Great Big Green Week – Community Fund

Grants are available for charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, and other not-for-profit organisations to deliver events and activities during the Great Big Green Week 2022.

This fund aims to support community groups to organise local events, activities, and festivals that engage local communities and celebrate the actions and progress being made on climate change.

Projects, activities, and events should take place during the Great Big Green Week (24 September to 2 October 2022).

Three grant sizes are available:

• Small grants between £200 and £500.

• Medium grants between £500 and £5,000.

• Large grants between £5,000 and £10,000.

The following can apply:

• Voluntary and community organisations.

• Constituted groups or clubs.

• Registered charities.

• Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).

• Not-for-profit companies.

• Community interest companies.

• Schools (if the project benefits and involves communities around the school and appropriate safeguarding policies are in place).

• Statutory bodies, such as local authorities, towns, parishes, and community councils.

• Community benefit societies.

Funding is for projects and activities that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Empower local groups to create new connections locally that support new people and organisations to take climate action locally (eg local businesses, sports clubs, cultural organisations, and faith groups.

• Led by or in partnership with groups who are underrepresented within the climate movement (Eg ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, or poorer communities).

• Are in locations with no existing green week or related activity, or where the event takes existing or previously funded activity to a new level.

• Engage local politicians and/or councillors in events happening in their constituency.

• Support engagement across generations and encourage intergenerational dialogue.

Funding can be used to cover:

• Equipment.

• One-off Events.

• Staff costs (if directly in support of the proposed Great Big Green Week activity).

• Transport.

• Utilities.

• Volunteer expenses.

• Publicity (eg flyers, social media advertising etc).

For more information and to apply please visit Funding - Great Big Green Week

Mutual Aid Fund

This fund aims to support groups who are in the process of transitioning and are facing distinct challenges in adapting to a post-COVID environment. Funding will support specific projects/activities aimed at strengthening a group to better respond to the reality post-COVID, such as evolving community needs or a group’s capacity.

Grants of between £1,500 and £5,000 are available.

Applications are accepted from mutual aid groups in the UK that meet two or more of the following criteria:

• Believe in ‘solidarity not charity’.

• Are autonomous/independent (ie not affiliated to a larger/national organisation).

• Are volunteer-led.

• Operate a flat structure/decision-making process.

• Do not require eligibility checks (ie no means testing on the community members that are served).

• Operate absolute financial transparency and accountability.

• Meet immediate local needs.

• Practice radical inclusivity.

• Are committed to fundamental change/ending socioeconomic inequalities.

Successful applicants need to be willing to share learnings with other mutual aid groups.

Funding is for projects and activities that meet all the following criteria: 

• Clearly helps a group adapt post-COVID.

• Demonstrates a key contribution to a group’s sustainability.

• Be completed within nine months.

Examples of eligible projects include: 

• Upskilling group members, such as in their technological capacity.

• Piloting a programme that would help secure more sustainable sources of funding.

• Creating the capacity to design and implement a strategy/programme that would contribute to the sustainability of the group, including paying an existing group member or hiring a consultant.

• Buying equipment necessary for the sustainability of the group, such as fridges for a food bank.

Groups will have nine months from the beginning of September 2022 to implement activities. 

Key dates:

• Confirmation of successful applicants - beginning of August.

• Disbursing of grants - beginning of September.

• Groups will then get nine months to implement their activities.

• Final learning convening is planned for 16 June 2023.

The funders hope for this to be the first of multiple rounds of funding, so applicants who are not successful this time, might be considered for future opportunities.

Guidance notes and an online application form are available on the Social Change Agency website - Mutual Aid Funding - Apply for grants (thesocialchangeagency.org)

Revenue Grant for a Community Building

This fund aims to promote and invest in a resilient and effective independent community sector across Belfast by supporting the running costs of community buildings, in recognition that the community development activity inside allows communities to be engaged to:

• Influence or take decisions about issues that matter to them and affect their lives.

• Define needs, issues, and solutions for their community.

• Take action to help themselves and make a difference.

Grants of up to £20,000 per year are available over three years (2023-2026). Awards will be paid by BACS transfer in six equal instalments over three years.

Formally constituted, not-for-profit, autonomous community development organisations can apply.

Applicants must: 

• Operate a broad-based programme of activity to meet community needs and support community development.

