The Live-Smart Community Environment Grant

The Causeway Coast and Glens Borough is known worldwide for its beautiful scenery and amazing visitor experience.  Council wants to preserve that for years and generations to come – this requires everyone making a conscious effort to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

The purpose of the LiveSmart Community Environmental Grant Programme is to provide small grants up to a maximum of £500 to local community and voluntary organisations.  The grants are to give financial assistance to allow groups and organisations to:-

1. improve the general cleanliness in their local area, particularly in respect of litter

2. promote recycling, reuse and waste reduction

3. look at ways of reducing carbon footprint by taking simple, practical actions such as planting

Community groups and organisations are being encouraged and supported to keep their local area clean and tidy, promote recycling, reuse and waste reduction and have a positive impact on their carbon footprint.  There are a number of specific objectives which applicants must address.  Your application can address more than one objective but only one is necessary.

• RecycleSmart: aims to reduce waste by educating, engaging and inspiring us all to buy less, reuse more, recycle and compost.

• LitterSmart: aims to reduce litter through education, encouraging responsible disposal and supporting local people to  carry out litter lifts.

• ClimateSmart:aims to reduce our carbon footprint by increasing our knowledge of sustainability and empowering change with simple, practical actions such as planting vegetables, fruit, native shrubs and pollinator plants

Applicants can request a grant up to a maximum of £500. You can only apply for one grant per year.  Applications for the LiveSmart Community Environmental Grant Programme should be submitted online at http://grants.ccgbcapps.com/

This is a rolling programme and will remain open until all funds are expended.

Tyrone Three Community Benefit Fund (Gortfinbar, Eshmore and Altamuskin)

This local community fund has been set up by Energia Renewables, working in close partnership with local groups from the areas surrounding the Tyrone 3 Windfarms.  The Tyrone 3 Windfarms comprises three farms, which are:

• Altamuskin      (6 wind turbines / 14.1MW)

• Eshmore           (3 wind turbines / 7.0MW)

• Gortfinbar       (5 wind turbines / 15.0.MW)

The windfarms are situated in close proximity to each other between the town of Ballygawley and the villages of Carrickmore, Sixmilecross and Beragh in County Tyrone. They are located in the Mid Ulster District and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council areas respectively.

Energia has set up the fund to ensure that the wind farm, whilst having obvious environmental benefits, will also provide significant social and economic benefits to the local community. The Tyrone 3 Windfarms Community Benefit Fund will be administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

Funding will be available to local community projects that are planned and run for the benefit of the local population and are within 7 miles of the centre of the three windfarms – as per map.

In the event of oversubscription, priority will be given to projects based within 5 miles of the centre of the three windfarms – as per map. 

The fund will support projects addressing issues within the following theme areas:

• Energy efficiency and sustainability

• Social, cultural or sporting benefit for the local community

• Educational issues with a sustainability angle

• Environmental benefit or economic benefit

Fund priorities:

• Projects that improve the utilisation of existing community space in areas within the fund boundary.

• Contributions towards running/administration costs and for purchasing additional equipment to expand and support new and existing services/activities in each of the areas.

• Particular emphasis will be placed on funding activities/services that are specifically aimed at older people, people with disabilities, children and teenagers (including pre-school children), providing skills development of local people and promoting health related activities or services.

• Applicants are encouraged to network, share best practice and co-operate more between the areas. Projects which demonstrate the ability to collaborate, network and share best practice will be encouraged and supported.

• Projects and programmes offering invaluable advice and information and signposting on key Rural issues should be supported e.g. Farm Support Services, Welfare & amp; Benefits and Parenting/Family issues etc.

• Outdoor/Environmental projects will be considered in terms of encouraging a healthier and active community as well as protecting and enhancing the local environment.

• Wider community events and programmes that encourage greater community interaction (including cross community aspects) encompassing the local rich and varied cultural aspects of music, drama, dance and sport.

Examples of who can apply:

• Constituted voluntary organisations and community groups

• Local youth groups

Examples of projects that the fund might support:

• Local cultural projects recording and researching history

• Establishment of a “Men’s Shed” or other similar initiative

• Small capital works to a community facility

• Environmental awareness projects

• Activities supporting young people, the elderly, those with disabilities

• Community wide events

• Strategic projects that will benefit a number of communities, including partnership applications

Grants size:

Grants up to £5,000

Closing date for applications is 8th December 2023 at 1pm

For more information and to apply, please visit Tyrone Three Community Benefit Fund (Gortfinbar, Eshmore and Altamuskin) - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Digital Evolution Programme for NI Arts Organisations

Funding is available to provide arts organisations in Northern Ireland with skills in the use of digital technology to create digital art.

The Organisations Digital Evolution Awards programme aims to support those arts organisations who are making digital art for the first time or are working with digital or immersive technology which they have not used previously.

Applications will be accepted from arts organisations, registered charities and other non-profit organisations. Collaborative applications from organisations working together in cross-discipline projects and activities are encouraged.

Examples of the types of projects that the programme will support include:

• Creation of a virtual environment or augmented reality environment, such as augmented reality visual arts or sound overlay on venues or geographical spaces.

• Using technology, such as 3D rendering and printing, to create artwork digitally which can either exist digitally or be manufactured into 3D physical objects.

• Using technology to translate data into artistic content, for example algorithms that create music or visual content from data input.

• App development for the delivery of artistic content - this could include gamification or making an artistic experience for consumption on digital devices.

• Piloting new forms of support to individual artists or organisations that results in the creation of digital art.

Projects must take place between 1 February 2024 and 31 January 2025.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available.

