Inclusive Communities: The Phoenix Community Fund

Thriving, connected communities is at the core of our business and community purpose, and the Phoenix Community Fund has been established to help local charity and community groups across our licenced area.

In 2023, we're utilising the Phoenix Community Fund to support community groups and organisations across our licence area with funding to help them deliver activity that reduces social isolation, removes barriers to inclusion and promotes equality in their community. The Phoenix Community Fund is currently open for applications, with applications reviewed and funding awarded on a monthly basis.  Full information on the Phoenix Community Fund, including Terms and Conditions is available at: https://www.phoenixnaturalgas.com/phoenixcommunityfund

Application Requirements

Your application for funding towards an event or activity must:

• Consent to The Phoenix Community Fund Terms & Conditions

• Be based within the Phoenix Natural Gas licence area

• Use the funding towards an event or activity within the local community

• Clearly demonstrate how your event / activity will help reduce social isolation, reduce barriers to inclusion or promote equality in the community

• Be an inclusive event / activity open to a cross section of the community

• Be scheduled to take place between 1st June 2023 – 1st April 2024

Inclusive Communities: The Phoenix Green Community Fund

Environmental Responsibility is one of the core pillars of our Responsible Business Strategy. Just as we aim to act as an environmentally responsible business by supporting biodiversity projects and initiatives within the communities that we serve, we also continue to provide a low carbon solution to homes and businesses, supporting zero carbon targets.

In 2023, we're utilising the Green Community Fund to support community groups and organisations across our licence area with funding to help them deliver activity that helps to improve our environment and tackling the climate crisis in some way, no matter how big or small.

The Green Community Fund is currently open, with applications reviewed and funding awarded on a monthly basis. Full information on the Green Community Fund, including Terms and Conditions is available at: Phoenix Green Community Fund | Phoenix Natural Gas

Application Requirements

Your application for funding towards an event or activity must:

• Consent to The Phoenix Green Communities Fund Terms & Conditions

• Be based within the Phoenix Natural Gas licence area

• Use the funding towards an event or activity within the local community

• Clearly demonstrate how your event / activity will help reduce social isolation, reduce barriers to inclusion or promote equality in the community

• Be an inclusive event / activity open to a cross section of the community

• Be scheduled to take place between 1st June 2023 – 1st April 2024

Planned Interventions Funding Support Workshops

The Education Authority Youth Service, in partnership with the Dept. of Education, are delighted to launch the Planned Interventions Programme for 2023, on behalf of The Executive Office. All awards are dependent on the availability of funding from approved budgets.

EA T:BUC Team have organised a number of application support workshops which all applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. They provide advice on programme planning, completing the application form, resources for support and the Programme outcomes.

2 workshops will happen in person, and 2 online. Links to the online workshops, in MS Teams, will be sent after registration is completed. You need only register for one event.

DATES & VENUES

Wednesday 22nd March 2023 10:30 - 12:30

The Lodge Hotel, Lodge Road Roundabout, Coleraine, BT52 1NF

Tuesday 28th March 2023 10.00-12.00

The Mount Business Centre, 2 Woodstock Link, Belfast, BT6 8DD

Wednesday 5th April 2023 11.00-13.00

Online

Monday 17th April 2023 17.00-19.00

Online

For more information and to apply, please visit Planned Interventions Funding – EANI Funding

Financial Assistance Call 2 2023/2024

Financial Assistance Call 2 2023/2024 is opening on 13 March 2023 at 12 noon, due to the short duration of the opening for the King Charles III Coronation Fund, all theme guidance notes have been provided early. Guidance notes can be accessed via the Electronic Grant Management System (EGMS), which can be accessed here or through the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council web page under Grants and Funding. However, you will be unable to start completing an application until the Call opens at 12 noon, Monday 13 March 2023.