• Operate from a community building that is welcoming, inclusive, and compliant with all relevant legislative requirements for the running of a community building.

• Have the right to use the building to deliver their programme.

Organisations that have been operating for several must provide the following:

• A copy of their most recent, current, signed annual accounts that are no more than 18 months old.

• Management accounts dated within the last three months and sighed by the chairperson or treasurer.

• Copy of their most recent three months’ bank statement.

Recently established organisations must provide the following:

• Management accounts dated within the last three months and sighed by the chairperson or treasurer.

• Copy of their most recent six months bank statement.

Funding can be used to cover running costs for community buildings to enable groups to respond to community needs by delivering a broad-based programme and supporting community development. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Cleaning.

• Health and safety, including security.

• Insurance.

• Maintenance costs.

• Office supplies.

• Telephone, postage and IT costs.

• Utilities – gas, electricity, oil, and water.

• Rent.

• Audit.

• Staff who can carry out functions linked to the running of the building, such as caretakers, and cleaners.

A ‘broad-based’ programme must provide at least three activities for each of the following age groups:

• Children and young people.

• Adults.

• Older people.

Funding is for projects occurring between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2026.

The deadline for applications is 9 September 2022 (noon).

For more information and to apply please visit Grants and funds | Belfast City Council funding

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. 

Displacement Education Fund

Grants are available for UK registered charities, community groups and schools to support projects working with displaced children and young people both in the UK and internationally.

The following funding is available:

UK projects

• £10,000 to £60,000 for up to two years (maximum £30,000 per year) for registered charities or educational establishments.

• £10,000 to £20,000 for up to two years (maximum £10,000 per year) for organisations which are not registered charities or educational establishments.

For registered charities and education establishments, annual grant payments cannot exceed 50% of an organisation's three-year average income.

BFSS will fund between 25% to 100% of the total project costs.

Applications are accepted from UK registered charities, not-for-profit community-based organisations, schools, academies, colleges and other educational establishments.

Registered charities must:

• Have UK charitable status and be registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

• Have an annual income less than £2.5 million.

• Be financially sound and have at least three years of continuous financial accounts submitted to the relevant UK Charity Commission or regulator.

Schools, academies, colleges and other educational establishments must:

• Be able to demonstrate a network effect beyond one individual school.

Funding is available for new or pilot projects which have started within the past 12 months to meet a newly arisen need.

The fund will support work which aims to:

• Improve access to educational opportunity (including further education or employment opportunities for those aged 16-25).

• Reduce barriers to achievement, for children and young people living in the UK who are refugees or asylum seekers, unaccompanied children or children of undocumented migrants.

Stage one applications can be made at any time for UK or international projects. These will be assessed on a rolling basis and shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a stage two proposal.

Stage one application forms are available to complete on the BFSS website - Grant Giving Organisation Giving Funding for Educational Projects - The BFSS

Supporting Cost of Living Crisis

CABWI Awarding Body is a leading awarding body for the Street Works and Street Works Reassessment Schemes in excavation and reinstatment of the highways, offering vocational qualifications for those working in the water and wider utilities industries. 

They have been working with Jay Charity Consultancy Services to develop a series grants programme to support lifelong learning and development.

Funding Aims

To support people undertaking lifelong learning and development that enables people to enter the labour market or gain additional skills to further develop their career.

Fund Themes 

Your programme of work that you provide to support people should meet one of our main fund’s themes.

1. To reach and work with individuals with complex barriers to employment, enabling them to move closer or into employment, including but not restricted to ex-service personnel and ex-offenders. 

2. Increase the life skills of people so that they may further develop their careers, with a particular focus on the water, utilities, and construction industries 

Funding Priorities

Your programme of work that you provide to support people should meet one of our main fund’s priorities:

1. Support to reach and work with individuals with complex barriers to employment gain relevant qualifications to enter the water, utilities, and construction industries workforce. 

Please Note: Relevant CABWI qualifications could be provided free of charge.

2. Support to reach and work with ex-service personnel and ex-offenders

3. Projects that have clear and well-established connections to employers who can offer meaningful work experience and/or employment

Grant size

Grants of up to £10,000 for one year. 

What will we fund?

The funding will be made available to allow organisation to provide bursaries and/or cover expenses for their beneficiaries who are looking to start or are undertaking training courses to ease the financial burden caused by the cost-of-living crisis.

