£1.8million Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2025/2026 opens for applications

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA has today announced that a new £1.8million Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) will open for applications on Monday 15 September 2025.

Capital grants between £500 and £2,000 will be available to rural voluntary and community organisations and Social Economy Enterprises to fund projects tackling locally identified issues of poverty and/or social isolation. The Scheme is funded from DAERA’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme.

Projects must focus on one of the following themes:

• Modernisation (of building(s) or assets)

• Information Communication Technology (ICT)

• Health and Wellbeing

• Energy Efficiency or Environmental Improvements.

The scheme is being delivered by Rural Support Networks on behalf of DAERA. Applicants to the Scheme will be required to provide a minimum of 15% match-funding.

The Scheme closes for applications 12.00pm midday on Monday 20 October 2025.

For further information on the 2025/2026 Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme including revised registration requirements please contact the Rural Support Network in your local council area. More details from the DAERA website.

Cash4Clubs Opens for UK Applications

Cash4Clubs is a grant programme funded by Flutter UK & Ireland, part of Flutter Entertainment, the global sports betting, gaming and entertainment provider. For this reason, groups must be delivering activities to adults (18+) within the UK or Ireland.

The fund has been increased this year to £500,000 and will provide 250 unrestricted grants of £2,000 each (€2000 in Ireland). 

Not-for-profit organisations, including charities, community groups and traditional sports clubs from across the UK and Ireland are eligible to apply.

The 2025/26 programme is focused on supporting adult participation in sport. Funding is available to groups that support over 18s only. 

Since Cash4Clubs aims to get vital funds to clubs that need it most, priority will be given to applications from groups working in areas of high deprivation and engaging adults from specific under-represented groups. That means those who:

• Are supporting adults living in an area of high deprivation. (Using Government Indices of Multiple Deprivation and the Pobal HP Deprivation Index).

• Increase access to sport for one or more under-represented groups, including women, people from racially diverse communities, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ+ community.

• Encourage adults who would not usually engage in sport to take part. Examples include activities that support physical and mental wellbeing or tackle issues such as loneliness and rural isolation.

• Address broader social issues for the local community, for example tackling crime and anti-social behaviour or supporting community cohesion.

The funding is unrestricted and can be used for anything that will support the organisation to continue and/or grow their sports activities for adults.

Groups can expect to have a decision on their application by the end of January 2026. The funding should be spent within a six-month period.

Applications are accepted from 8 September 2025 to 8 December 2025. For more information please visit Home - Cash4Clubs

Funding for UK Communities to Explore How Data Can Support Health/Wellbeing

Health Data Research UK is offering grants of between £500 and £1,500 to support community groups and organisations across the UK in delivering projects, events, or activities that explore how data can support health and wellbeing in their local community.

Proposals should be community-led and take a responsive, inclusive and creative approach. 

To be eligible, community organisations should be primarily working with at least one of the following under-served audiences:

• People from low socio-economic backgrounds

• People from minority ethnic backgrounds

• Older children and young adults aged 11–25 (especially in areas of deprivation)

• People over 65 (especially in areas of deprivation)

• People living in rural areas (defined as settlements of fewer than 10,000 people in England and Wales, fewer than 5,000 in Northern Ireland, and fewer than 3,000 in Scotland)

• People experiencing digital exclusion.

Successful projects, events and activities will:

• Be led by community organisations.

• Be suitable to engage one or more of the UK-based target audiences.

• Be embedded in the local community.

• Explore the role of data in health and wellbeing.

• Be standalone.

• Be free to attend for participants.

• Start no earlier than 12 January 2026 and end no later than 8 April 2026.

Examples of activities and projects include:

• A project to gather data to help the community advocate for their health needs

• Community step challenge and fun day

• An activity like a coffee morning or nature walk exploring the data behind a health statistic relevant to the community

• Health data inspired arts project or craft activities

• Wellbeing and health journaling project.

A Q&A session will be held on 11 September (14:00 to 15:00). Registration is required.

The deadline for applications is 13 October 2025 (17:00) with notification of decisions by end of November 2025. For more information, please visit Take the Lead community grants - HDR UK

Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation Accepting UK Applications

The Foundation offers grants of up to £10,000 to support UK registered charities from across the UK who are serving people in the top 50% of the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation.

