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

PEACEPLUS Change Maker Programme Pauses to Applications

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has announced a pause on all applications to the PEACEPLUS Change Maker funding programme while it reviews and simplifies the application process.

PEACEPLUS is a European Union funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, building upon the work of the previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes.

Change Makers is for partnership projects focused on cross-community relations and cross-border collaboration as part of the wider PEACEPLUS programme. The total budget for the programme is €40 million to be distributed in tranches between 2025 and 2027.

Further details on the revised application process and opening date will be provided once available. Change Maker Funding Programme | SEUPB

Funding to Support Historic Designed Landscapes Across the UK

The Gardens Trust is offering grants of up to £8,000 for volunteer groups across the UK to help seed-fund projects that will improve, enhance, and support historic designed landscapes

The Gardens Trust Community Grants Fund will support both capital and revenue costs related to historic designed landscape projects. Priority will be given to:

• Seed-funding or pump-priming for a sustainable activity, such as a restoration plan, Friends Group set-up costs, research project, or volunteer training schemes.

• Applications that reflect the Trust priorities around conservation, knowledge sharing, and encouraging participation and enjoyment of historic landscapes.

Preference will be given to smaller charities and projects that will be completed within 18 months of the application.

The deadline for applications is 14 November 2025. For more information, please visit The Gardens Trust Community Grant - The Gardens Trust

Funding to Support Disadvantaged Adults Move Toward Employment (UK)

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 Thomas Wall 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 (aged 18 years and older) 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 applications is 22 December 2025 for consideration at the March 2026 meeting.

For more information please visit Thomas Wall Trust | Thomas Wall Trust

The Rural Action Awards for 2025/2026 are open for applications.

The Awards offer rural community-based organisations in Northern Ireland or the border region of Ireland the opportunity to apply for and secure £1000 or €1000 towards their volunteer led community action project.

CURRENT CLOSING DATE:

20th NOVEMBER 2025

What is a Rural Action Award?

Our Rural Action Awards scheme for this year will again support 12 volunteer led community action projects up to March 2026.

As before, the scheme is open to constituted rural community-based organisations including charities, not for profit community groups, sporting and cultural organisations, heritage groups, Parent Teacher Associations, youth groups/clubs and social enterprises.

The scheme seeks to support practical, tangible and timebound projects where the project must complete within 12 weeks.

What is different for this years Awards?

This years Awards will operate 3 calls for applications in the financial year to end March 2026.  After each call a random selection will identify 4 recipients.  Upon successful completion of verification, each will receive £1000/€1000 towards their chosen community project.

The current call for applications will close on 20th November 2025.

Rural Action Awards Terms & Conditions.

• A bonafide rural community organisation

• Evidence of governing document can be supplied if successful

• Based in rural Northern Ireland or the border region of Ireland

• Must be able to use the Award within 12 weeks of receipt

• Registered bank account in name of applicant organisation

• VIEW FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

“Rural Action was established out of a continued desire to make a positive contribution to the everyday lives of rural communities.

Our strapline is ‘Making it Happen’ and we hope that these modest awards, can in some way, contribute to doing just that, to help to support rural communities to make things happen locally”.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

To apply to the Rural Action Awards simply follow the link below:

APPLY TO THE RURAL ACTION AWARDS SCHEME

Boxing is Love Equipment Fund

Over the next three months, the Boxing is Love Equipment Fund will be giving away free punching bags and offering an additional £10,000 worth of high-quality boxing bags at heavily subsidised rates to UK gyms, charities, and youth organisations that share our values. The application form below includes guidance to help you complete each section with confidence. 

Applications

• 6 October – 10 November 2025 (9:00pm GMT)
• Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 10 December 2025.

For who?

This fund is open to UK-based boxing gyms, charities, and youth-focused organisations that can demonstrate how their work reflects the values of Boxing is Love.

What happens if my application is successful?

• Pre-filled boxing bags will be delivered directly to your gym within one week of notification.

• The Boxing is Love team will also arrange a visit to record a short video interview about your work and impact.

For more information and to apply, please visit BOXING IS LOVE FUND | Boxing is Love

US/NI 250 funding programme is open for applications

In April the Minister announced funding of £250,000 for organisations to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Applications are now open for £150,000 of this funding to support organisations and individuals across Northern Ireland to celebrate the anniversary next year.

