Health and Safety Capital Programme

The Arts Council has designed this programme to enable organisations to purchase equipment and/or carry out minor works to their premises which will address any health and safety issues or has been an outstanding maintenance issue which has rendered the space not fit for purpose. 

We want to support organisations across Northern Ireland to maintain their creative spaces addressing any issues that may hinder the work to take place.  We want to ensure that organisations have proper measures in place to welcome their staff, artists and audiences.  We also want to support organisations in their delivery of the arts in new and creative alternatives.

Particular priority will be given to equipment and minor works which:

• improves the accessibility of the arts;

• continues the safe practice for continued accessibility of the arts;

• improves the environment for the arts sector; and

• enhances or broadens the audience/participants’ experience.

Who can apply?

The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and, in particular, from applicants whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. In addition, in order to be eligible to apply to this programme, please note the following:

• You do not have to be primarily an arts organisation (for example, community groups may apply to the scheme), however, the purpose of the requested equipment and / or minor works must be clearly focussed on the arts.

• Local authorities are eligible to apply but they are a low priority.

• Registered charities and other fully constituted organisations which cannot distribute a profit are eligible to apply.

• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the equipment and/or minor works is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.

• If your organisation has a limited membership you must show that the equipment and / or minor works will benefit the wider public.

• Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects may apply.

What Can You Apply For?

You can apply for any equipment and / or minor works to help adapt your venue or working practice. This could be, but not limited to, the following:

• Creation of safe spaces

• New equipment / structures to enable delivery outdoors

• IT equipment to assist with remote working environments

• Software (pre-loaded operating systems and packages only)

• Accessibility equipment and minor works

• Works in relation to upgrading and maintaining existing systems

• Transport

For more information and to apply, please visit Health and Safety Capital Programme | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

B&Q Foundation Grants

The Foundation is an independent charity, set up in 2020, to build on B&Q’s commitment to make a positive difference in the communities we serve. Learn more about the B&Q Foundation and apply for funding.

The B&Q Foundation supports registered charities with a combination of grants, volunteering time and home improvement resources. It concentrates its efforts on local charities helping to create better, safes places for people who need them most.

The B&Q Foundation supports UK registered charities with a combination of grants, volunteering time and home improvement resources. From improving the safety of a home for someone with a disability, to providing residential support for people with no home of their own – the organisations it backs are making a difference to those who don’t have access to what most of us take for granted. And that helps build better communities for us all.

Grants of up to £5000 are available. For more information and to apply, please visit Apply For a Grant | B&Q Foundation (bqfoundation.org.uk)

Expressions of Interest for 2023-25

The Irish Football Association (Irish FA) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) Multi-Sports Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund aims to allow local grassroots football clubs in Northern Ireland (NI) to improve and upgrade facilities to create a better grassroots football infrastructure foundation. 

Investment in creating the best possible multi-sports and grassroots football facilities enables young people to have the opportunity to reach their full potential in football, as well as providing the local community with access to facilities where they can participate in other sports and become healthy and active. 

The UK Government has confirmed the allocation of a £230 million uplift to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for investment in football facilities across the UK. Read more on this here.

DCMS has committed to supporting grassroots football facility development in Northern Ireland up to March 2025. Phase 3 of the investment covers the financial year, April 2023 to March 2024 with Phase 4 covering April 2024 to March 2025. 

Two million pounds of capital funding has been secured for 2023/24, with a further £3.59 million of capital funding to be delivered in 2024/25.  Projects to be supported will be selected for their ability to deliver improved facilities in deprived areas, support multi-sport use and increase participation among currently underrepresented groups, including women, girls and those with a disability. 

The Irish FA / DCMS Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund 2023-25 will be directed towards larger capital projects primarily focusing on the installation and improvement of natural grass or certified artificial grass pitches (AGP).  Funding will support and be directed towards the installation of new or replacement natural grass surfaces, new or replacement artificial grass surfaces or new multi-use games areas (MUGA).

Associated pitch infrastructure will be considered for funding in addition to the pitch installation e.g. changing rooms, floodlighting, fencing etc.

In order to understand the number, type and scale of projects which may come forward over the next two financial years, we are running an Expression of Interest (EOI) process. The EOI will gather crucial information on proposed projects at early stages of their development, identifying future investment possibilities.  It is anticipated that applications for funding will be opened in February / March 2023. 

EOIs will be open for over two weeks from Wednesday 18 January 2023 and will close at 12 noon on Friday 3 February 2023.   The EOI can be accessed via the link below.

A full list of the questions on the Expression of Interest form can be found in the PDF download below.

CLICK HERE FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

Irish FA/ DCMS Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund...

Community Facilities Minor Capital Items Grants

Grants are available to community associations which manage a community facility in Newry, Mourne and Down to support the purchase of minor capital items.

Grants of between £500 and £10,000 are available.

All project activity must be completed by 31 July 2023.

