The Acorn Giving Circle

The Acorn Giving Circle (AGC) is made up of a group of women who aim to make a positive contribution to improving the lives of people living in Derry ~ Londonderry and Strabane, in a small but meaningful way through pooled personal donations.

When the pooled donations reach a target amount, the funds are made available in the form of small grants. These grants aim to support local charitable or community groups and organisations.

The Giving Circle formed in 2012 as a response to the establishment of the Acorn Fund (AF) in 2012 and is managed by the Community Foundation (CFNI). The Acorn Fund is a legacy of the City of Culture 2013 and works in partnership with donors and funders to encourage local giving which supports local people and causes.

AGC aims to prioritise its support to where the need is greatest and where it can make a small but important difference.

The fund wishes to support projects that will improve the lives of children, young people and older people through social, cultural, sporting or educational activities who live in Derry~Londonderry city and its environs, including Strabane Town.

Grants are available up to £1000. Closing Date for applications is 21st Nov at 1pm.

For more information and to apply, please visit The Acorn Giving Circle - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Fermanagh Trust Grants

Fermanagh Trust currently have a number of funding oppurtunities available to organisations located within the following Wind Farm areas:

• Callagheen Community Wind Farm Fund

  Is your community project located within 7 km of Callagheen Wind Farm (between Belleek and Garrison in Co. Fermanagh)? If Yes your group may be eligible to apply for a Callagheen Community Wind Farm Fund Grant for further information see GUIDELINES and APPLICATION FORM

  Closing date is 12 noon Tuesday 1st November 2022

• Slieve Rushen Wind Farm Fund

  Is your community project located within 12 km of Slieve Rushen Wind Farm in South West Fermanagh? If Yes your group may be eligible to apply for a Slieve Rushen Wind Farm Fund Grant.

  For further information see GUIDELINES and APPLICATION FORM

• Teiges Mountain Wind Farm Fund

  Is your community project located within 5km of Teiges Mountain Wind Farm? If yes your group may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Teiges Mountain Wind Farm Fund.

  For further information CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES (please read the guidelines carefully prior to preparing and submitting an application)

  1.  REVENUE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME application form - offering grants up to £2000 towards: community activities, venue improvements / minor capital works, recurring costs for a programme.

  2.  STRATEGIC PROJECTS REVENUE GRANTS application form - (up to a maximum of £5000 pa over 1-3 year period) working with a range of organisations across the Area of Benefit, which will make a significant contribution to community life. We would particularly welcome strategic applications which will make a significant contribution to these themes; - reduction in crime / anti-social behaviour, community first aid, defibrillator initiative, hosting of cross-community events, improve access to services via a community volunteer driver scheme, environmental improvements, increasing access to the natural environment, renewable energy, improving mental health.

  Nb - an organisation can only hold one grant award from the Fund at any one time. Partnership applications which include an organisation in receipt of another grant at the time will be considered. The Fermanagh Trust will not discuss, or fund applications submitted by professional fundraising consultants on behalf of local groups. We are committed to building the capacity of grass roots organisation's and are here to help voluntary committee members directly.

  Closing date for applications is 12 noon Friday 4th November 2022

• Cornavarrow and Slieveglass Wind Farm Fund

  Is your community organisation / project located within 5km of either the Cornvarrow or Slieveglass Wind Farm? If yes your group may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Cornavarrow and Slieveglass Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds.

  For further information CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES (please read the guidelines carefully prior to preparing and submitting an application)

  Application Forms:

  1.  REVENUE SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME application form - offering grants up to a maximum of £4000. It is envisaged the majority of grants will normally be awarded up to £2000, towards: community activities, venue improvements / minor capital works, recurring costs for a programme.

  2.  STRATEGIC PROJECTS REVENUE GRANTS application form - (up to a maximum of £5000 pa over 1-3 year period) working with a range of organisations across the Area of Benefit, which will make a significant contribution to community life. We would particularly welcome strategic applications which will make a significant contribution to these themes; - Community Education Classes; Community First Aid / Defibrillator Initiative – aimed at improving access and support; Organising / Hosting Cross-Community Events; Improve access to services, via a Community Volunteer Driver Scheme; Environmental improvements; Renewable Energy; Improving Mental Health.

