Corlacky Community Benefit Fund

The fund’s aim is to provide financial support towards the development of locally beneficial community-based projects and initiatives within a 7km radius of Corlacky Wind Farm.

Applications are invited from charities and community organisations based within a 7km radius of the Corlacky Wind Farm site. 

Applicants can apply for financial support for any one or more of the following purposes:

• The advancement of education; and/or

• The advancement of environmental protection or improvement; and/or

• Projects for environmental and/or biodiversity benefit; and/or

• Improving the health of residents; and/or

• Promoting care & support of vulnerable people; and/or

• Promoting recreational or sporting activities; and/or The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science;

• and/or Improving or maintaining community buildings or facilities; and/or Social and local community development; and/or

• The promotion of culture and knowledge; and/or

• Support for young people and sports; and/or

• Promoting ERG’s culture and sustainability of renewable energies; and/or

• Supporting social development leveraging on ERG’s business activities; and/or

• Supporting the “call of ideas” for the innovation in the nearby areas; and/or

• Education in relation to sustainability, the development of renewables, and the fight against climate change.

Priority will be given to:

• Education programmes for the next generation on the topics of Sustainability and Renewable Energy

• Collaborative projects

• Projects that aim to improve the health of residents, particularly mental health

• Projects that promote care & support of vulnerable people, particularly relating to the cost of living/fuel poverty

Amount of funding available: Grants up to £3,000

Closing date for applications: 8th October 2026

For more information please visit Corlacky Community Benefit Fund  - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Heart of the Community Fund

Applications are now open for the Heart of the Community Fund | Arts and Culture grant round, supporting arts organisations and community-based arts programmes across the island of Ireland.

For this grant round, we will accept applications from organisations on the island of Ireland working in two areas:

(i) Arts and Culture Organisations

(ii) Community Organisations with Arts-based Programmes

Arts and Culture Organisations: This funding strand is intended for organisations that work in the promotion, preservation, and development of all art forms. Organisations applying under this stream may apply for core funding to support their ongoing activities and operations.

Community Organisations with Arts-based Programmes: This funding strand is intended for organisations seeking grants for a community-based arts project. Applicants must provide details of how the funding will be used, and all expenditure must relate directly to the programme or project for which funding is requested.

For more information, please visit Heart of the Community Fund - Ireland Funds

Round 2 of the 2026 Community Awards is now open for applications!

The Community Awards are part of Belfast Harbour’s ongoing commitment to advance prosperity and create vibrant places and communities by supporting the work of grassroots and charitable organisations across Northern Ireland.

Entries are now open for the second round of the awards, offering eligible groups and organisations individual grants of up to £5,000.

Details on applications and entry criteria are available by clicking on the guidelines below.

To submit your entry please click HERE

Deadline for applications is Friday, September 25th at 5pm

For more information please visit Belfast Harbour | Community Awards

Belfast City Airport Community Fund now open

Belfast City Airport's Community Fund is now open for applications.

Grants of £1,000 to £5,000 are available for local community projects across Greater Belfast and North Down, alongside a new £10,000 Environmental Grant for biodiversity and sustainability initiatives. 

Further information and application details can be found here: https://www.belfastcityairport.com/Sustainability/Our-Community

Get to Know: The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is hosting a series of free ‘Get to Know Us’ events in the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area.

These are designed for groups and organisations who might think heritage isn’t for them and have never applied for The National Lottery Heritage Fund before.

No prior heritage experience is needed! Community groups, charities, voluntary organisations and other constituted associations who may be interested in exploring how heritage projects can benefit their communities are encouraged to come along.

These friendly, informal sessions will introduce attendees to the wide range of heritage we support, the types of projects and organisations that can receive funding, available grant opportunities and practical tips for developing a heritage project idea.

Events will take place in the following areas:

• Dromore Town Hall, Dromore, 8 October 2026, 7-8.30pm (sign up via Ticketsource here)

• Tommy Makem Arts and Community Centre, Keady, 12 October 2026, 7-8.30pm (sign up via Ticketsource here)

• Millennium Court, Portadown, 20 October 2026, 7-8.30pm (sign up via Ticketsource here)

If you’d like to attend, it’s essential that you sign up in advance via Ticketsource to secure your place. Each event is limited to 30 people. To sign up, please use the above links for your chosen date.

The Heritage Fund hope that you can join them and look forward to welcoming organisations to the event.

Phoenix Community Fund Offers Small Grants for Local Projects in Northern Ireland

Phoenix Energy has opened applications to its Phoenix Community Fund, which provides small grants for local events and activities in Northern Ireland.

The scheme offers grants of up to £500 to support inclusive local projects and activities that are open to a cross section of the community.