Applications will be accepted from constituted community or voluntary organisations and other not-for-profit organisations responsible for managing a community facility. This is defined as follows:

"A community facility is a building which is open to the public where the community can gather for a diverse range of social, cultural, educational, recreational, training and information activities. The facility will normally provide a minimum of three of these diverse activities."

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is to be used for purchases and activities in the following areas:

• Maintenance - relating to the managing of a community facility (both internal and external), eg power washer, buffers, hoovers, steamers, trolleys etc.

• Required to enhance the facility for potential bookings (non-fixed items £100 or over), eg fixed PA system, fixed projector, whiteboard, large sporting equipment eg 5-a-side posts, bowling mat, table tennis table etc.

• Replacement - relating to items required for the day to day running of community facilities, eg tables, chairs, crockery, vinyl, white goods etc. Smaller value items should be bought in bulk.

The deadline for applications is noon on 17 January 2023.

Guidance notes and the application form can be accessed via Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's Online Funding Hub - Grant Manager (eformz.info)

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

Programmes Unit
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Monaghan Row
Newry
BT35 8DJ
Tel: 0330 137 4040
Email: programmesunit@nmandd.org

Access Programme for Cultural Organisations

Grants are available to not-for-profit cultural organisations in Derry City and Strabane to improve access to arts and culture for people with disabilities.

The Access Programme for Cultural Organisations is provided and administered by Derry City and Strabane District Council as part of its Arts and Culture Strategy 2019-24.

The funding is intended to support capital costs to enable the following:

• Improve access to arts and culture organisations across Northern Ireland for people with disabilities.

• Make arts and cultural organisations more inclusive across society.

• Increase participation in arts and culture activities by people with disabilities.

  
  Grants of up to £30,000 are available.

Applications will be accepted from constituted, not-for-profit cultural organisations located in Derry City and Strabane.

For projects requiring adjustments to the fabric or structure of a building, the applicant must be the owner or leaseholder (five years minimum) of the premises.

The deadline for applications is noon on 12 January 2023.

An online application form and guidance notes are available to access from the Derry City and Strabane District Council website - Derry City and Strabane District Council (smapply.org)

For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:

Caitriona Doherty
Derry City and Strabane District Council
Londonderry Office
98 Strand Road
Derry / Londonderry
BT48 7NN
Tel: 028 7125 3253
Email: caitriona.doherty@Derrystrabane.com

Vacant to Vibrant Capital Grant Scheme

Grants are available for property owners, businesses, social enterprises, and voluntary and cultural groups to support the renovation and repurposing of vacant spaces across the Belfast city centre.

This fund aims to incentivise both property owners and potential occupiers to bring vacant Belfast city centre spaces back into use, supporting revitalisation, the creation of a vibrant and higher quality streetscape, and the creation of new employment opportunities.

Grants of between £2,000 and £25,000 are available and applicants are expected to contribute a minimum of 10% match funding.

Property owners, businesses, social enterprises, and cultural and voluntary organisations wishing to renovate or repurpose a vacant space can apply. 

Constituted, not-for-profit organisations must supply a copy of a constitution. 

Businesses must provide evidence of tenure and three months of bank statements relating to the business. 

Applicants must provide quotes for all capital works and purchases in line with the Council’s procurement thresholds. 

All applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• The property must be a vacant premise or vacant space within a premise that is located within the Belfast city centre boundary.

• Businesses/organisations must be an existing registered business/organisation or social enterprise that has been actively operating for at least three months as of the date of the application submission.

• The property must not have been in occupation for 12 months at the time of application (properties that have been occupied by temporary meanwhile use/pop-ups are acceptable).

Properties at ground floor vacancies will be given priority. Support for upper floor improvements may be considered if the occupier’s ground floor activities extend into upper floor uses, where they deliver a meaningful and measurable impact on the street character and vibrancy. 

Projects proposing to target upper floor units only will not be considered unless they can demonstrate that the proposal will have a positive impact on the street character and vibrancy of a street or area.

This fund will be open for two years from 7 July 2022. Funding will be awarded on a first come first served basis until all the money has been allocated. 

The application process may close earlier than anticipated depending on the number of applications received.

Contact Belfast City Council to request guidance notes and an application pack. 

Garfield Weston Foundation Accepting Applications Again

After closing its capital funding streams last year to focus on revenue grants during the Covid-19 crisis, Garfield Weston Foundation is now open to applications across all its grants programmes: capital, core costs and projects.

Regular grants of up to £100,000 can be used for:

• Capital costs - for tangible things, such as a building project, repairs, equipment etc.

• Revenue/unrestricted core costs - towards the general running costs of the organisation. The grants are typically unrestricted and can be used towards costs such as general salaries (but not a specific position or job), rent, programme costs etc.

• Project costs - for a very specific project or activity and would include all the costs involved in delivering the project, including staff costs and a reasonable percentage of overheads if relevant.

Match funding is required. The Foundation recommends that applicants have around half of their funding identified before applying. A grant is unlikely to be for more than around 10% of the total costs of the budget.

There are no deadlines. Applications for grants of up to £100,000 can be made at any time and are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

For more information please visit https://garfieldweston.org/