  For the Cornavarrow Wind Farm only

  3.  STRATEGIC CAPITAL LEGACY PROJECTS application form - providing grant aid up to £25,000 per annum, over a five year period or equivalent amount over a longer period, which will make a significant contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of the local community. An initial outline application requesting support towards a strategic capital project will be considered. If successful in passing this first stage of the application process – the project promoter will then be invited to go to the second stage of the process. To be considered for this funding, on submission of the Full application the project promoter must have the necessary statutory permissions in place.

  Nb - an organisation can only hold one grant award from the Fund at any one time. Partnership applications which include an organisation in receipt of another grant at the time will be considered. The Fermanagh Trust will not discuss, or fund applications submitted by professional fundraising consultants on behalf of local groups. We are committed to building the capacity of grass roots organisation's and are here to help voluntary committee members directly.

  Closing date for applications is 12 noon Friday 11th November 2022.

For more information please visit Fermanagh Trust Grants

Marine Litter Capital Grants

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.

Guidance and support

Please read the guidance notes before you complete your application.

Recipients of Marine Litter grants in Round 1 of funding in 2022 are not eligible to apply to Round 2.

To be eligible:

• Your organisation is likely to be responsible for managing and/or owning free to access public open space, or if not, will have a clearly defined role in managing the local environmental quality of such space and this will be formally agreed with the land owners

• Your project must be located on free to access public open space or, for creative concept ideas, must show how it is applicable to free to access public open space

• You must clearly demonstrate how the project will decrease the amount of litter and plastic entering the marine environment

• You must clearly demonstrate commitment and the ability to provide for the ongoing management of any physical assets (eg regular and timely emptying of bins) purchased as part of the project

• Funding must only be used for the purchase and installation of eligible capital items

• Schools must demonstrate how they will use any assets purchased in an educational context.

Grants are available across the whole of Northern Ireland and are not restricted to coastal areas. However, the funding is specifically targeted at preventing marine litter. Therefore, applications must be able to demonstrate clearly how a project will contribute to reducing litter and plastics entering our seas. In this way, projects will help ensure good environmental status of our coastal and marine environments in relation to litter. Ultimately, this will ensure that the properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment.

Need inspiration or help to complete your application? Book a 121 Q&A session to speak with a member of the team to discuss your project. Book here Marine Litter Q&A session

For more information please visit Marine Litter Capital Grants delivered by Live Here Love Here

2022-23 DCMS Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund

Applications for the 2022-23 DCMS Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund opened on Thursday 29 September 2022 at 9am. 

The fund aims to allow grassroots football clubs in Northern Ireland (NI) to improve and refurbish facilities, helping to create a better grassroots football infrastructure foundation.

A total funding pot of £700,000 was available in 2021-22, distributed via the Irish FA, for small capital grassroots projects. In this latest tranche of funding a further total funding pot of £700,000 is available for the 2022-23 financial year. This funding is for small capital grassroots projects to improve football infrastructure throughout NI, thus increasing participation in the grassroots game. 

The minimum award available in this tranche of funding will be £15,000 with a maximum award of up to £30,000. The objective of the award is to represent around 75% of the total project cost, with 25% match funding to be available from an alternative source. Greater levels of match funding may be viewed more favourably whilst lower levels will be considered in the context of the strength of the overall application.

The main objectives of the Irish FA/DCMS Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund are:

•           To improve the capital infrastructure of grassroots football clubs across Northern Ireland

•           To increase participation in sport and physical activity across Northern Ireland, improving mental and physical health of participants

•           To increase participation in non-football sports (40% of project value) through funding multi-sports facilities

•           To reduce the postcode lottery for quality facilities by directing at least 50% of investment to disadvantaged or areas of deprivation and boost participation in sport

•           To deliver improved access for women and girls (100% equal access), and other under-represented groups, to increase participation in these groups and improve availability and accessibility of facilities.