Themes available:

Open to Community Voluntary Sector (ALL)

• Community Events & Festivals (Projects running between 01 October 2023 – 18 March 2024)

• King Charles III Coronation Fund (Call only open for three weeks until 03 April 2023 and is for projects running between 01 and 31 May 2023)

• Good Relations

• PCSP Community Safety and Support

• Sports Development Minor Capital Items

• Sports Programmes

Open to Community Voluntary Sector (ALL) and Business

• Arts and Culture Projects

Open to organisations responsible for Sports Facilities

• Sports Facility Capital

Opening date: Monday 13th March 2023 at 12pm

Closing date: Various – Please refer to theme guidance or the electronic grant management system for theme closing date.

Online Funding Workshops

Online workshops providing an overview of the themes, key changes for 2023/2024 financial assistance and guidance on procurement will be available on the following dates:

• Wednesday 15 March 2023 at 10am

• Wednesday 15 March 2023 at 7pm

• Thursday 16 March 2023 at 2pm

To book a place on one of the workshops please click here. A link to the online workshop is provided automatically by Eventbrite upon registration.

Please note: All themes are subject to funding availability. Late application submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Social Enterprise Plus Programme

The Social Enterprise Plus Strategy aims to stimulate economic activity among people living or working in Housing Executive communities. 

An important part of the strategy includes an investment programme. A new round of Social Enterprise Plus Funding is open from 1 March 2023.

Two types of award:

1. Building Capacity Award – awards up to £10,000

2. Get Going Award – Award up to £1000

Applications, where possible, should demonstrate outcomes in these priority areas, but if you are unsure please make contact with the Social Enterprise team:

• Reduction of negative effects of the cost of living crisis

• Energy and net carbon / environmental impact

• Preparing social enterprises for social clauses within Government contracts including Housing Executive maintenance contracts

• COVID-19 recovery

Applications will be assessed against relevance to the Social Enterprise Plus Strategy 2020-2024, meeting the listed priority areas and suitability for public sector finance support. 

Funding is limited so not all applications that meet the criteria will be successful.

1. Building Capacity Award (up to £10,000)

The Building Capacity Award is aimed at social enterprises and community organisations who want to grow a viable business either by creating employment or training opportunities or a product/service to benefit the community, or an innovative partnership which brings new benefits to a Housing Executive community.  

The focus is on trading for sustainability and growth. 

Who can apply?

• We will consider applications from community-based social enterprises and community focused organisations. Applicants must demonstrate how Housing Executive communities will benefit as a result of the award.

• Applicants must provide a business plan. This must demonstrate trading capability/potential and their ability to be a viable, sustainable business. For this reason running costs are generally not eligible for funding.

• Applicants must also provide relevant quotes for equipment and/or services.

Making an application

Applications must be submitted by no later than Wednesday 19 April 2023 at 4.00pm. 

Applications submitted after this date will be deemed as invalid.

Apply for the Building Capacity Award

2. Get Going Award (Max £1000)

The Get Going Award is aimed at helping individuals with a good business idea get their idea off the ground. Applicants must demonstrate the difference the award will make to them or to others.

Who can apply?

• Individual applicants must be a resident in a defined Housing Executive estate or involved in a social economy initiative in a Housing Executive estate or neighbourhood.

• Applicants must also provide relevant quotes for equipment and/or services.

• Please note we cannot fund the following:

  • Travel to interview/work fares

  • Clothing for interviews

  • Driving license costs

*the above are general statement of principle, if in doubt make contact with the Social Enterprise team

If you have any queries please make contact with the social enterprise team either via email or the contact numbers below.

Making an application

Applications must be submitted by no later than Wednesday 19 April 2023 at 4.00pm. 

Applications submitted after this date will be deemed as invalid.

Apply for the Get Going Award

If you need assistance with creating a business plan you should visit:

• Go For It

Or contact a member of the Housing Executive Social Enterprise Plus Team at:

• email: socialinvestment@nihe.gov.uk

Applications will be assessed by a panel of managers after the window for submission is closed. 

