross-border partnerships will be funded focusing on low-income areas across the island of Ireland. A total of 8 organisations will be chosen with 2 organisations (one each from Ireland and Northern Ireland) working in partnership to deliver programmes over a 4-year period.

The two organisations involved in each partnership will deliver one programme per year. The two organisations need to develop and plan the programme and all its elements in partnership.  The programme will be co-designed by the participating organisations and in consultation with their local communities, to address specific local needs.

The programme will involve the delivery of a small project by each partner and must include at least one joint activity between the two organisations involved in each partnership. For example, one organisation hosts an event or initiative that includes participants from the partner organisation.  These projects should take a programme approach where participants are supported over a period of time.

Your organisation must have identified a partner before an application for funding is submitted.  One organisation in the partnership will act as the lead partner. This organisation will be the primary point of contact between the partners and SECAD Partnership.  The application will be submitted by the lead partner.

An overview of CFI Cross Border Partnerships can be viewed through clicking on this link: https://youtu.be/1F_hULvE2C8.

Funding

Interested organisations may apply for funding up to €2,650 (€5,300 per partnership) or the sterling equivalent per annum.

•      Up to €2,000 programme funding per organisation

•      Up to €650 funding for travel per organisation

Timeframe for the delivery of the CFI Cross Border Partnership project

During 2026, each partnership will deliver 2 programmes.  The deadline for completion of the first programme will be Friday, 27th March 2026.

Online information session

We will be holding an information session for organisations who would like to hear more about the CFI Cross Border Partnerships funding and what delivering a project will entail.

We will cover how to complete the application form, highlighting key sections and the essential information applicants should include. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the CFI Cross Border Partnerships and the application process.

Information session

Date: Thursday, 20 November 2025

Time: 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Click on the link to register to attend on the online information session:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Z10M_krRSRKyzq2u2XB1-A 

Applicant Organisation Criteria

Organisations must:

•    Be community-led organisations with a legal status and appropriate governance structure

•    Be experienced in the management of public funds which support social inclusion initiatives

•    Currently employ and manage professionals with community development experience

•    Have experience of working with the target group identified

•    Be supporting other broader community initiatives through their work

•    Provide supports across communities irrespective of age, race or creed

How to apply

Click on the link to access the guidelines and application form:

www.healthycommunities.ie/cfi-apply

For information, please contact Sinéad Conroy in SECAD Partnership:

E: sconroy@secad.ie

M: +353 (0)87 354 3606

The Good Relations Awards 2026 are now officially open!

These awards are a unique opportunity to shine a light on the dedicated individuals, groups and projects working tirelessly to build lasting peace throughout the region. Whether through community engagement, education, cultural initiatives or cross-community collaboration, these efforts deserve recognition and celebration.

Submit your nomination here: https://goodrelationsawards.com/

The deadline for nominations is Friday, 19 December 2025, so please, if you know any individual or group you believe deserves special recognition, nominate them before than.

For further information visit Good Relations Awards 2026 Now Open for Nominations | Community Relations Council .

Help us honour those making a real difference—nominate today and be part of the celebration of peacebuilding and good relations.

Multi Annual Arts Grants

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Multi-Annual Arts Grant is offered every two years and supports arts organisations within the borough in creating programmes which benefit local residents.

Who can apply?

Non-profit making Arts Organisations based in the borough of Ards and North Down.

For full eligibility requirements, please read the Criteria and Guidance Notes carefully.

Full Criteria details and Application Forms will be available HERE when applications are open for 2026/28

What is available?

A maximum grant of £5,000 per annum is available.

Application Deadline:

Applications for 2026 - 2028 will close on: Monday 12 January 2026, 12noon (sharp)

Eligibility Criteria

This funding stream is for non-profit making Arts Organisations based in the borough of Ards and North Down. 

For full eligibility requirements, please read the Criteria and Guidance Notes carefully.

How do I apply?

Please read the full Multi-Annual Arts Grant Criteria document (available below) before completing your application.

Application to the Multi-Annual Arts Grant is by an application form which can be downloaded below when the applications open.

Completed application forms must be emailed to the address below.

Email: artsgrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 

Please download Multi-Annual Arts Grant Guidance Notes here:

Applications available to download from the application open date.

Please download Multi-Annual Arts Grant Application Pack here:

Available to download from the application open date.

Further Information

If you require further information, or require assistance with your application form, please contact Ards Arts Centre at: artsgrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 

Voices from the Frontline

Rosa’s Voices from the Frontline fund, now in its eighth year of running, offers  grants of up to £10,000 over 18 months to women’s and girls’ organisations to support campaigning and influencing work  that enables women and girls to use their voice to achieve change. 

Rosa is proud to champion the campaigning and influencing work that women’s and girls’ organisations do, as we recognise that every progress in culture, law and practice in women’s and girls’ lives over the last two hundred years has been pioneered by women and girls, organising and mobilising. 

Women’s and girls’ organisations are at the forefront of addressing social issues. We believe change comes about when women and girls who have lived experience of injustice and inequality get heard. 

However, there remains a critical need for funding for women’s and girls’ organisations to deliver activism and campaigning to raise awareness of the issues women and girls face. This is why Voices from the Frontline exists. 

The deadline for applications is 4pm on Tuesday 9th December. You need to submit your application form and video by this date.

Please see the application guidance, FAQs and eligibility criteria below. 

‘How to apply’ webinars

You may also wish to join us at one of the ‘How to Apply’ webinars on: 

• Monday 10th November 10.30 – 11.30 am – Register here

• Thursday 27th November 2.00-3.00pm – Register here

If you are not able to attend either of these dates, please get in touch and we can share the webinar recording after 10th November. 