Minister Lyons said: 

“This is a great opportunity for Northern Ireland to celebrate the strong and enduring links that connect us with the United States and have shaped both our countries in lasting ways.

“This is an open call for applications from groups and individuals for activities which will commemorate events or people from here who were involved in this period of American history.

“This initiative, delivered through the Ulster-Scots Agency, will enable local organisations and individuals to tell their stories and celebrate the deep historic connections that exist, ensuring that Northern Ireland’s role is marked.”

The fund will be administered by the Ulster-Scots Agency on behalf of the Department for Communities and will provide financial support for a wide range of projects. This includes community events, cultural exhibitions, educational programmes, storytelling that reflect the shared history and links between Northern Ireland and the United States.

Applications will open on Monday 20 October and for more information please visit the Ulster Scots Agency website(external link opens in a new window / tab). 

New JobStart scheme announced

The JobStart Scheme provides funding from the Department for Communities to allow employers to create new job opportunities to help those who are currently unemployed or economically inactive, in receipt of working age benefits and wish to enter or re-enter the workplace.

Employers in Northern Ireland can receive 100% funding to create job opportunities for 16 – 65 year-olds who are unemployed or economically inactive and need support to enter or re-enter the labour market.

Funding for each JobStart opportunity will cover:

• the relevant National Living Wage for up to 25 hours per week*

• the associated employer National Insurance contributions

• an employer's minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions.

*Employers can offer additional hours but will have to fund the additional hours themselves

There will also be funding available to support participants to develop their employability and occupational skills and to help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their JobStart opportunity.

A support grant of £750 is available for 6-month opportunities and £1,000 for 9-month opportunities. 

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31 December 2025.

For more information please visit Apply for JobStart Scheme funding | Department for Communities

Ulster Garden Villages reopens its grantmaking

Based on the current critical issues facing our communities, for the next 18-24 months Ulster Garden Villages is focusing its support on the areas of Poverty and Homelessness.

Grants range from £750 to, in exception, £1,000,000, depending on the project, the proposed impact and each charity’s size and scope of work.

Open to registered charities, their preferred projects will demonstrate active participation and self-help. They should be innovative and developmental with an achievable, practical and sustainable objective.

Accepting Expressions of Interest from 1 November to 30 November 2025.

For more information and to apply, please visit How to Apply for a UGV Charitable Grant in NI

Free Equipment & Training for Sports Clubs 2025/26

The Public Health Agency, through the Clear Project, are offering constituted voluntary sector sports clubs in the Western Trust area the opportunity to avail of training, which will help them support their members. The amount available to spend on relevant sports equipment for their club is £500.

1. safeTALK dates & Informatiion

2. Booking Guidelines

3. Process for purchase of Sports Equipment 

4. List of SOA’s 

5. Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing

Click for Full Information

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 5th November 2025 @ 3pm

Health Minister opens 2026/2027 Core Grant funding scheme

The Health Minister launched the Department of Health’s Core Grant funding scheme for 2026/2027.

The scheme is open to community and voluntary sector organisations and is intended to support them with core operating costs.

To ensure more organisations receive support under the scheme in 2026/2027, the maximum bid per eligible organisation is being capped at £50,000.

This guarantees a minimum of 64 recipients from a budget of £1.8m, compared to 26 recipients in 2025/2026.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: 

“My Department and I are committed to supporting the community and voluntary sector as much as possible, recognising its vital role in promoting public health and social wellbeing.

“Community and voluntary sector organisations provide vital assistance to those within our communities who need it most, and in doing so, support statutory services in what remains a very challenging environment.

“My Department has been liaising closely with the sector and their valuable feedback has helped inform the development of the 2026/27 scheme. I want to thank all of those who engaged so constructively with my officials, including colleagues from NICVA, CO3, and the Northern Ireland Health Collective.

“Although I would have liked to have been able to devote more than the £1.8m, I have protected this important investment in the community and voluntary sector, despite the continued severe budgetary constraints facing my Department. I will continue to press the case for sustained additional funding for health and social care.

“I have listened to the feedback following the outcome of last year’s application process, which made it clear that the scheme should be supporting a larger number of organisations, and particularly those smaller organisations which struggle the most to cover their core costs. The scheme has therefore been restructured to ensure that at least 64 organisations working across four key priority policy areas can be supported in 2026/27, and a majority of those supported will have an annual income of less than £1m.”