Funding is limited so not all applications that meet the criteria will be successful.

We want to talk to you if you have a new idea or want to expand your existing social enterprise within a Housing Executive community. 

Please feel free to contact a member of the team.

To find out more about the Social Housing Enterprise Plus Programme, contact:

Gwen Tener 07795420169

Connor Smith 07795428562

Or email: socialinvestments@nihe.gov.uk

To find out more download our Social Enterprise Plus Strategy.

Download the Strategy (PDF 7 MB)

Community Grants Programme

The overall aim of the Halifax Foundation is:

To support charitable organisations within Northern Ireland to enable people, who are disadvantaged or with special needs, to participate actively in their communities.

The Foundation has two main target areas to which it seeks to allocate funds:

• Social and Community Needs

• Education and Training

Types of costs funded include - materials and equipment, contribution towards salary costs, overheads, transport costs, volunteer expenses, training/tutor costs, activity costs and refurbishment costs.

For more information and to apply, please visit Funding Opportunities 2023 | Halifax Foundation NI

Community Technical Assistance Grants

Grants are available for community groups in Antrim and Newtownabbey to support consultancy and administration costs.

The funding is intended to cover various expenses related to project development, such as consultancy fees, statutory approval fees, public and employer's liability insurance, and volunteer expenses.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available and projects must take place between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Grants may be used to meet the following costs:

• Consultancy fees (business plans / plans / feasibility studies / audits /options appraisals/economic appraisals/ environmental assessments, etc).

• Statutory approval fees - up to a maximum of £300.

• Public and employer's liability insurance.

• Volunteer expenses (up to a maximum of £10 per day: ie hospitality or travel to a meeting/conference/event). Proof of expenses will be required.

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

Climate Action Fund - Energy and Climate

This funding aims to inspire and support communities across the UK to address the energy and climate crisis. We’re looking for projects that show how communities can address climate change while tackling the energy challenges through community-led climate action.

We want to fund projects that:

• encourage communities to use energy in an environmentally friendly way

• bring communities together so that they can explore ways to promote energy efficiency

• enable communities to understand and engage with opportunities for clean energy generation, which do not use fossil fuels.

All projects should consider how everyone in the community can get involved with climate action. They must also address any reasons why some people might be left out.

We’re looking for projects that will bring a range of benefits to communities, including:

• improving health and well-being

• creating local ’green’ jobs, such as jobs providing low-carbon heat for homes, community energy champions and energy advisors

• reducing carbon emissions

• supporting communities to be more resilient.

We want to fund projects that aim for long term change. And projects that have the potential to have a positive impact beyond the communities they're directly working with.

Area UK-wide

Suitable for Community and voluntary organisations

Funding sizeProjects can apply for up to £1.5 million over 2 to 5 years, with most projects over £500,000. Minimum grant £500,000. We aim to fund around 8-12 projects.

Total available £10m including £1.5m for a Learning Network.

Application deadline You can apply when you’re ready. We expect the programme to remain open until at least December 2023 but it will depend on when and how many others apply for our funding.

There will be virtual information sessions on the following days:

• 21 March, 12:00 to 12:45

• 18 April, 12:00 to 12:45

• 16 May, 12:00 to 12:45

• 20 June, 12:00 – 12:45

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

Small Events Grant 2023

The Ulster-Scots Agency has opened its Ulster-Scots Small Events Grants programme for 2023.

This fund supports events from 1 April to 31 December 2023, including Ulster-Scots events to celebrate the forthcoming Coronation in May.

The maximum grant available is £1,000 (minimum of £500) and this can be used to fund one or two events.

Groups must provide match funding of at least 10%. Support is available from the Ulster-Scots Community Network if groups require assistance with their submission.

Projects must bedelivered up to 31 December 2023 and groups should submit an application form at least one month before their planned event.

Please note: Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the fund is fully allocated.

For more information and to register click here.