The funding is to help people experiencing hardship and/or underserved groups to:

• Access a place to call home with the following target outcomes:

• Access and support into a safe and secure permanent place to call home – supporting charities that enable people most in need to live independently.

• Access and support into a safe and secure temporary home in times of crisis. Enabling people into temporary accommodation in emergency situations such as homelessness, palliative or end of life, or for those experiencing domestic abuse.

• Improve financial wellbeing with the following target outcomes:

• The support needed to prevent and/or address financial difficulty. Support for charities who provide help and guidance on how to manage money and improve financial wellbeing.

• Access to financial education. Support for charities whose work will support financial independence and education.

The Foundation will consider funding core costs, project costs, and small capital contributions.

Applications are accepted twice a year. The second round is now open for funding in 2026.

The deadline for applications is 31 October 2025. For more information please visit Skipton Charitable Foundation

UK Schools Can Apply for Funding to Run CREST Awards from 9 September

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Is based in a remote and rural location. 

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

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

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

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

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

• Engagement that involves whole classes or whole year groups. 

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

Applications will be accepted from 9 September to 14 October 2025. For more information, please visit Engage funding | CREST Awards

Applications Open for Arts and Business NI Investment Programme

Funding is available to support the development of mutually beneficial partnerships between business, the arts and the public sector in Northern Ireland.

The Investment Programme administered by Arts and Business NI with funding providing by Arts Council of Northern Ireland seeks to increase private sector investment into the arts by supporting arts organisations in developing sustainable relationships with business.

The initiative provides a maximum of £15,000 to an artist or arts partner in any one financial year (April to March) or for any one project; a partnership can receive investment a maximum of two times.

The funding is to be used for projects of the following types:

• New - the business partner invests in the arts to deliver business objectives for the first time.

• Deeper - an arts activity that worked in one part of a business is extended to another area of the company, embedding arts activity within the business and its strategy.

Partnerships are required to provide an appropriate amount of match funding for their Arts and Business NI investment. In-kind investment included within a project as an element of the business contribution will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Submissions are open five times a year. The next deadline for applications is 7 November 2025. For more information please visit Investment Programme | Arts & Business NI

Randal Charitable Foundation Accepting Applications for 2025 Funding Round

Randal Charitable Foundation is offering grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 for UK-based charities with a global operation to deliver innovative projects and initiatives that drive positive, life-saving, and life-transforming change in communities in the UK.

The Foundation’s current call for funding is for projects that fall under the following categories:

• Alleviating poverty, specifically directly and sustainably alleviating extreme poverty.

• Healthcare for the vulnerable, making lasting change, and bringing immediate benefit.

• Tackling mental ill-health, addressing root causes, and supporting long-term recovery.

• Education for the most disadvantaged, tackling systemic inequalities, releasing potential, and creating opportunity for children and young people. Excludes education supplementing or replacing state obligations.

• Prisoner rehabilitation, reducing reoffending, and supporting reintegration into society.

• Women and children at risk of violence and exploitation, providing protection, support, and pathways to safety and stability

Funding is for projects shown to deliver proven, effective impact, as well as innovative, novel, or disruptive projects that can make a real difference.

Proposed projects should be completed within 12 months of the receipt of funding.

Applications can be submitted at any time until a sufficient number of applications have been received. For more information, please visit Randal foundation

Linnean Society Accepting Applications for Our Local Nature Grants

The Linnean Society is offering grants for community organisations linked with young people to deliver projects and activities that engage young people with local nature and natural spaces and improve their understanding of local biodiversity.

Community groups and other organisations working directly with children and young people aged 16 and under can apply for funding for a variety of activities, such as:

• Running a school festival about nature.

• Painting community murals showcasing biodiversity in the area.

• Building or restoring a community garden.

• Creating a nature walk.

• Hiring a speaker to come and talk about local foraging.

The maximum award amount is £1,000. However, groups are encouraged to apply for significantly lower amounts.

Grants can be used for materials, room hire, publicity, speakers, trainers, freelancers, project-specific staff costs, audio-visual equipment hire, reasonable volunteer expenses, transportation, or other costs associated with activities or events.

Proposed projects are expected to commence in January 2026 and be completed by the end of June 2026.