The funding aims to support activities that reduce social isolation and barriers to inclusion, promote equality in the community and assist biodiversity groups and organisations seeking to enhance local biodiversity and environmental impact.

Applications are accepted from community organisations based within the Phoenix Energy licence area of Northern Ireland. To be eligible, applicants must hold a bank account registered in the community organisation's name.

Support can be used towards the delivery of local activities and projects that align with the programme's objectives.

Applications must be submitted in sufficient time to ensure that supported projects can take place by 1 March 2027. For more information, please visit The Phoenix Community Fund | Phoenix Energy

Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Grants Programme Accepting Applications for Autumn 2026 Funding Round

Kellogg's, in partnership with Forever Manchester, is accepting applications for the Breakfast Club Grants Programme.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available for state schools across the UK to help fund breakfast clubs aimed at pupils between reception class and year 13 to ensure that those who need it most receive a morning meal.

Priority will be given to schools that either:

• Have 35% and above of children eligible for pupil premium funding (for England) and eligible for free school meals (Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales); or

• Are based in an area which is classified as falling in the 10% of most deprived areas (30% for secondary schools) according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Funding can be used for costs associated with project delivery. For example, this could include food, staffing costs, or items like play or kitchen equipment.

Only one grant per school in each academic year is available. A limited number of grants are available, and the fund may close at short notice if oversubscribed. Non-state schools are not eligible to apply.

Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information please visit Grants For Schools | Kellogg's

Beyond the Bin Fund Set to Reopen for UK Cup Recycling

The Beyond the Bin Fund is expected to reopen shortly, offering grant support for projects that increase the recycling or reuse of on-the-go paper cups in the UK. The Fund is delivered through the National Cup Recycling Scheme (NCRS), which is administered by Valpak.

Grants of up to £50,000 will be available for projects developing solutions to improve paper cup recyclability and recovery. Supported activity can include awareness campaigns designed to increase recycling rates, improvements to collection and recycling infrastructure and research aimed at tackling key technical or operational barriers.

The Fund is open to a wide range of UK based applicants. Eligible organisations include businesses and brands such as coffee chains, retailers and venues, as well as local authorities and councils, universities and research institutions, startups and social enterprises. Partnerships and collaborations may also apply, provided one organisation is identified as the lead applicant.

Grant money can be used to cover staff time and other project delivery costs. Eligible expenditure includes project materials and equipment, communications, venue or travel expenses, data and evaluation, professional fees and reasonable project-related overheads.

Further information about the next round is expected to be confirmed imminently. For more information please visit Beyond the Bin Fund | Recycling Paper Cups

Foras na Gaeilge Colmcille Small Grants Scheme Opens for Applications in Ireland

Foras na Gaeilge is inviting applications to the Colmcille Small Grant Scheme, which provides grants to support research and planning for joint Gaelic language projects and partnerships between Ireland and Scotland.

Colmcille is a partnership between Foras na Gaeilge in Ireland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig in Scotland. Its aim is to promote interaction and cooperation between speakers of Irish and Scottish Gaelic and strengthen the two language communities.

The Small Grant Scheme supports the research, development and planning needed to establish joint initiatives.

The maximum grant available under the scheme is £1,750.

Applications are accepted from eligible organisations based on the island of Ireland that can promote relationships between Irish and Scottish Gaelic language communities and that have the required documentation in place. Organisations in Scotland can access support for Colmcille activity through Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Eligible costs include research, partnership planning, language use plans, workshops and training, with necessary travel, accommodation and subsistence supported subject to prior agreement.

The deadline for applications is 18 December 2026. For more information please visit Funding Schemes - Foras Na Gaeilge

Asda Foundation’s Foodbank Fundamental Fund Opens with Short Application Window

Groups in the UK who distribute food and other essential items for disadvantaged members of the local community have two weeks to apply for a grant of up to £1,000.

The funding is for groups whose core focus is providing food aid to their service users, for example, food banks, community pantries, social supermarkets, soup kitchens, breakfast clubs. (Please note that any group that does not already offer a food provision as its core purpose may not apply for this grant.)

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be not-for-profit.

• Have an annual income below £250,000.

• Have governing documents.

• Have a safeguarding policy.

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

The grants can only be used for:

• Essential food (including baby food/formula).

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

• White goods (eg, fridge, freezer).

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

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

Applicants are advised to apply early as the scheme may close early if a high volume of applications is received.

In addition, if certain geographical areas are oversubscribed, they may close before the full grant programme does.