Information relating to the 2022-23 funding scheme, including eligible projects/applicants and the application process, is detailed on the Information and Guidance Notes document.  

Closing date for applications is Monday 24 October 2022.

For more information and to apply, please visit Irish FA/ DCMS Grassroots Facilities Investment Fund...

The ARN Foundation Tackling Isolation for older people Fund

The ARN Foundation is an independent Charitable Trust set up with the intent of supporting good causes across Northern Ireland.

The ARN Foundation’s Tackling Isolation for older people Fund will support organisations to deliver projects in support of older people affected by the cost of living crisis; and will be managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

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.

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, particularly those living in rurally isolated areas.

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

• Projects supporting older people in rural communities.

We are particularly interested in prioritising older people aged 60 or over, however, we define older people as anyone aged 50 or over.

Examples of projects could include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting older people through delivery of services to live an independent and well-nourished way of life in their own home and as part of the community.

• Providing opportunities for older people to be involved in the design, delivery and ongoing management of community-based initiatives.

• Overcoming social isolation through social contact with other older people building on food activities, such as cooking from scratch and sharing meals, and other activities involving the wider community.

• Promoting intergenerational activities by involving older and younger people in food-based and social activities.

• Providing choice in meeting nutritional needs, including delivery of shopping by volunteers or accompanied shopping, and befriending support.

• Increasing affordability of, and access to, basic foodstuffs and/or fuel.

What can be supported?

• Running costs, such as sessional costs for tutors, support costs, venue hire, transport.

• Food costs for luncheon clubs, meals on wheels, community fridges.

• Capital costs are eligible if they address at least one of the key priorities.

• An end of grant monitoring report must be submitted upon completion of the project.

The Fund will close for applications at 1pm on Monday 24 October 2022

For more information and to apply, please visit The ARN Foundation Tackling Isolation for older people Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Windfarm Funding

Windfarm Funding

Funding will be available to local community projects that are planned and run for the benefit of the local population within the designated catchment area

Monnaboy Community Benefit Fund

Closing - 31st October. Grants up to £3,500.

Dunbeg Community Benefit Fund

Closing - 31st October. Grants up to £7,500.

Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund

Closing - 31st October. Grants up to £2,000.

Dunmore Community Benefit Fund

Closing - 31st October. Grants up to £2,500.

Cloonty Community Benefit Fund

Closing - 31st October. Grants up to £10,000.

Carn Hill Community Benefit Fund

Closing - 31st October. Grants up to £3,000.

For more information and to apply, please visit Available Grants - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Main themed grants

The main aim of the Small Grants Programme is to improve road safety at a local level.

The programme has been designed after reviewing our first four years of funding and listening to the views of stakeholders. This told us that there was a need for funding for smaller, local projects with a practical focus.

We are looking for measurable interventions that link to local priorities and show a proposed link to reducing casualties either directly or through clear interim measures.

We expect the projects funded by The Road Safety Trust to focus on engineering, infrastructure and technological measures, while recognising the contribution of education and enforcement to these measures.

The main objective of any project should always be to help protect vulnerable road users. Funding is available for a maximum of three years.

Eligible projects might include evidence reviews, trials, roll-outs, evaluations and support for the profession through guidance or other resources.

It is essential to download the ‘Fitness to Drive’ Grant Guidance in order to apply for our Main Theme Grant round open until 19 October 2022.

Organisations, public and professional associations, registered charities and university departments in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland may apply for grants.

We offer funding towards projects that meet our grant criteria. Grants are available for up to two or three years depending on the programme, and these can range from £10,000 up to £300,000.

For more information and to apply, please visit Our Grant Themes — Road Safety Trust

Voices from the Frontline

Rosa’s Voices from the Frontline fund offers one-year grants of between £500 and £7,000 to support campaigning and influencing work that enables women and girls to use their voice to achieve change.

With the rising cost of living and global pandemic worsening inequalities and threatening to push back women’s and girls’ rights, we need collective action now more than ever.

There is a critical need for funding for women’s and girls’ organisations to deliver activism and campaigning, particularly at the grassroots, and to raise awareness of the issues they face. This enables learning, awareness-raising, momentum-building, and campaigning all rooted in the strength of collective action.

