Northern Ireland Community Groups Invited to Apply for Environmental Improvement Funding

Funding is available to community groups in Northern Ireland for local projects aimed at promoting civic pride within communities and improving the environmental quality of shared community spaces.

The Small Grants Scheme forms a key part of the wider Live Here Love Here programme, a partnership between local councils, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. The scheme's 2024/25 funding round will be accepting applications from local community organisations including:

• Community and voluntary groups (including non-constituted groups).

• Sports clubs.

• Churches.

• Youth groups.

• Schools and third level education organisations.

Funding is intended for purchase of equipment and items that enable volunteers and community groups to deliver practical environmental action in their locality. Eligible costs and activities include:

• Community food growing projects.

• Development of community gardens.

• Planting for pollinators.

• Addition of assets to existing shared places.

• Materials to tackle dog fouling (in line with local councils' own schemes).

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to constituted organisations, and non-constituted groups can apply for a maximum of £1,500.

The 2024/25 funding round will open for applications on 27 August 2024 and close to applications on 17 September 2024.

For more information, please visit Live Here Love Here | Small Grants Scheme (etinu.net)