The deadline for applications is 25 October 2025. For more information, please visit Our Local Nature Grant Scheme | The Linnean Society

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Invites Applications for Fourth 2025 Funding Round

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

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

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

In this round, grants of £5,000 are available for UK-registered charities with a minimum operating income of £1 million. Applications will not be accepted from CICs or other not-for-profit organisations that are not a UK-registered charity.

The deadline for Round 4 is 30 September 2025. For more information, please visit Home - The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

Arts Council NI Launches Travel Award for Bands

Established bands in Northern Ireland can now apply for support to cover travel costs to play at showcase opportunities outside Northern Ireland.

The new Travel Awards for Bands programme is delivered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland with funding from the Department for Communities.

The scheme aims to help bands develop performance skills, expand networks and reach new audiences. It also seeks to improve equality of access to the arts within the sector. Applicants must provide evidence that they have been invited to perform by an organisation, event, festival or promoter in their chosen location.

Applications are open to formally constituted bands based in Northern Ireland. Eligible groups include accordion, brass, concert, flute, pipe and wind bands. Priority will be given to applications showing strong musicianship, a commitment to training, particularly for young people, and development of repertoire and technical standards.

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available, with all travel to be completed by 31 March 2026. Eligible expenditure includes transport costs such as flights, boats, trains, bus tickets, vehicle hire and fuel. Accommodation, subsistence and insurance are not eligible.

The deadline for applications is 22 September 2025 (noon). For more information, please visit Travel Award for Bands | Arts Council NI

Electrical Safety Fund Accepting Applications for 2025 Funding Round

Electrical Safety First is offering charities, community interest companies (CICs), trusts, and registered not-for-profit organisations across the UK grants to deliver projects and activities that contribute to a reduction in electrical risks in UK homes.

Through the Electrical Safety Fund, grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects that fall in one of the following categories:

• Product testing and replacement events.

• Raising awareness activities.

• Home safety activities/visits.

• Educational events/workshops.

For home repair and direct intervention projects, recipients must be owner-occupants of their residential dwelling who are unable to afford the electrical work required, which must be defined as minor, and the householders must meet one of the following criteria:

• Live with a child under five years old.

• Live alone or with others and have reached state pension age. 

• Live alone or with others and are disabled or chronically ill.

• Live with others who have reached state pension age or are disabled, chronically, or under 18 years old.

This year, priority will be given to projects that focus on demographics with vulnerabilities—for instance, translating and sharing safety materials among refugees or migrant groups, or developing materials for those with additional needs.

The deadline for applications is 12 October 2025. For more information, please visit Electrical Safety Fund | Electrical Safety First

Community Fridge Setup Fund

Can you imagine a community fridge in your neighbourhood?

Hubbub and Co-op have teamed up to help make that vision a reality. The Community Fridge Setup Fund supports local groups across the UK to tackle food waste and bring people together by sharing surplus food.

Since launching, the fund has already helped 381 communities set up their own fridges — and it's coming back in autumn 2025!

If you're passionate about reducing food waste and want to create a space where your community can connect, you can apply for funding by visiting Community Fridge Setup Fund - Hubbub

Closing date for applications is 30th Septmber 2025.

Your charity could receive £500 in unrestricted funding

eBay and easyfundraising have teamed up to help you make an even bigger difference in your community this autumn, with the £5,000 Big Give.

Together, we’re donating £500 to TEN community organisations this month, one of which could be yours!

How to take part:

1.  Firstly, register your charity with easyfundraising – it’s a free to use platform where online retailers will donate money to your charity when your supporters shop with them.

2.  Then, ask your supporters (trustees, staff, volunteers etc) to join in and shop with eBay by 30th September. Each time one of them does, your charity goes into the draw to receive one of TEN £500 micro grants – every purchase increases your chance.

Plus, when your supporters buy from eBay, they’ll not only be supporting independent sellers while bagging a bargain, your charity will also receive a small percentage of their spend as a donation at no extra cost, all courtesy of eBay!

Don’t miss out on this BIG funding opportunity, register with easyfundraising today.

Want to hear more? Join me for a short webinar on Thursday 4th September at 2pm. I’ll tell you all about easyfundraising and how to give yourself the best chance of receiving a £500 funding boost!