The deadline for applications is 4pm on Thursday 3rd of November 2022.

For more information and to apply, please visit Voices from the Frontline - Rosa (rosauk.org)

Triangle Trust: 1949 Fund

Triangle Trust 1949 Fund offers funding for specialist community and voluntary organisations working with young carers or the rehabilitation of young offenders or ex-offenders within the UK.

Scheme details

Their current primary focus is to help support the needs of young carers and young people caught up in the criminal justice system.

They run two grant rounds each year – one for work supporting young carers/young adult carers and one for work supporting young people with criminal convictions. 

Grant Size

• Grants of from £10,000 up to £60,000 for a duration of 6 months to two years available.

• A maximum of £30,000 per year can be requested.

Who can apply

Registered charities, not-for-profit social enterprises and community interest companies that are working within the UK and have a UK office are eligible to apply.

To be eligible for round two, applicants must:

• Have previous experience of either working with young people with criminal convictions or adults with criminal convictions in an employment context.

• Have an income of less than £1.5 million over the past three years.

• Be a registered charity or an organisation set up with a clear social purpose and appropriate governing documents stating this.

• Be able to start their project by 30 November 2023.

Applicants complete their online application form via the link on their website

Application deadline 12pm (noon) on 28 Oct 2022

Churchill Fellowship

A Churchill Fellowship offers you the full funding to travel anywhere in the world for 4-8 weeks, researching a topic of your choice that can make a contribution to UK society on your return.

Scheme details

Churchill Fellows are funded to spend up to two months discovering new approaches and best practice in their chosen topic, from innovators and leading professionals worldwide. Then they support you to share their global insights with communities and sectors across the UK and turn their ideas into action.

For the first time, Fellows can carry out their international research entirely online from the UK, or by travelling overseas, or through a combination of both.

These are not academic research trips, they are journeys to learn about real-world issues from the leading practitioners in the world. And we want you to make a real-world difference with your learning when you come home.

Who can apply

Fellowships are open to all UK adult citizens regardless of their age, qualifications or background. They prioritise applicants and projects that would not receive funding from any other source and welcome applications from those with lived or learned experience of the issue they wish to address.

The Fellowship experience is life-changing for many. In their annual survey of Fellows’ impact, the majority report significant growth in their knowledge, networks, confidence and standing – and projects that may have started with local aspirations have often grown to national scale. In the 2021 survey, 100% of Fellows said they would recommend applying for a Fellowship.

Applications made this year are for projects to begin from August 2023 onwards.

Eligibility

They fund UK citizens from all parts of society to research a practical topic overseas that can make a real difference to their community or profession when they come home. And award 150 of these Fellowships each year and selection is made on the potential of the applicant and the strength of their idea.

Application Deadline 5 pm on 22 Nov 2022
You can apply online here.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

The programme aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people by engagement in high quality arts. Grants up to £10,000 are available. You can apply for up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects can be up to 1 year duration.

OBJECTIVES

• To improve emotional, physical and social wellbeing of participants

• To enable participants express opinions or feeling using an arts-based methods

• Realise an improvement in wider services for young people with mental health issues

• Empower communities to take a more pro-active role in promoting mental health and wellbeing

• Reduce stigma associated with mental health and wellbeing through improved education

• Support and promote help seeking behavior amongst participants

Projects should aim to include young people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion and may include more vulnerable groups such as those living with a mental health condition, eating disorders or addiction. 

STRATEGIC THEMES OF THE PROGRAMME

Projects must meet one or more of the Strategic Themes identified for the programme:

1. Improving and maintaining mental health and wellbeing for young people;

2. Raising awareness of mental and emotional wellbeing issues facing young people;

3. Providing a voice for young people;

4. Address stigma and challenge prejudice and discrimination associated with mental health and help seeking behavior.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR PROJECTS WHICH:

• Have been developed through consultation with young people;

• Support best practice in working with young people through creative activities;

• Consider legacy and sustainability;

• Consider scale of impact;

• Consider advocacy;

WHO CAN APPLY?