These costs could be:

· Child care

· Transport costs

· Equipment costs – not covered by the course

· Materials costs – not covered by the course

· Registration costs- not covered by the course.

Closing date for applications is 19th August 2022 at 6pm

For more information and to apply, please visit CABWI Cost of living fund (jayconsultancy.org.uk)

Good Relations Grant Aid Programme 2022-2023

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Equality Act states that Public Authorities should promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion and racial group. As part of this work the Council supports a Good Relations Grant Aid Programme with awards of up to £2,500 per application.

All projects MUST contain a substantial good relations element in keeping with the government’s 'Together: Building a United Community' (T:BUC) Strategy, which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society.

Applications must meet ALL of the following five measurable criteria; applicants who fail to demonstrate how their proposal meets any one of these will have their application rejected; the responsibility to provide sufficient detail in any application for Council's consideration rests with the applicant:

1. Demonstration of need –You must demonstrate that there is a need for your proposed project, and if so how has this been demonstrated? You should back up your answer using community surveys, public meetings, focus groups and/or external statistics such as PSNI Hate Crime or Neighbourhood statistics, community plans, local knowledge or history of poor community and race relations in your area.

2. Strategic Fit, Outputs and Outcomes - You must demonstrate clear realistic and measurable outputs and project level outcomes which complement one of the Together Building a United Community key priorities.

3. Benefits and Opportunities – You must demonstrate that this project will provide benefits and opportunities for people to improve their knowledge and understanding of Good Relations issues.

4. Financial viability –You must submit a secure financial proposal with a clear confirmation of “total” project costs. Your proposal must represent value for money. Please note that groups are not required to show evidence of match funding however where this has been demonstrated groups will be able to access additional points for showing efforts towards financial sustainability.

5. Inclusion –You must demonstrate that this project will promote inclusion and encourage people to play an active role in Good Relations.

The maximum award is £2500 and all expenditure must be incurred within the relevant financial year e.g. 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

For more information and to apply please visit Grant Manager (eformz.info)

Feature Documentary Development Application Call

Northern Ireland Screen intends to provide funding through the Screen Fund to develop feature documentaries with the potential to appeal to an international audience that will deliver unique visions and voices on universal stories from Northern Ireland resident filmmakers.

Northern Ireland based production companies can apply for up to a maximum of £7,500 based on a budget of £10,000.

All applications including supporting documentation must be received by Friday 19th August 2022. All applications will be assessed with decisions intended to be made by September 2022.

Key terms of the Feature Documentary Call:

• Ideally projects should be intended for theatrical distribution and eligible for the UK film tax incentive. However, if the rational is compelling, Northern Ireland Screen will consider a broadcast hour and may consider two-parters or mini- series with evidence of national or international distribution interest. Nothing will be automatically excluded on duration.

• This is a development call; projects that are already in production are not.

• Successful applicants are expected to deliver a taster tape at the end of the development.

• The intention is for supported projects to submit completed taster tapes to Hot Docs, IDFA and other leading documentary.

Priority will be given to:

• Projects that can demonstrate serious interest from an international broadcaster or sales agent. Priority will be given to projects that have international distribution interest rather than projects picked up for only the UK and Ireland.

Key assessment criteria:

• The quality of the proposed story and treatment

• The potential international appeal of the project

• The quality of the director’s previous film(s)

• The track record of the creative team

• The level of interest demonstrated from potential international distribution partners

APPLICATION

Pre-application meetings with Head of Production, Andrew Reid are strongly encouraged, as is early application. To arrange a pre-application meeting or to request a link to the online application form please email Funding Executive, Kari-Anne Proctor (kari-anne@northernirelandscreen.co.uk) or call 028 90 232 444.

For more information please visit Feature Documentary Development Application Call - Northern Ireland Screen

Climate Action Fund

This funding aims to help communities across the UK to address climate change.

We’re looking for projects that focus on the link between nature and climate. We want to fund projects that use nature to encourage more community-led climate action. We expect these projects to bring other important social and economic benefits. Like the creation of strong, resilient and healthy communities or the development of ‘green’ skills and jobs.

We’re interested in projects that can do at least one of the following:

• show how creating a deeper connection with nature will lead to changing people’s behaviours and greater care for the environment

• show how by bringing nature back into the places we live and work, we can help communities to reduce or adapt to the impacts of climate change.