Register for the webinar

For more information please visit Fundraising | Charity Fundraising Online | You Spend Online, Brands Donate | Easyfundraising

Financial Assistance 2025 - 2026 Call 4

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council invites applications for financial assistance towards the thematic areas outlined below with guidance notes linked:

• Community Capital for Community Facilities

• Community Capital Minor Items

Opening date: 26 August 2025

Closing: 07 October 2025

Information workshops will take place as follows and can be booked via the TicketSource link here

• Newry Leisure Centre: 02 September 2025, 7PM

• Down Leisure Centre: 04 September 2025, 7PM

• Online – MS Teams: 10 September, 12.30PM

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

All themes are subject to funding availability. Late application submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

THRIVE Programme is now open for applications

THRIVE is delivered in partnership with our sister foundations across the UK – Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, and Bank of Scotland Foundation. This has been made possible thanks to an additional donation from our sole funder, Lloyds Banking Group to celebrate 40 years of grant giving.

What do we mean by financial resilience?
Financial resilience is about being prepared for life’s ups and downs. It’s the ability to foresee, plan for, and adapt to changes and unexpected financial challenges. Whether it’s a small shift or a sudden shock to your personal or household finances, financial resilience means having the strength to not just survive but thrive.

THRIVE aims to support charities in providing financial advice, building financial resilience, delivering financial education, or encouraging good financial health among people in greatest need. This could include providing practical financial support, budgeting assistance, help with debt management, financial education, and personalised advice, to help people navigate financial challenges and build long-term resilience.

In addition, this grants programme is open to charities who offer, or who would like to offer financial resilience related activities but for whom this is not their core purpose e.g. we know that many charities have a primary purpose such as homelessness, disability, ethnicity, mental health and domestic abuse and that financial resilience and support intersects with many of these issues.

All financial advice must be provided by professionally trained advisors.

Who can apply?

THRIVE is open to registered charities with an income of £500,000 or less, with a least one year of annual returns published on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s website. If your charity is registered with another charity regulator in the UK/Ireland, it must show that you operate in Northern Ireland.

In line with the priorities of The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, your charity must support people in greatest need. For example, supporting people living in poverty; the unemployed; those with disabilities or mental ill health. (This is not an exhaustive list – other areas of need will be considered.)

How much can I apply for?

THRIVE will provide support of up to £15,000 over 2 years. We want to help charities grow stronger and more resilient – to thrive beyond the lifetime of this grant. An additional £2,500 will be held for each grantee for organisational development initiatives. e.g. governance support, website development, PR/Communications support. 

FLEXIBILITY COMMITTMENT – We recognise that costs you need supported at the time of application may not be what you need throughout the lifetime of your grant. We encourage you to speak to your grants officer should things change and we will endeavour to be as flexible as possible. (Please note – you must receive confirmation of approval before changes are made). 

For more information and to apply, please check the website – www.halifaxfoundationni.org

Police Property Fund Grant Schemes

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

What is the Fund?

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

To date the Board has progressed three Small Grants Funding Calls which have seen almost £500,000 awarded to eligible projects across Northern and a third call for Small Grants has been ongoing since June 2024. 

What projects are eligible?

Applications for funding will need to demonstrate that the project

• is strategic in nature

• engages with local police

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

• is aligned to a charitable purpose
   

How do I apply?

All the documentation to help you apply for the Police Property Fund Large Grants Scheme can be found here:

• Application form

• Guidance for applicants

• FAQ

• Procedure for implementation

• Watch the how-to video here(external link opens in a new window / tab)

Applications close 12 noon on 22 September 2025.

For more information, please visit Police Property Fund Grant Schemes | Northern Ireland Policing Board

Victims Support Programme 2026-28: Information Sessions

The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) is opening the following funding programme: Victims Support Programme 2026-28.

Through this programme, VSS aims to improve the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors of the Troubles/conflict by providing funding to community and voluntary organisations to deliver services including Psychological/Talking Therapies, Complementary Therapies, Social Support, and Welfare Support.

Full details of funding criteria, application forms and guidance notes are available to download from their website 1 September 2025. Deadline 12 noon, 6 November 2025.

VSS will hold three information sessions. All organisations who are considering making an application are advised to attend the information sessions running from 10:30am-12pm (approx.):

• Belfast- Monday 8th September – NICVA - 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GB 

• Cookstown 10th September - Glenavon Hotel -52 Drum Rd, Cookstown BT80 8QS 

• L/Derry 12th September – Everglades Hotel- Prehen Rd, Londonderry BT47 2NH 

Email communitypartnership@vssni.org to register for a session.  