Under the 2026/2027 scheme, eligible organisations are invited to apply to one of four policy funds, each totalling £450,000. They are:

• Public health, including reducing health inequalities;

• Supporting adults, including those with disabilities, to live independent, healthy and inclusive lives;

• Supporting children and young people, including those with disabilities and vulnerabilities, and their families;

• Improving the mental health and wellbeing of the population.

Organisations have until 12pm on Friday 28 November 2025 to apply for funding from the scheme.

Further information, including the application form and guidance, can be found online at: Core Grant Funding Scheme 2026-27 | Department of Health

Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation

Applications can be submitted at any time.

Grants are available for registered charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver projects and activities that promote non-violence and support adults and young people who are victims of violent crime and terrorism. 

This Foundation aims to support projects and activities that promote non-violence against young people and support the victims of violent crime/terrorism.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available. 

The following can apply:

• Charities registered with the Charity Commission.

• Not-for-profit organisations.

• Companies that are limited by guarantee and registered with the Companies House.  

Priority will be given to:

• Organisations with strong community links that can provide firm evidence that any funding provided will improve young people’s lives.

• Organisations working with victims of violence or extremism based on political affiliation, race, gender, and/or faith. 

Funding can be used for:

• Helping adults and young people who are victims of violence due to their gender, ethnicity, or faith, and those at risk of being affected by social violence.

• Promoting non-violence in schools and further education.

• Working with victims of terrorism and their families.

• Helping people build skills and resilience to make informed life choices.

Salary costs associated with the project can be considered. 

Applications can be submitted at any time.

Guidance notes and an application form are available from the TPJB Foundation website.

Applicants will typically be notified of any decisions made within three months of the application date.

 For more information, please visit Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation

NI Community Relations Core Funding Programme Accepting Applications

An annual programme providing support to not-for-profit organisations with an interest in promoting community relations and cultural diversity in Northern Ireland is accepting applications.

The programme has an annual budget of around £1.2 million. For 2026/27, it is estimated that around £600,000 is available for new applications. While there is no minimum or maximum grant value, grants typically range between £20,000 and £80,000.

The Core Funding Programme provided by the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council seeks to support not-for-profit organisations deemed strategically important in promoting community relations.

To be eligible for support, projects must meet the following criteria:

• The work must be intentional - programmes must have a clear good relations purpose from the outset with deliberate and planned activities which directly address sectarianism.

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

Proposed projects must contribute towards one or more of the Together: Building a United Community strategic priorities, with funding intended to contribute towards salary and organisational running costs.

The deadline for applications is 12 November 2025. For more information, please visit Funding | Community Relations Council

NI Organisations Digital Evolution Awards Programme Invites Applications

Funding is available to provide arts organisations in Northern Ireland with skills in the use of digital technology to create digital art.

The Organisations Digital Evolution Awards programme aims to support those arts organisations who are making digital art for the first time or are working with digital or immersive technology which they have not used previously.

Applications will be accepted from arts organisations, registered charities and other non-profit organisations. Collaborative applications from organisations working together in cross-discipline projects and activities are encouraged.

Examples of the types of projects that the programme will support include:

• Creation of a virtual environment or augmented reality environment, such as augmented reality visual arts or sound overlay on venues or geographical spaces. 

• Using technology to translate data into artistic content; for example, algorithms/Artificial Intelligence that create music or visual content from data input.

• Series of events or exhibitions which showcase emerging and immersive artwork to NI audiences.

• App development for the delivery of artistic content; this could include gamification or making an artistic experience for consumption on digital devices.

• Piloting new forms of support to individual artists or organisations that results in the creation of digital art. 

Supported projects must take place between 1 March 2026 and 28 February 2027.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available.

The deadline for applications is 27 November 2025. For more information, please visit National Lottery Organisations Digital Evolution… | Arts Council NI

Funding for Grassroots Groups to Address Racial and Social Injustices Across UK and Ireland

Edge Fund is offering grants of £1,000 to support grassroots communities and campaign groups working to create long-term change in society by addressing the causes of injustice and inequality.

In the current Roots Funding round, a total of £50,000 is available for grassroots groups with an annual income of less than £5,000 working to address Islamophobia, Afriphobia, racial injustice, and the legacies of British colonialism in the UK and Ireland. 

Priority will be given to:

• Work with the primary objective of creating long-term change in society by addressing the causes of injustice and inequality.

• Addressing issues facing a particular community and groups that are led by that community.