If you wish to discuss any of our funding programmes, please contact:

Derek Reaney - reaneyd@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk 

Tel: +353 (7491) 73 876

Mob: 078 4327 9912 

The Gill’s Charity Fund

The Gill’s Charity Fund offers funding to organisations for projects for the benefit of older people resident in the Borough of Carrickfergus (as per the old Local Government area).

In recognition of the needs of older people, and the great work that groups supporting older people are doing, the Community Foundation acquired the management and administration of the Gill’s Charity Fund in 2021.  The Fund will be accessible annually.

Who can apply?

• Fully constituted voluntary organisations and community groups based within Northern Ireland, although the project must be strictly aimed at older people resident in the Borough of Carrickfergus only.

• Applying organisations should provide, promote, maintain or manage or organise amenities and facilities for the promotion of welfare or recreational or cultural activities of a charitable nature.

• Organisations with an income level of below £100k

Examples of types of projects that may be supported:

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

• Reducing the fear of crime amongst older people.

• Encouraging and supporting independence of older people.

• Improving health and well-being, and supporting older people to remain in their homes.

• Supporting older people to keep warm.

• Supporting older people to access a nutritious meal.

• Reducing potential for age discrimination, and/or abuse.

• Enabling older people to access technology.

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

• Engaging older people to take community action.

• Enabling active participation of older people in the community in decision-making, and addressing issues facing their sector.

What can be supported?

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

• Capital costs are eligible, if essential to the project

Closing date for applications is 27th March 2023. For more information and to apply, please visit The Gill's Charity Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Cost of Living Grants

Cash for Kids has funds to support 2,800 children across Northern Ireland through the cost-of-living crisis, as part of £1 Million of Help we're distributing across the UK.

In response to the crisis hitting so many families right now we've launched this new fund, to provide emergency essentials that support the physical and mental well-being of children who are struggling.

These could include food, clothing and household energy costs, but we'll also consider anything that helps meet children's most basic needs.

Grants are £50 per child per household, and we aim to get the funds to families as soon as possible.

Please note that applications must come on behalf of a family from professionals within
a governing body (e.g. social services, GP, teacher, charity, community group etc.) - families cannot apply directly.

For more information please visit Grants | Cash for Kids | Helping the children that need it most

Council Grant Aid Programme

Applications for Mid Ulster Council's Grant Aid Programme 2023/2024 have opened, closing date for majority of programmes is 16th March 2023 -

• Small Development Grant

• Community/Sports Venue and Facilities Grant

• Strategic Arts and Culture Development Grant

• Strategic Sports Development Grant

• Strategic Community Development Grant

• Strategic Events Grant

• Good Relations Grant (rolling programme)

• Community Festival Grant (rolling programme)

• Sports Representatives Grant Club/Teams (rolling programme)

• Sports representatives Individual Grant (rolling programme)

• Irish Language Activity Funding Grant

• Deontas do Ghníomhaíochtaí Ghaeilge

• MUDC Regional and Minority Language Bursary

• Sparánacht do Theanga Mionlaigh nó Réigiúnda CCLU

There is also a new online system to help improve the process for all those groups and clubs applying for funding. Give your project a boost by visiting https://www.midulstercouncil.org/grants

UK Youth – Cost of Living Fund

The cost-of-living crisis is having a profound and devastating effect on young people and the youth organisations they depend on as they struggle to keep up with the rising cost of inflation.

Already youth organisations are having to cut back on delivery or staff costs and in some cases, are closing their doors. This will result in a vital part of the youth ecosystem falling apart, unable to provide critical support to young people and impacting the key stages of young people’s lives.

This new fund is a three-year unrestricted grant programme aimed at mitigating the devastating impact the cost of living crisis is having on the youth sector.

The UK Youth Fund in partnership with Pears Foundation will provide targeted funding to youth organisations delivering high quality youth work to ensure doors stay open, bills get paid and youth workers receive the salaries they deserve. This will help to ensure young people continue to be supported at this most difficult of times by the youth organisations and youth workers on whom they’ve come to depend.