Applications accepted from 8 September to 22 September 2026. For more information please visit Foodbank Fundamentals Fund | Asda Foundation

Nuffield Foundation Opens Essential Employment Skills Grants for Youth Projects

The Nuffield Foundation has launched the Essential Employment Skills Fund to build on its prior work on education-to-employment transitions, with a focus on youth unemployment and economic inactivity in the UK.

The initiative aims to strengthen evidence on what support helps young people aged 16-24 who face significant barriers to work develop essential employment skills and progress into good jobs. The Foundation is seeking applications that initiate or develop partnerships between stakeholders, including employers, educators, third sector providers and local and regional government, in order to sustain support for young people.

Projects must focus on young people living in the UK, either across the full 16-24 age range or a narrower group within it, such as 16-19 year olds. Proposals should have a clear focus on those facing barriers to employment, which may include young people with low or no academic qualifications, persistent absence or exclusion from school, special educational needs and disabilities, mental health difficulties, experience of the care system, young parenthood, being a young carer, belonging to a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community or living in areas with higher youth unemployment.

Grants of up to £500,000 are available. The Foundation will accept bids from partnerships already established between frontline delivery organisations and independent evaluators. It also expects the support to encourage new collaborations involving employers, educators, charities, researchers and local government.

Eligible costs include work to evaluate UK-based provision, improve mechanisms for sharing learning and advance approaches to measuring essential employment skills, with the intention of informing wider scaling-up of effective practice.

The deadline for applications is 10 December 2026. For more information, please visit Nuffield Foundation

Arts and Business NI Investment Programme Accepting Applications

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 30 October 2026. For more information, please visit Investment Programme Fund - Arts & Business Northern Ireland

Funding for Charities Working with Ex-Offenders and Young People in the UK’s Criminal Justice System

UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations based and working in the UK that can demonstrate impact with ex-offenders, young offenders or young people at risk of offending, either within a local area or nationally may apply for small grants of up to £5,000 or larger grants with no set limit. Grants are normally awarded for one year only.

The funding is intended for registered charities working in the current priority areas:

• Supporting offenders and ex-offenders into work, specifically for those looking to build skills and capability to get into sustainable work.

• Helping specific groups within the criminal justice sector that are less popular with funders than others.

The secondary funding area is focused on projects that specifically work with young people (aged 16 years to 25 years) already involved in the Criminal Justice System to ensure they are given every chance to realise their full potential and to participate fully in society rather than general youth development projects.  

Preference is to fund new and innovative projects. Applicants must show they have investigated other sources of funding and made plans for future funding.

The grants can be used for pump priming, project funding, associated project costs, core costs, and innovative or pioneering work.

Applications will be accepted from UK registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) with an income of up to £5 million.

There are usually three funding rounds per year with applications considered in February, June and October.

The next deadline for applications is 12 November 2026 (midday) for consideration in February 2027. For more information, please visit Charitable Grants – The Weavers' Company

Triangle Trust’s Autumn Round to Open 10 September 2026

The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund is an independent grant-making trust that operates across the UK. It holds a grant round twice a year (spring and autumn).

The autumn 2026 round supports work with young women (aged 17-30) who are already in contact with the Criminal Justice System who need:

• Holistic support to help them move away from offending, such as maintaining tenancies, securing and retaining jobs and building secure and health family relationships.

• Pre-release and through the gate support for young women to meet their immediate needs.

• Support for mothers prior to and after serving a custodial sentence.

Grants of between £50,000 and £100,000 are available for a duration of 18, 24, 30 or 36 months. A maximum of £50,000 per year can be requested. The amount of funding must be proportional to the project being undertake.

Registered charities, not-for-profit social enterprises and/or community interest companies with a maximum annual income of £5 million per annum that are working within the UK and have a UK office can apply.

Organisations need to be either 'led by and for' women and girls or be able to demonstrate that they are 'issue experts' working on one of the areas the funder wants to support (housing, employment, family support).

Applicants must demonstrate that their organisation:

• Has experience of working with young women in the criminal justice system.

• Is gender and trauma informed.

• Puts lived experience at the core of its projects.

There is particular interest in applications from organisations working in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

There is a three-step application process. Applicants need to use the eligibility checker and those who 'appear to fit the criteria' will be able to submit a short Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest open 10 September and closed 15 October 2026. For more information please visit The Triangle Trust

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Accepting Applications for Final 2026 Funding Round

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust is offering grants for UK-registered charities working 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 2026, Rounds 3 and 4 will focus on projects supporting unpaid carers. Focus will be given to projects that provide therapeutic support, including healthy eating and outdoor activities. Projects must focus exclusively on unpaid carers, 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 2026. For more information please visit Home - The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust

Arts Society Accepting Applications for Autumn 2026 Funding Round

The Arts Society is offering grants of up to £3,000 for registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £1 million across the UK to deliver arts and heritage projects and activities.