You can read our blog for examples of projects we’re likely to fund.

We want all the projects we fund to be creative, include everyone and try out new things. Projects also need to show how they can achieve longer-term, larger change that goes beyond the communities they're directly working with.

We’re looking to fund between 12 and 15 projects.

We'll accept applications from either:

• local partnerships

• UK-wide partnerships which are delivered across at least two UK countries (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales).

Area UK-wide

Suitable for Community and voluntary organisations, charities, public sector, working in partnerships

Funding size Up to £1.5 million over 2 to 5 years, with most projects between £300,000 and £500,000. Development grants of £50,000 to £150,000 over 12 to 18 months.

Application deadline Ongoing

For more information and to apply, please visit Climate Action Fund | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

The Community Food Initiative is now open for applications

The Community Food Initiatives (CFI) is a healthy eating programme funded by safefood.  The programme runs over a three year cycle (2022-24) and its purpose is to provide people with the knowledge and skills to provide healthy food options for themselves and their families.  safefood, as a North / South body established under the Good Friday Agreement, provides CFI funding to organisations in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.  The programme is managed by SECAD Partnership on behalf of safefood.

CFI at Home

safefood is inviting organisations who are not currently involved in the CFI to apply for funding to deliver an online project, in their own local area, that meets the criteria of the CFI at Home Programme.  The purpose of the CFI at Home Programme is to support families in their own homes to develop their cooking skills and healthy eating habits.  Projects could include all or some of the following elements:

·     Learning how to prepare & cook a recipe

·     Attending an online cookery session

·     Online support groups for sharing ideas and tips

·     Online interactive talks delivered by a dietitian or registered nutritionist

Examples of online projects that were delivered during 2020 and 2021 can be found at this link: CFI Booklet 2019-21

safefood Resources

The resources needed to plan and deliver a CFI at Home project can be found on the safefood website at www.safefood.net/cfi-hub and include:

•    101 Square Meals Recipe Book

•    Food Pyramid and The Eatwell Guide

•    safefood START campaign

•    Handwashing

•    Family Meal Planning

•    Food Safety

•    Healthy Lunchboxes

•    Kitchen Skills

Funding

Interested organisations can apply for funding up to a maximum of €2,000 or £1,720 to deliver a project in their local area.

Applicant Organisation Criteria

Organisations must:

•    Be community-led organisations with a legal status and appropriate governance structure

•    Be experienced in the management of public funds which support social inclusion initiatives

•    Currently employ and manage full time professionals with community development experience

•    Have experience of working with the target group identified

•    Be supporting other broader community initiatives through their work

•    Provide supports across communities irrespective of age, race or creed

Preparing an Application

Please contact SECAD Partnership for details on how to apply for the funding at:

Sinéad Conroy

SECAD Partnership CLG

T: 00 353 (0)87 353 3606

E: sconroy@secad.ie

Closing date for application

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis up to and including Friday, 9th September 2022.  As funding is limited, interested organisations are advised to apply as soon as possible.  All activities must be completed by Sunday, 6th November.

The Older People’s Fund, Food and Fuel Small Grant Programme

The Older People’s Fund offers funding for projects that are planned and run by and for older people.  Originally called the Turkington Fund, it was created with financial support from NICVA via resources from Turkington and Seapark and is managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. The fund has grown significantly in recent years with additional investment from the Community Foundation and Atlantic Philanthropies.

In June 2022 the Community Foundation met with a number of key stakeholders and called for the formation of an Executive to address the cost of living crisis.

As part of the Foundation’s commitment to being flexible and responsive we have agreed to review some of our funds with a view to supporting communities at this time.

Among the hardest hit by the cost of living crisis are older people. Older people are often on fixed income, and the rising cost of food and fuel has often led to having to choose between eating or heating.

The latest cost of living research from the charity found around 65,000 households aged 60+ in Northern Ireland will have insufficient income to cover their essential spending this year.

Around 25,000 (almost 40%) of pensioners here are currently living in poverty or just above the poverty line.

There are concerns that over the next few months and into the winter that older people will suffer further.

In recognition of the needs of older people, the Community Foundation has therefore developed a new Older People’s Fund, Small Grant Programme with a particular focus on food and fuel.

Groups supporting older people, can access up to £5,000 of financial support.  