For more information and to apply, please visit Voices from the Frontline - Rosa

Cash for Kids: Mission Christmas

Mission Christmas offer gifts or gift vouchers for children living in poverty at Christmas. Applications can be made on behalf of children from a recognised referral source such as professionals within a governing body (e.g., social services, GP, teacher etc.), from a registered charity or community organisation with a formal constitution / governance document and safe-guarding policy, and CICs.  The supported children (aged 0 up to and including 18 years old) will be at risk of waking up to no presents on Christmas morning. 

To apply please visit Mission Christmas Application - Cash for Kids

The Digital Inclusion Fund

At Fight for Sight, we believe blindness or vision loss shouldn’t be a barrier to opportunity. Yet the number of people in employment remains stubbornly low: fewer than 1 in 3 blind or vision impaired people in the UK is in paid work. The impact of this is devastating – economically, socially and in terms of well-being.

Technology and digital literacy are unlocking opportunities in employment but too few blind and vision impaired people have access to consistent, high quality training and support to set them up for success. Whilst the Access to Work (ATW) scheme provides essential access to hardware, software and training once someone is in work, there is huge unmet need amongst people who are getting themselves ready for the workplace, applying for jobs or adjusting to new roles or to changes in their vision.

Thriving in the workplace requires blind and vision impaired people to stay abreast of the latest developments, identify and communicate their access requirements and stay productive as workplaces continue to evolve.

We don’t believe that digital skills and confidence is a ‘nice to have’. We want to fund projects that deliver a step-change in people’s ability to know what’s out there, how to access and use it and how to take control of their own digital development. This is likely to lead to improved employment outcomes and more robust pathways into work and beyond.

Purpose of the fund: To improve access to employment for blind and vision impaired people by driving digital inclusion at crucial points as people start to get themselves work ready and start or develop their careers.
Maximum funding per project: £30,000
Project duration: 12 – 36 months
Deadline: 6th January, Midday, 2026

For more information, please visit Fight for Sight - The Digital Inclusion Fund

LCCC Grants now opened

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is pleased to announce the launch of its latest round of community funding totalling £483,000, with applications opening on Monday 3 November and closing on Friday 28 November 2025, 4pm. 

The funding programmes include the Community Support Grant, Community Festivals Fund and a range of Arts Grants, bursaries and awards, all designed to empower local groups and organisations to deliver meaningful projects that enhance community life and cultural wellbeing across the council area.

In addition to these core grants, the council is also launching two one-off funding opportunities:

• Inclusive Communities Fund – aimed at supporting the delivery of programmes and events to promote community integration and inclusion, and 

• Community Cohesion Fund – focused on strengthening relationships between diverse communities and fostering mutual understanding through partnership delivery.

Three information workshops have been scheduled to guide groups through the application process. These will take place on:

• Monday 10th November at 7pm at ISLAND Arts Centre

• Thursday 13th November at 7pm at Moneyreagh Community Centre

• Wednesday 19th November at 7pm via Teams

Councillor Tim Mitchell, Chair of the council’s Communities & Wellbeing Committee welcomed the launch, stating:

“Our community and arts organisations are the heartbeat of Lisburn & Castlereagh. This funding represents a significant investment in the people and projects that bring our communities together, celebrate our diversity, and support those most in need. I encourage all eligible groups to attend the workshops and apply for these valuable grants.”

Find all the necessary forms and detailed guidelines here: https://www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/w/community-grants

For further information, please contact Community Services community.services@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or call 028 9244 7713.

ABC Funding Opportunities

Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council is offering financial assistance to eligible groups in the voluntary, community and social

enterprise sector for the period 1 April 2026 - 31 March 2027 for:-

•Running costs (for eligible organisations)

•Programmes

•Events

Funding is available through the following grant programmes:

•Community Grants

•Arts, Culture and Events Grants

•Good Relations Grants

•International Linkages Grant

Applications are open at 9.00am on Monday 3 November to 12 noon Friday 28 November 2025. For more information, please visit FundingABC - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Kristina Martin Charitable Trust Accepting Applications

Grants are available for UK-registered charities whose work supports people with mental health issues and addresses issues such as, but not exclusively, suicide, online bullying, grief, and fostering hope and resilience.

In this funding round, the Kristina Martin Charitable Trust has made £400,000 available, split across the following themes:

• Breaking the link between homelessness and poor mental health.

• Reduction in the effects of social media on mental health. 

• Reduction of Social Isolation. 

• Improving mental health outcomes for children and young people.

A total of £100,000 is available for projects in each funding theme. The Trustees aim to provide grants on an unrestricted basis where possible.

The deadline for applications is 12 December 2025. For more information, please visit Home

Applications Invited to Annual Funding Programme for NI Arts Organisations

Grants are available for organisations in all artforms and practices to support core and programming costs under the Annual Funding Programme provided by Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI).

The programme is accepting applications from the following:

• Non-profit distributing organisations that can demonstrate that they require a year-round resource to deliver the programme.

• Commercial organisations if the proposed programme is primarily for the benefit of the public and where there are plans to re-invest any surplus into a similar and ongoing arts programme.

All new applicant organisations to the programme must have been in receipt of a single award of at least £10,001 from ACNI since 1 April 2023 in order to be eligible for the scheme.

No minimum or maximum value of grant is specified. Organisations may apply for one year funding only.

Within the overall grant, funding is also available for successful applicants who can clearly demonstrate that additional costs such as sign language provision, translation and carers' costs are associated with the delivery of their project to relevant people as defined under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

New applicants must contact the relevant art form officer by 5pm on 24 November 2025, at the latest, to discuss a possible application.

The deadline for applications is 8 December 2025 (noon). For more information, please visit Annual Funding Programme 2026/27 | Arts Council NI