Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced that his department’s Developing Women in the Community Programme Phase Three is now open for applications.

This is the third phase of the programme following on from the pilot scheme that completed in March 2022 and Phase Two which will complete in March 2025. These previous phases, Advisory Panel recommendations and Queens University Belfast evaluations, have helped to shape and set the direction for phase three.

The project is part of the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism & Organised Crime.

Welcoming the opening of the application process for Phase Three, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:

"I am pleased to be able to launch the third phase of this important programme, which will provide training and support to women of all ages. The programme will give women the tools to develop themselves as leaders, allowing them to take on key roles and drive change and improvement within their communities.

“I am committed to delivering this programme to equip women with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become involved in community development, particularly in areas most in need.”

Key elements of the Developing Women in the Community Programme Phase Three include:

Providing participants with the opportunity to partake in volunteering roles and to develop and deliver a small programme;
Providing Family Support; and
Delivering modular training relating to personal, community and families resulting in personal progression, reducing individual risk factors and strengthening the women’s confidence to engage with their communities.
Delivery organisations to adopt a trauma informed approach and promote The Ending Violence Against Women & Girls Strategy (EVAWG)

Applications are invited from areas which have been identified as those most in need.

Full details on funding, eligibility and the application process can be found on the Department's website.

Making an application

Applications can be completed online(external link opens in a new window / tab).

The total cost required from DfC should not exceed £75,000*.

*Subject to budget availability, funding limits may change.

The closing date for applications is 4.00pm on Monday 3 March 2025

Further details can be found in the information and guidance notes.

This funding is for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027.

Applicants should read both the following project specification and information and guidance notes.