The Cost of Living grant programme is open to youth organisations based and delivering high quality youthwork in the UK, with an annual turnover of £500,000 or less. The grant programme will offer 3-year unrestricted grants, of approximately 10% of current turnover of applicant organisations to reflect the current rate of inflation. However, applicants will have an opportunity to explain why they might need funding above and beyond this.

We are looking to identify and support youth organisations delivering high quality youth provision whose work is being hindered, curtailed or cut back due to rising core costs or a need to address unprecedented demand.

The application process is now open – and will stay open whilst funds remain to be distributed.

For more information and to apply please visit The UK Youth fund in partnership with Pears Foundation - UK Youth

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)

Move More and Eat Well

Up to £1000 of funding is being offered to local communities under a project developed by Council’s Active Belfast partnership with the Public Health Agency.

The ‘Move More and Eat Well – to Feel Better’ funding opened for applications on Monday 6 February and takes a participatory budgeting approach.

This format encourages residents to pitch and vote on small-scale projects that will have a positive impact on physical activity and healthy eating in their area.

Chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee Councillor Micky Murray is keen to encourage applications and said: “Groups can apply for up to £1000 for ideas that they think their community will benefit from - as long as they’re based around moving more and eating well as the title of the scheme suggests.

“Physical activity and healthy eating remain priority areas within the refreshed Belfast Agenda and our new draft action plan includes a clear commitment to trial and pilot participatory budgeting in the city.

“The fantastic part about this fresh initiative is that it is completely led by local people and allows them to identify their own needs and wants in their own communities. It gives residents a voice, brings people together and perhaps most importantly, enables them to have the final decision on which projects are brought to life.” 

David Tumilty from the PHA and Chair of the Active Belfast Partnership (ABP) said:

“In line with the Belfast Agenda and on behalf of Belfast Community Planning Partnership (BCCP), ABP is committed to delivering the first ‘test & learn’ pilot of participatory budgeting in Belfast, providing a way for local people to make decisions about how public money is spent.

“We are delighted to be running ‘Move More and Eat Well – to Feel Better’ and I want to thank all the community, voluntary and statutory partners who have worked together to make this happen.  We hope this initiative will be a success, and that we and others will be able to learn from its development and delivery to inform the development of future participatory budgeting approaches.”

Active Belfast is a partnership that includes a wide range of stakeholders from statutory, community and voluntary sectors who support the physical activity and healthy eating agenda in Belfast.

For more information on the funding guidelines and to submit your application, visit the Your Say Belfast website at https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon - Coronation Community Event Grant

Grants are available to support the delivery of community events in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon that will celebrate the coronation of His Majesty the King in May 2023.

The funding is intended to provide financial support to local voluntary and community groups wishing to deliver events to celebrate the coronation during the period Friday 5th to Monday 8th May 2023.

Grants of up to £400 are available.

Who Can Apply

Applications are accepted from organisations that:

• Are community based and have 90% of beneficiaries in the Council area.

• Are not for personal profit.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is used to support local, small-scale community events or activities to celebrate the Coronation.

The types of event the Council may fund include:

• Tea parties.

• Exhibitions.

• Talks.

• Social events for young and old.

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

Small Grant and Technical Assistance Grant Aid Programme 2023-2024

The aim of the Community Development Grant Aid Programme is to provide financial support for projects which have Community Development as a primary objective that improve the lives of local people. Projects must develop a strong, healthy and vibrant community whilst encouraging maximum participation in community life by all residents.

Who can apply?

Only properly constituted community, voluntary & charitable groups can apply to the grant aid scheme and must be able to meet the following conditions. The group must:

 Be comprised of at least six members.

 Be democratically accountable through regular public meetings.

 Hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM).

 Be properly constituted and include a decision making process, and aims and activities that are acceptable to the Council.

 Be managed by a publicly elected committee; the office bearing positions of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer must be held as a minimum.