The theme of the Autumn 2026 funding round is 'Community Engagement'. Proposed projects should meet all of the following criteria: 

• Focus on public arts or heritage events and festivals.

• Centre on community participation and cohesion.

• Bring the arts or heritage into shared public places.

Proposed projects will be assessed against how well they:

• Focus on public arts or heritage events, activities or festivals.

• Centre on community participation and cohesion.

• Bring the arts or heritage into shared public places.

• Provide access for people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to engage.

• Improve wellbeing, and/or reduce isolation, and/or remove access barriers.

All projects should provide access to arts and heritage for people who may not otherwise have opportunities to engage, particularly projects that improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and remove access barriers. Eligible costs include venue hire, materials and equipment, and marketing and promotion.

The deadline for applications is 30 September 2026. For more information, please visit The Arts Society Grants | The Arts Society

Shoosmiths Foundation Invites Applications for 2026 Funding Round

Shoosmiths Foundation is offering UK-based registered charities grants of up to £50,000 to deliver projects and activities that widen access to legal and business service careers for underrepresented groups across the UK.

This funding round is for projects and activities that:

• Improve access to higher education and careers in the legal profession for underrepresented groups.

• Strengthen support systems for underrepresented groups.

• Reduce systemic barriers to legal careers.

Projects must address underrepresentation and support intersectionality more broadly. For example, projects that not only support access to legal profession prospects but also address other factors of underrepresentation such as:

• Characteristics listed in the Equality Act 2010.

• Ex-military personnel.

• People with convictions.

• People experiencing homelessness.

• Long-term unemployed.

• Refugees.

• Care-experienced individuals.

Proposed projects should relate to areas with lower social mobility prospects, such as the English indices of deprivation and the Scottish index of multiple deprivation.

The deadline for applications is 30 September 2026. For more information please visit Shoosmiths | For What Matters

Cash4Clubs to Open for UK Applications on 1st October 2026

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.

Not-for-profit organisations, including charities, community groups and traditional sports clubs from across the UK and Ireland can apply for a grant of £2,000 each (€2000 in Ireland). 

The 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 the 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.

The funding should be spent within a six-month period.

Applications will be accepted from 1 October 2026 to 1 January 2027. For more information, please visit Cash4Clubs | Home

Applications Open for Northern Ireland's Arts and Older People Programme

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, jointly with the Public Health Agency, has opened the Arts and Older People Programme for applications.

The programme offers grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 for projects using artistic activity to enhance the representation of older people and support positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. Eligible applicants include constituted community and voluntary groups working locally to support older people, as well as non-governmental organisations, Local Authorities and arts organisations.

Applicants must be able to show strong partnership working, including with care homes, carers and dementia groups. Partnerships may be led by age sector providers, arts organisations or Local Authorities, with additional specialists who work with older people included as named partners where relevant.

Projects must address one or more strategic themes: isolation and loneliness, social inclusion, poverty, health issues and dementia including mental health and emotional wellbeing, or strengthening the voice of older people.

The deadline for applications is 22 October 2026. For more information please visit National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme | Arts Council NI

Gardening With Disabilities Trust Reopens Small Grants for Garden Adaptations

The Gardening with Disabilities Trust, a registered charity based in Kent, has reopened its small grants to help people continue gardening despite disability or health issues.

The Trust, which is entirely staffed by volunteers, provides financial support to enable individuals and groups to adapt gardens and access basic equipment. The aim is to help applicants return to gardening by addressing practical barriers that can arise from physical, mental or visual disabilities.

No upper or lower grant limit is stated. Awards are typically 'for hundreds of pounds'. A total of around £41,600 was awarded in small grants last year.

Applications are considered from individuals and groups across the UK. This includes people who need to reorganise gardens due to health issues and residents in long stay hospitals or nursing homes who share a garden. Preference is given to keen gardeners who can no longer garden as a result of physical disability. Applicants are required to join the Trust's Garden Club, with membership offered free of charge.

Support can cover adaptations to private gardens to meet specific needs, alongside help for special gardens in hospitals, centres and schools. Eligible costs include items such as tools, planting tables, raised beds, paving, wheelchair access, handrails and greenhouses. The Trust also provides information on garden aids and techniques.

Grants can be used for raised beds, poly tunnels, greenhouses, tools, small-scale adaptations such as access pathways, plants or shrubs and compost. The Trust usually pays suppliers directly once work is completed, or issues vouchers that can be redeemed at a retailer near the applicant.

Applications can be made at any time. For more information, please visit Apply for a grant - Gardening With Disabilities Trust