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply your project must target at least one of the key priorities detailed below:

• Supporting older people to keep warm.

• Supporting older people to access a nutritious meal.

• Reducing isolation and vulnerability of older people through supporting participation in activities.

• Enabling older people to access technology, and to potential benefits and entitlements that they may not be aware of.

There is no deadline for application and maximum award is £5000. For more information and to apply, please visit The Older People’s Fund, Food and Fuel Small Grant Programme - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

NWP launches Sustainable Communities Fund

Ireland’s leading organics recycling firm, Natural World Products (NWP) has launched a new ‘Sustainable Communities Fund’, seeking to provide financial support to community groups within the West Belfast and Keady areas.  

The fund aims to support groups and projects that demonstrate community involvement and benefit with an aim to create opportunities and empower local people.  

In line with NWP’s wider business, the funding initiative will have a strong focus on sustainability, providing assistance to groups and projects that can outline how they will make a positive contribution to sustainability at a local level.  

The Sustainable Communities Fund is open to a variety of initiatives including but not limited to sports clubs, youth groups, music groups, gardening clubs and beyond. 

Patrick Kelly, General Manager at NWP said:  

“Contributing positively to the communities in which our facilities are located is vitally important to us. Our Management Team all come from local working-class backgrounds and we want to make sure, wherever possible, we are giving something back to help people on the ground who are battling every day to create opportunities for young people and others in communities that have increasingly been starved of support from central government.  

“We currently donate premium-quality peat free compost to numerous initiatives right across Northern Ireland and have witnessed first-hand the hugely positive impact this activity has had.  

“With this in mind, we are now pleased to be launching our Sustainable Communities Fund, which we feel represents the next step in our community development efforts.  

Eligibility 

Projects/groups within the following postcode areas are eligible to apply to The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund:  

• BT17  

• BT27 

• BT11  

• BT12  

• BT60  

• BT35  

The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund is open to projects that demonstrate community involvement and benefit with a focus on creating opportunities, empowering communities, and promoting sustainability.   

Organisations that apply for The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund must have been formed for a minimum of six months.  

 Applications and projects that benefit all members of the community regardless of age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religion, will be given preference. 

 Each application to receive funding from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs including copies of estimates and details of funding from other sources. 

 Funding from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund will not be awarded in retrospect to projects that have already been completed. 

Funding from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund will not be made available to support the payment of salaries, or for ongoing expenditure. 

 Political parties are exempt from applying to The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund. 

Bodies that have statutory responsibilities, including local authorities, hospitals or clinics are exempt from applying to The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund.  

 Projects that involve the creation of a physical asset that may require ongoing maintenance, such as a garden, may require the production of a maintenance plan. 

Closing dates for applications is 19th August and 30th November.

To apply to the Sustainable Communities Fund please visit NWP launches Sustainable Communities Fund (naturalworldproducts.com) and complete and return an application form to – apply@nwp-recycle.com

Elevate Community Mentoring & Grants Programme: Information Session

CDHN’s Elevate team is hosting information sessions about how to apply for the Elevate Community Mentoring and Grants Programme, to let potential applicants know what we’re looking for and give examples of how groups have used Elevate Mentoring and Grants in previous years.

The Elevate programme is for community groups who want to use community development to tackle health inequalities experienced by the community or group you support. We want to support groups who are in need of mentoring, and who can benefit from funding (up to £5000) to deliver a project which uses community development to tackle health inequalities.

Our information sessions will give you an insight into what the mentoring involves and the benefits of it, and what kinds of projects are eligible for Elevate funding.

Ahead of the session we wanted to share an update below:

The Elevate application process and submission date are being delayed until after the holiday period. This will give your group more time to develop your application. We will be sharing more information at the event.

To register for the session please visit Elevate Community Mentoring & Grants Programme: Information Session - Elevate NI

National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £10,000 to £250,000

National Lottery Grants for Heritage allows to fund projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK.

Using money raised by the National Lottery, the National Lottery Heritage Fund inspires, leads and resources the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and for the future.

National Lottery Grants for Heritage is an open programme for all types of heritage projects in the UK.

This guidance is for applications for grants from £10,000 to £250,000. It will tell you more about the programme and the types of project we can fund. 