 Demonstrate a fair and equitable ethos through their established aims and objectives in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998).

 Demonstrate that proposed activities are not a duplication of other activities.

 Produce an annual statement of independently verified or certified accounts, or a bank statement for new groups only.

 Agree to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council's monitoring, evaluation, and training procedures if required.

Projects must take place between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, any activity outside these timescales will not be eligible for funding.

How to apply?

Applications will be available for completion online on the Grant Manager system at https://antrimnewtownabbey.eformz.info from 12noon on Wednesday 15 February 2023.

The Small Grant & Technical Assistance Grant will be available on a rolling basis subject to the availability of funding and will open in February each year. If you are applying for the Small Grant please apply up to 8 weeks in advance of your project/activity starting or when your insurance is due for renewal as all applications need to be considered at two Council meetings.

For further information, please contact: Kerry Brady – T: 07739 609 902 E: Kerry.Brady@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Jonathan Henderson – T: 07733 263 202 E: Jonathan.Henderson@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Keadue Community Grants Fund

Keadue Community Grants Fund was established by a local family to provide support to local organisations tackling the growing social need in Derry City and surrounding Waterside areas.

With these grants we aim to fund local organisations who are already making a difference in the lives of people who are struggling with difficult life issues and their subsequent effects.

Grants can be used to fund any of the following activities:

• An existing support programme

• Creation of a new programme

• Staff costs including salaries, core costs and specialist training

• Small scale capital costs including premises refurbishment and the

• purchase of equipment

• Events and awareness raising activities

• Capacity building activities to address elements of organisational sustainability

• Partnership building activities to strengthen support and impact

• Volunteer costs and associated expenses

Grants available

Grant sizes will typically be between £10k and £20k to be awarded over periods of up to two years. Organisations can re-apply in subsequent years following completion of grant evaluation and monitoring reports.

Closing date for applications is 6th March 2023. For more information and to apply, please visit Keadue Community Grants Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

McCarthy Stone Foundation Small Grants Programme

The Foundation awards one-off grants to registered charities and community organisations working towards the primary focus of our charitable outcomes. We’re keen to give grants to grassroots and volunteer led charities helping to make a difference in the community.

Our Spring Grants Programme for 2023 is now OPEN for Expressions of Interest. 

Please note, to be eligible your organisation should be under £500k of annual income, volunteer driven, and able to demonstrate the impact of your work on people over 65 in the local community. If you meet these criteria, you can submit an CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST. 

We are also running a Winter Warm Spaces grant programme, with 40 grants of £750 available for local groups providing a regular, warm meeting space for people over 65. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.

We know that many small organisations don’t have the resources for complex or extensive grant applications and monitoring, so we will do our best to work with you to make the process simple, transparent, and fair. We will also work with you to help report on the impact the grant will have. You can also find out more in our Grant Making Policy that covers the processes and criteria in greater depth.

#InTheLoop Grant Fund

Hubbub is launching a new #InTheLoop grant fund for two new projects with funding of £8,000 each to boost the opportunity to recycle on-the-go using the #InTheLoop toolkit

The fund is supported by McDonald’s.

They’re looking for ambitious, projects that will transform recycling in public spaces.

• Each successful project will receive an £8,000 grant to invest in, and boost, recycling facilities.

• Grants will help you to boost recycling facilities in your area by providing funding to invest in infrastructure.

• Projects will also get on going support from Hubbub based on our expertise and experience in delivering recycling campaigns.

• Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate ambitious, robust and long-term plans to boost recycling in their area.

• Successful projects will be selected by Hubbub and the McDonald’s UK team.

• The fund is open to any organisation. We anticipate that the majority of applications will be from local authorities, business improvement districts, shopping centres, major property owners and transport hubs.

• Please read the terms & conditions before submitting an application.

• The payment schedule is 80% up front, 10% at 4 months and 10% on completion of the project.

For more information and to apply, please visit #InTheLoop grant fund — In The Loop