The programme is aimed at constituted community and voluntary groups who are working at a local level to support young people and can demonstrate strong partnership working with relevant groups working with young people.

This programme is also open to non-governmental organisations, Local Authorities and arts organisations who can clearly demonstrate partnership working.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU APPLY FOR?

Grants up to £10,000 are available.

You can apply for up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects can be up to 1 year duration.

Application Deadline 12pm (noon) on 11 Oct 2022
You must apply using their online system on their website. They will not accept applications in hard copy or by email.

Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership Programme

The Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) Programme is led by CDHN and funded by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), with strategic direction provided by a multi-agency Steering Group. BCPP supports communities and community pharmacists to work in partnership to address locally defined needs so that people make connections, listen to and understand each other better and work together to address the social determinants of health and health inequalities.

We recognise that health is impacted by much more than the everyday lifestyle decisions that we make, important as they are. Research shows that social isolation can be as damaging for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. With this in mind, our projects aim to address these wider issues and tackle the root causes of poor health. These vary greatly for different groups of people and may include mental health issues, housing issues, low educational attainment, poverty or debt. Group work and relationship building is at the core of all our projects. By sharing our assets, our lived experiences and supporting each other we can achieve great things.

For information on the Programme or for some support with your application, please contact a member of the BCPP team on 028 3026 4606 or visit Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership Programme | Community Development and Health Network (cdhn.org)

Closing dates - Level 2 - 17/11/22

The Ann McGeeney Fund

The fund is open to organisations with charitable purposes only.

Funding will be available to local community organisations that are planned and run for the benefit of refugees and asylum seeker communities in Northern Ireland to support integration into society.

The Fund welcomes applications from community and voluntary groups that address the following areas:

• Integration of ethnic minorities into communities with special emphasis on women within these communities

• Initiatives can include providing support to host communities in building social connections with arriving refugee families and refugees already residing within the areas above.

• And/or providing activities to arriving families and refugees already residing within the areas above, helping them build social bridges with the host community.

The fund will prioritise refugees and asylum seekers from Syria and/or Ukraine

Community organisations involved

It is envisaged the organisations will be ‘host community’ organisations i.e. predominantly run or attended by long term UK residents. It is also possible for organisations to be ‘refugee community’ organisations with an aim to include ‘host communities’ in their activities.

The funding will help those organisations support long-term integration, develop opportunities to contribute to community by reducing barriers and creating social connections.

What we will fund

Funded activities will:

• Be open to, and of interest to, reunited refugee families and refugees residing in Northern Ireland

• Community activities such as those listed below will be funded (for guidance only):

  • Joint activity workshops leading to a co-designed event

  • Family cooking sessions

  • Parent and child groups

  • Sports (including women only)

  • Arts and performing arts

  • Music

  • Hobby classes

  • Women’s wellbeing groups.

Grants will be available ranging from £1,000 to £2,000 for projects taking place within a 12 month period

This round of funding will close at 1pm on Monday 17 October 2022.

For more information and to apply, please visit The Ann McGeeney Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Small Grants Programme – October 2022 – March 2023

The Small Grants Programme has been set up to allow young people from Education Authority Youth Service (EA-YS) registered (& Verified) groups to apply for grants for projects in order to Support the Growth and participation of young people.

The Small Grants Programme for October 2022 – March 2023 will enable young people to apply for funding to support young people in their communities to:

• promote youth participation, leadership, and volunteering

• build and develop life skills

• promote positive mental health, wellbeing, and self-care

• explore issues for young people such as relationships & sex education, suicide awareness and risk-taking behaviours

• demonstrate care and concern for the environment

• promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within the programme

Applications should show how they have been able to contribute to one or more of these aims.

All applicant organisations must be both registered with the EA Youth Service and have received a verification visit. To find out how to do this visit EANI Funding - Register with EA

Applications for Round 2 are open from the 5th September – 16th January 2023. Those applications received by 5th October 2022 will be assessed at an earlier date. Any applications after the October deadline will be assessed in January.