Priorities up to the end of 2022–2023 financial year

The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic means we will prioritise heritage projects that: 

• promote inclusion and involve a wider range of people (a mandatory outcome)

• boost the local economy

• encourage skills development and job creation

• support wellbeing

• create better places to live, work and visit

• improve the resilience of organisations working in heritage

Projects must achieve at least our inclusion outcome. In addition to our outcomes, all projects must also consider long-term environmental sustainability.

Please thoroughly read the supplementary document, Priorities for National Lottery Grants for Heritage. This is a formal part of the programme guidance until the end of the financial year 2022–2023. 

Things you need to know

• Requirements: your project must not start before we make a decision and it must focus on heritage in the UK.

• Deadlines for applications: there is no deadline so you can apply whenever you are ready.

• To consider: you can get advice on your project before you apply by submitting an optional Project Enquiry Form. See the Project Enquiry Form's questions.

• Assessment process: once we receive your application and all the correct supporting documents, we will assess your application and give you a decision in eight weeks. The assessment of our first few applications may take slightly longer than eight weeks as we transition back into our normal grant-giving cycle.

• Your contribution: for applications of £100,000 to £250,000 you must contribute at least 5% of your project costs.

For more information and to apply, please visit National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £10,000 to £250,000 | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Power NI's Brighter Community funding

The Brighter Communities programme energises innovative and emerging community groups, teams and projects with £1000 of funding awarded each month. Since 2018 we have contributing over £40,000 to our communities and we are still going!

Applications for the month are now open, and we welcome all communities to apply. Successful communities will receive £1000 of funding to help make their community shine a little brighter. All applications must comply with the Brighter Communities terms & conditions.

Please visit Brighter Communities | Community Funding | Power NI

Marine Litter Capital Grants

Live Here Love Here are delighted to announce the launch of the second year of the highly successful Marine Litter Grants. The Live Here Love Here Marine Litter Capital Grants are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs through the Live Here Love Here collaborative partnership, involving DAERA, ten Local Councils, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

The Marine Litter Capital Grants will support organisations and groups to purchase items to:

• Prevent litter and plastic pollution from entering the marine environment

• Enhance the environmental management of a local area to reduce marine litter

• Improve the health and wellbeing of communities and marine biodiversity recovery by helping to improve and/or maintain the quality of public open spaces

• Improve the quality of their local environment by changing behaviour through creative concepts to reduce the incidence of littering

Financial support of between £500 and £40,000 will be available to constituted groups, businesses and statutory bodies meeting the eligibility criteria. 

Financial support of between £500 and £5,000 will be available to non-constituted groups. 

For more information and to apply, please visit Marine Litter Capital Grants delivered by Live Here Love Here

Coca-Cola Thank You Fund

Now in its 12th year, the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund was set up in 2011 to mark the 125th anniversary of the company.

Over the years, the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund has supported projects including community, social and education programmes aimed at youth, healthy and active lifestyles and environmental leadership. To date €1,255,00 has been given to 121 non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland.

In 2022, Coca‑Cola will donate a further €100,000 to youth-orientated non-profit groups committed to support young people to build sustainable communities.

For the purposes of the Fund, young people are defined as those aged between 16 and 25 years of age.

In 2022, the Fund will focus on one overall theme – Investing in Sustainable Communities - enabling everyone to live in a community where economic and environmental sustainability as well as social equity is at its heart. The Fund will help to nurture a generation of change champions who will help to shape, create and maintain sustainable communities for the benefit of all.

Within this theme, the Fund is seeking applications which fall under one or more of the following three categories:

1.    EDUCATION
Educational, Training, Resilience, entrepreneurship programmes for young people

2.    DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Programmes that support Diversity & Inclusivity and social equity among young people

3.    CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Programmes that encourage and support young people to care for and protect the environment

For more information and to apply, please visit Thank You Fund | Community and culture | Coca-Cola IE

Shine Bright Funding Application

The Shine Bright fund partners with regional charities and our partner Coram Chambers to administrate grants directly to the most vulnerable young people in the UK aged 16 years and under.

Grants are to provide relief, respite, and happiness at a time of anxiety and worry. Our grants are awarded to the regional charity partners to purchase educational and art materials; toys; books; and emotional support items for young people aged 16 and under who have been challenged by abuse; addiction; homelessness; or those who are child carers.

Please note, we are only able to fund charitable organisations with a turnover below £1.5m.