• Small groups with a small annual income that struggle to get funding elsewhere, particularly if other funders might consider them to be too radical. 

In this round, the fund will only receive 100 applications and will close early if this amount is reached before the deadline.

Applications will be accepted between 15 October 2025 and 2 November 2025. For more information, please visit Edge Fund

Government’s Connect Fund Reopens for Applications

The Government’s £1 million Connect Fund aims to bring together community groups across the UK to better improve the lives of all communities in Northern Ireland.

After being paused for a month, the Fund has reopened with a reduced maximum grant (from £50,000 to £9,999) for the remainder of Round 1, in line with the availability of remaining funds. 

There is a total funding pot of £1 million with £500,000 for each round:

• Round 1 will run from 12 June 2025 to 30 April 2026.

• Round 2 will run from 1 May 2026 to 31 March 2027.

The funding is for voluntary and community sector organisations, civic society and national representative bodies including for underrepresented voices.

Applications must have a clear East-West lens and deliver on one or more of the following objectives:

• Strengthen East-West connections by developing long lasting civic relationships.

• Propose an original approach to developing East-West connections.

• Support the development of cultural, sports and people-to-people links.

• Build leadership capability opportunities for community leaders on an East-West basis.

• Facilitate positive and constructive dialogue on shared opportunities/challenges facing communities in the UK.

Proposed activities must directly benefit Northern Ireland; however, activities are not restricted by location and can occur in Northern Ireland or Great Britain provided stakeholders from Northern Ireland are involved.

The funding can be used for standalone activities as well as longer term proposals that facilitate ongoing engagement between civic organisations on a national and sectoral level.

Funding can enhance pre-existing projects or establish new opportunities for engagement.

Although this is a rolling programme, with applications submitted throughout the two years it is running, rounds may close early if all funding has been drawn down. 

For more information, please visit Connect Fund - GOV-UK Find a grant

NI Rural Micro Capital Grant Programme Opens for 2025/26

Grants are available to rural community-led, voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland to support projects that address issues of local poverty and social isolation and to implement energy efficiency measures or environmental improvements.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has announced that the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) is open for the 2025/26 round. Applicants to the scheme can apply for a minimum grant of £500 up to a maximum grant of £2,000, with a minimum of 15% match funding required. The scheme is being delivered by Rural Support Networks on behalf of DAERA.

Projects must focus on one of the following themes:

• Modernisation (of premises/assets).

• Information communication technology.

• Health and wellbeing.

• Energy efficiency/environmental improvements.

Grants can be used to purchase capital equipment, improve an asset, or extend the usable life of a capital asset. Funding can also be used to implement energy efficiency measures and/or environmental improvements to their premises.

All projects must be completed and claims for grants submitted by 26 February 2026.

The deadline for applications is 20 October 2025 (noon). For more information, please visit Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme (RMCGS) 2025/2026 | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

The Naturesave Trust

As a small charity the Trust focuses on small projects for charities, social enterprises and grassroots community organisations whose activities are based within the UK.

Projects are chosen in accordance to the needs set out in the latest funding window and how well they fit with the Trust’s funding guidelines, criteria and objectives.

The Trust operates funding windows each year to help us manage demand and make a fair assessment of the applications we receive. The Trust conducts three funding windows per year (January to February, May to June, and September to October). The subsequent months after each window is closed are to review the applications, inform applicants of the outcome, and make pledge payments.

1.Funding is available for projects submitted by any organisation whether they be charities, voluntary organisations or businesses. The Trust is unable to fund individuals.

2. Projects must be entirely based within the UK.

3. Grants are made to projects which specifically address the needs set out in the latest funding window and fall under the broad objective of promoting and implementing sustainable development.

4. Applications for funding must be forwarded with a completed funding application form, together with any further information that the applicant thinks inform the Trustees further and support their application.

5. Applications that cannot convey (to the best of their ability) what they are trying to achieve on the application form, have a lower chance of success.

6. The best applications are those that are succinct, concise and relevant.

7. Grants given may be subject to various criteria and funds are only released once these criteria have been met.

8. The organisation and/or project must have a website or social media presence.

9. The Naturesave Trust no longer provide grants for schools.

10. Any offer of funding is open from six months of the date of the offer letter and is subject to the conditions set out in the initial pledge email.

11. We offer grants up to £5,000.

For more information please visit Funding Guidelines & FAQs - Naturesave