The Programme is open to groups of young people aged 4 through to 25 years. A group applying should be made up of no less than 3 young people, with the application being filled in by those young people in the group.

A group can apply for a grant of between £300 and £1500

Applications for grants are assessed and moderated by other young people on the Small Grants panel, to strengthen the participation of young people as decision makers within the local and wider community.

A number of projects will be visited by Young People from the Small Grants Funding Panel for the purpose of showcasing achievements and quality assurance. 

£250,000 in grant funding available from The Prince’s Countryside Fund

The Prince’s Countryside Fund (PCF) is inviting applications for grants of up to £25,000 from community projects across the UK, with up to £250,000 available.

The PCF is interested in projects that will make a difference in rural communities across the UK and clearly demonstrate the need within the community.  Applications from Wales and Northern Ireland are particularly encouraged, but communities from across the UK are eligible to apply.

If you have an idea for a project in your community, you can discuss this with the team by completing the form on the website to arrange a phone call. It is also advised that you read through the guidance, FAQ and ‘Grants top tips’ which provide essential information and assistance with the application process:  www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/grants.

Applications for grants close on 11th October 2022 at midday.

Commissioning Programme

The purpose of the Commissioning Programme is to enable organisations to commission new work.

The finished work should be in a form capable of being presented, exhibited, published, performed and/or disseminated in its entirety at the point of completion in Northern Ireland (if applicable abroad) either live or online.

This programme prioritises applications that:

• Propose commissions of high artistic quality;

• Are planned to reach significant audiences primarily in Northern Ireland through live performance, exhibition, publication, broadcast, recording, and/or other audience channels;

• Provide for an extended life and/or extended public reach and impact for the work or project that has been created;

• Demonstrate a strong collaborative-engagement process between the commissioner, performers and the commissioned artist(s) in the development of the new work; and

• Demonstrate innovation and deepen the experience and understanding of the artform.

All awards and programmes are informed by the Arts Council’s 5-year strategic framework (2019–24), Inspire, Connect & Lead (see here).

Commissions may be applied for across all artform areas supported by the Arts Council. Proposals may also be cross-artform.

Who can apply?

The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations. You will be required to provide proof that you have a legal constitution.

Who Cannot Apply

• Individual artists or sole traders applying to commission themselves
• Commercial trading companies
• Companies that exist to distribute a profit
• Broadcasters (excluding community service broadcasters)
• Central Government Departments
• Organisations applying to commission an artist who is a serving Board member or Trustee of that organisation.

You must apply using our online system by 12 noon on 31st October 2022. For more information and to apply, please visit Commissioning Programme | Arts Council of Northern Ireland (artscouncil-ni.org)

The ESB Community Benefit Fund is open for 2023

The ESB Community Benefit Fund aims to support community projects which clearly address current and emerging local issues, needs and opportunities, while also seeking to develop and build upon existing initiatives. From equipment to refreshments for activities; from painting lessons to science books, you can apply for items that will help you address at least one of the following themes:

• Education and skills

• Health, safety, and wellbeing

• Environment and habitat conservation

• Energy efficiency and sustainability

• Culture and heritage

• Recreation, sport, and social inclusion

Who can apply?

• If you are a current recipient, you should submit your last claim by Tuesday 1 November. Unfortunately, we will not be able to take your application forward if this is not the case.

• If you have been unsuccessful before to the ESB Community Benefit Fund, an application from your organisation/group is welcome.

• If you are a group/organisation applying for the first time to the ESB Community Benefit Fund, your application is welcome, please note the criteria below and for further information, visit our website.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you must meet all the following criteria:

• Your project must address at least one of the above themes

• Your project must be located within the Area of Benefit.

OR the primary beneficiaries of your project must be drawn from one of the above areas of benefit.

• You must be a registered charity; voluntary/community sector organization; sports or recreation club; or school with a constitution or article of association.