Alzheimer's Research UK - Inspire Fund

Grants are available for public engagement projects led by groups within or outside the research community that will tackle misconceptions around dementia and promote the importance of dementia research.

The Inspire Fund provides funding for innovative projects that engage and empower the public by improving understanding of dementia and sharing the benefits of dementia research. The funders aim to create and nurture relationships between communities, researchers, creatives and other potential applicants.

Projects must engage with underserved audiences on the topic of dementia, such as minority ethnic communities, marginalised or socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

For this call, seed funding is available to new grant holders, in grants of up to £5,000 per project. 

Follow on funding grants of up to £20,000 per project will also be available to past Inspire Fund grant holders, to grow the scale and impact of their previous projects. (Previous grant holders interested in follow-on funding should contact the Involvement & Engagement team for further information.)

Applicants are accepted from individuals, organisations and communities with ideas, passion and ability to realise innovative public engagement projects on the topic of dementia. ARUK is especially interested in proposals led by community groups or organisations.

Applicants are encouraged to forge links with collaborators or groups to grow the scale of ideas and the impact of the projects.

Inspire Fund projects must meet both core criteria:

• Projects must engage with underserved audiences on the topic of dementia, such as minority ethnic communities, marginalised or socio-economically disadvantaged people.

• Build knowledge and understanding about brain health (in the context of dementia risk reduction) and explore ways to encourage behaviour change.

Projects can use a range of methods to engage with their audience and applicants are encouraged to consider their audience when selecting methods of engagement, to ensure people are able to take part.

The grant is intended to cover:

• Salaries or fees for people who are essential to the proposal such as project lead, researchers, artists or consultants that aren't already covered by another grant.

• Participant costs if relevant.

• Materials and consumables.

• Equipment that is essential to the project.

• Production costs, including marketing.

• Travel and subsistence relevant to the proposal.

• Room hire.

• Catering.

• Accessibility costs (eg BSL translation).

• Evaluation and dissemination of the work.

• Contingency (up to 5% of total cost).

Examples of previously funded projects can be found on the Alzheimer's Research UK website.

The deadline for applications to the 2025 seed fund call is 8 September 2025 (5pm).

An online application form is available on the ARUK website.

Past grant holders interested in applying for follow-on funding should contact the Involvement & Engagement team for more information – engage@alzheimersresearchuk.org

For more information, please visit - Inspire Fund – public engagement grant - Grant scheme - Alzheimer's Research UK

The Young People's Programme

The Foundation is keen to support young people who are facing difficult challenges and barriers to accessing support and opportunities.

Funding work to benefit children and young people aged 12-21 who are vulnerable, socially excluded or marginalised.

Recent updates to the guidance in this programme, are that the Foundation aims to focus on those children who are considered persistently absent from school, those leaving school with no qualifications, and children and young people in/leaving care.

We aim to support work to help young people who are experiencing or may have already suffered significant issues within their lives and who may ‘fall through the cracks’ without targetted support.  The priority is on those aged 12-21 who are vulnerable, socially excluded or marginalised; whose experiences can be hidden or less well known; and whose voices are often erased or ignored.

This may, for example, include pro-active youth clubs, activities for disaffected young people, or employment opportunities or experience which help young people to find structure.  Also organisations that focus their work on: young people within the criminal justice system or those at risk of offending; looked after children or care leavers; those with significant mental health concerns or complex needs; young people who have been traumatised by challenging family backgrounds, neglect, violence or abuse; those that have fallen through the gaps in care and/or education; those already affected by, or vulnerable to, exploitation; or whose experiences could seriously impact their transition into adulthood.

We do not aim to target funding at work that takes place in schools.

This is not an exhaustive list and the Foundation will be happy to advise or discuss potential applications.

The Foundation is not looking to fund general youth provision due to the limitation of available resource, but will consider both core or project funding of organisations whose work aligns with the aim of the programme.

For more information, please visit Young People’s Programme – The Allen Lane Foundation

Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council Community Grants

The third of their funding calls for revenue and capital grants is open until 12 September 2025 (midday). Eligible organisations can apply for grants supporting community development, small scale capital, Good Relations, community events, international tourism, and arts projects. Various funding levels.

For more information, please visit Community Grants - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council