Requirements

Please note we offer funding to registered charities only. Please be advised that this application process requires you to provide details on your project, charity, finances, and other details relevant to delivering the project. This form works on mobile devices but you may prefer to do this on a desktop so you can prepare and upload the requested information and files more easily.

To apply please visit Shine Bright Funding Application – the7stars foundation : the7stars foundation

Funding in Northern Ireland

The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK. Each year we distribute millions of pounds of funding raised by National Lottery players to community groups and charitable projects across Northern Ireland.

Our priority is to keep money flowing to support communities across Northern Ireland.

We are here to help and want to talk to you about your ideas to support local communities. We have a range of open funding programmes and are happy to chat to you about these.

Contact us if you have an idea on 028 9055 1455 or at enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland

£300–£10,000

• Projects bringing local people together to make positive changes in their community.

• No deadline, so groups can apply any time.

• Applying is quick and simple.

• Applications welcome from constituted voluntary or community organisations, schools, and statutory bodies.

• If we funded you within the last two years, we may have to give priority to other groups that have not recently been funded through this programme.

• This funding is for projects that will run for 12 months or less

People and Communities

£10,000–£500,000

• Project ideas should come from the community. Talk to the people you want to help and get them involved in shaping and planning the project.

• Your project should make good use of the skills, knowledge, resources and energy of people within your community; making it stronger and ready for the future.

• Understand the need for your project and how it fits with the work of other organisations. Build relationships and work together on shared goals.

• Applications welcome from constituted voluntary or community organisations, and social enterprises.

• This funding is for projects that will run for between 1 and 5 years.

Empowering Young People

£10,000–£500,000

• This funding is for projects that work with young people (8 – 25 years old), and which will run for between 1 and 5 years.

• Projects will help young people to: have the skills they need for the future; have better relationships with their support networks and communities; and/or have improved health and wellbeing.

• Young people must be involved in the planning and delivery of the project. They must be able to develop the skills to help themselves, and their support networks and communities need to be involved too.

• Applications welcome from constituted voluntary or community organisations, and social enterprises.

Dormant Accounts Fund

• The fund opened for applications on Tuesday, 12 January 2021.

• This fund will support the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to be more resilient and prepared for the future by funding activity that increases capacity and sustainability.

• Dormant accounts are UK bank and building society accounts that have been untouched for 15 or more years, and where banks and building societies are unable to trace the customer who owns the account. They are not derived from National Lottery activity.

• Under Section 22 of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008, we distribute money under direction from the Department of Finance.

• To make sure this funding has maximum impact in communities, we held a consultation in late 2019. You can read what we heard.

• In the first phase, we have developed a flexible and responsive grant programme that will support organisations to be able to adapt to future challenges and be more financially resilient.

• We'll also support larger investments that will enable collaboration and develop new and creative approaches to sustainability. These Northern Ireland-wide or sector-specific proposals could focus on specific themes such as volunteering, digital capacity or diversity and inclusion. If you have any questions, contact us.

Apply here - Funding in Northern Ireland | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

Help the Homeless

Criteria:

• Your organisation must be a registered UK charity with the Charity Commission in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or a registered Scottish Charity.

• Help the Homeless are only able to help small and medium-sized charities with an annual turnover of under £1m and with ‘unrestricted reserves’ of under six months annual running costs based on their latest published annual accounts. Note: they do not consider any ‘tangible fixed assets’ as unrestricted reserves.

• Help the Homeless can only accept applications towards the funding of ‘capital’ projects. The fund is unable to accept applications towards running/core costs. Note: This fund is unable to consider requests for computers and IT equipment.

• All applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offering shelter or other forms of sustenance.

• There should be a minimum period of two years between the receipt of a decision or receiving a grant from us and making a further application.

Value Notes:

Amount available - Up to £5,000

How to apply?

All applicants must complete the official application form which should be downloaded via the link below. Applicants should clearly describe the aims and structure of their organisation, their future plans, and specific details of how any grant will be spent.

A copy of the latest available audited accounts is also required.

Help the Homeless no longer accepts applications via post.

How to apply?

Download application form.

Deadlines to submit your application:

The quarterly deadlines for applications for funding each year are: 15th March / 15th June/ 15th September/ 15th December. You will be informed of the trustees’ decision within six weeks of each deadline.

Example Grants:

Examples of recent grants made can be seen here.