Workshop

Join us for an online workshop which will cover the application form and criteria for this fund. Register here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsf-qqqj0oGdVyN0uQl0aNmFuh7rWX-zIc

If you have any queries about your application, please send us an email at esbcommunityfund@groundworkni.co.uk

Co Op Foundation Future Communities Grants

The Co Op Foundation has developed the Community Future  Grants Programme in recognition of the commitment in communities, and the opportunities to unlock the potential of community assets and build a vision for the future.

The total budget for the fund is £75,000 and the Co Op Foundation is offering grants of between £3,000 to £10,000 to enable communities to develop assets that are important to them, and ideas for communities that will help enable a better future.

To be eligible, your organisation must:

• Deliver activities aligned to the aims of the programme

• Deliver activities in Northern Ireland

• Have a clear vision for the future of your community/community of interest

Through this fund we want to support organisations who have a focus on developing communities for the future.

We are particularly interested in, but not limited to, drawing on the voices of young people and developing young people to be the leaders, co-operators, organisers and activists in and for these future communities.

We want to support organisations that are working to bring their vision for future communities to life.

We want to see cooperation, leadership, and people working towards the kind of communities they want to live in, building on the assets within their communities to support that vision.

We will be looking for a compelling vision for geographical communities, and/or communities of interest. We want to see what can be done to help ensure a fair community, built upon co-operative values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity.

We encourage you to think about partnering with other members of the community e.g. to share costs and solutions if you have similar needs. However, we  recognise this may not always be appropriate depending on your planned use of the grant.

We want to support what groups and communities need, rather than what we think they might need. You can apply for a grant from £3,000 up to £10,000 to support your organisation. Uses of the grant may include, but are not limited to:

• Contribution to core costs, including staffing costs

• Equipment

• Investment that helps you scale

• Project costs

The Fund will close for applications at 1pm on Tuesday 11 October 2022.

For more information and to apply, please visit Co Op Foundation Future Communities Grants - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

The People’s Projects is back!

The National Lottery Community Fund, ITV, UTV and the Sunday Mail are today launching The People’s Projects – a National Lottery funding programme that not only delivers vital funding support to the heart of UK communities, but also raises awareness of the incredible work of community groups across the land.

The popular funding programme returns after a 3-year break and is making a share of over £4 million of National Lottery funding available with applications accepted from today. Groups and projects can apply for grants of up to £70,000 to help their communities and make a real difference to people’s lives.

The People’s Projects also offers an exciting opportunity for the general public to have a say in how National Lottery funding should be put to good use in their local area.

In May 2023, 95 shortlisted groups will take part in a national campaign, with the winners being decided by public vote. Shortlisted groups will be featured on regional TV news in their area (ITV or UTV) or in the Sunday Mail (in Scotland) where they will be able to tell the wider public about their great work and appeal for their vote.

Since it started in 2005, The People’s Projects has awarded around £45 million to over 1,000 good causes.

For more information and to apply visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk. Deadline for applications is 12 noon on Friday 7th October 2022, although interested groups are urged to apply early as the programme may close sooner depending on the volume of applications.

Building Confident Rural Communities

Too often, rural communities are without access to transport, jobs, housing, shops and community spaces. The Prince’s Countryside Fund powers community-led solutions through our grants and resources to ensure that they flourish, now and in the future.

Supporting Rural Communities is our flagship grant programme, awarding £500,000 each year to support projects that enhance the viability and sustainability of rural communities.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund remains one of very few funders focused on rural communities across the UK, and our experience shows that, by working with local organisations, we can help to address the challenges faced by those who live and work in rural areas. 

The PCF is inviting applications for grants of up to £25,000 over two years, for projects that will create a long-term difference in rural communities across the UK. Applicants must be from properly constituted, not for profit organisations with an income of less than £500,000. We particularly welcome applications from groups and organisations with projects in hamlets, villages and small market towns. 

We receive many more applications than we can fund. Unfortunately, this means that even if your work matches our areas of interest, we may not be able to make a grant. 

Autumn 2022 grants timetable

1st September Applications open
Midday, 11th October Applications close
Beginning of December Applicants informed of decision
January 2023 First payment

For more information and to apply, please visit Rural Communities - The Prince's Countryside Fund (princescountrysidefund.org.uk)