The deadline for applications is 1 December 2023 (12 noon).

For more information and to apply, please visit National Lottery Organisations Digital Evolution… | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Announce Themes for 2024/25 Funding

The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust has announced the themes for 2024 and 2025 for which it will offer funding.

The Trust operates a three-year rotation system, with different fields of interests being funded each year.

In 2024, support will be available for the following priorities:

• Rounds 1 and 2 – Disability, specifically employment and training for people living with disabilities to ensure better access.

• Rounds 3 and 4 – Food Poverty (due to the increasing levels across the UK).

In 2025, support will be available for the following priorities (full details published toward the end of 2024):

• Rounds 1 and 2 - Access to the Arts.

• Rounds 3 and 4 - Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

The project must fall within the relevant category for the year the application is submitted, and organisations may only make one application during any one year.

The Trust awards grants of either £1,000 or £5,000 depending on the grant round.

Organisations registered with the Charity Commission (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or OSCR, or exempt from registration, can apply.

The level of grant awarded is determined by the income of the charity:

• Grants of £1,000 are available for charities with an operating income of between £100,000 and £1 million.

• Grants of £5,000 are available for charities with a minimum operating income of £1 million. There is no maximum level.

There are four grant rounds each year. Charities may only apply for one grant per calendar year.

The first round is expected to open on 1 February 2024 and close on 29 February 2024.

For more information please visit Home - The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust (austin-hope-pilkington.org.uk)

Sea-Changers’ Marine Conservation Social Fund Reopens for 2023

Sea Changers is offering up to seven grants of between £3,000 and £5,000 for UK-based charities and other not-for-profit groups to deliver marine conservation projects that also deliver health and wellbeing outcomes for participants and disadvantaged communities.

Through the Marine Conservation Social Fund, a total of £23,000 is available in 2023 for:

• Marine conservation education and engagement projects - such as campaigns or activities reaching out to and including those who do not access/engage with the sea and educating them about marine conservation issues and what they can do to help.

• Citizen science and/or practical/direct action projects – particularly where they engage disadvantaged communities and where they can show increased community cohesion/engagement and personal/health benefits of volunteering.

Sea-Changers is particularly interested in grassroots projects that galvanise community action, projects that increase the number of people acting for marine conservation, projects that may be formed through partnerships between marine conservation organisations and social welfare organisations, and pilot programmes that might be continued, expanded, or replicated with additional funding in future years.

The deadline for applications is 22 December 2023. 

For more information and to apply, please visit Marine Conservation Social Fund 2023 | Sea-Changers

Belfast City Council’s Small Grants 2024-25 Tranche 1

Belfast City Council’s Small Grants 2024-25 Tranche 1 are now open for applications for the grants listed below. The submission deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Friday 12 January 2024.

1. Community Festivals Fund

2. Arts & Heritage

3. Good Relations

4. Parks Events

5. Sports Events

6. S4S Large Development Grant

7. S4S Small Development Grant

8. S4S Hospitality Grant

9. S4S Sporting Individual Grant

10. Community Summer Scheme

For further details, guidance notes and to apply online please visit our website www.belfastcity-grants.com or contact the Central Grants Unit Belfast City Council at cgugrants@belfastcity.gov.uk

BCC will be holding the following information sessions on how to apply for the Small Grants:

• Friday 17 November, 2pm-3:30pm, Banqueting Hall, City Hall

• Monday 20 November, 10:30am, Microsoft Teams

• Monday 20 November, 2pm, Microsoft Teams

• Monday 20 November, 7pm, Microsoft Teams

If you wish to attend any of the sessions, please contact the Central Grants Unit Belfast City Council at cgugrants@belfastcity.gov.uk

Police Property Fund Small Grants Scheme

The Police Property Fund Small Grants Scheme will open a third call for funding applications on 1 November 2023.

The Fund, which comprises assets recovered by the PSNI as the result of criminal investigations, is administered by the Board in line with the Police (Property) Regulations NI 1997.

The Board has agreed a Grant Funding Policy which will ensure available monies are used to benefit projects which deliver tangible benefits. This is in line with our Corporate and Policing Plan commitments to achieving the following 3 key outcomes:

• We have a safe community;

• We have confidence in policing; and

• We have engaged and supportive communities

The Small Grants Scheme offers project funding in the range £1000-£10,000. Applications must demonstrate the following criteria to be eligible for consideration:

• Engagement with the Police Service of Northern Ireland;

• Contribute to community safety/ and or building confidence in policing; and

• Closely aligned towards a charitable purpose.

 If you would like more information or to register your interest, just email policepropertyfund@nipolicingboard.org.uk

Sports Group Grants

The Public Health Agency, through the Clear Project, are offering constituted voluntary sector sports clubs in the Western Trust area the opportunity to avail of training, which will help them support their members and receive up to £500 worth of relevant sports equipment for their club.

In order to receive this aid clubs must:

• Be a constituted voluntary sector sports club and enclose a copy of this document and a list of their committee members.

• Be appropriately insured or prepared to obtain appropriate insurance if awarded.

• Enclose the most recent annual accounts or statement of income and expenditure which must be approved and signed by an officeholder.

• Operate within the Western Trust area.

• Have a significant impact upon or involvement from their local community.

• Must have a minimum of 3 to 5 members attend training, either safeTALK or another relevant approved mental health programme (Level 1 Sport NI Level 1 Mental Health Awareness e-learning module and Zero Suicide Alliance).

 Please note: This must be members who have a significant input / involvement / role within the club. 

Equipment requested should help the club develop activities that meet the needs of the local community and support the delivery of the ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing’.  These are five simple steps to help maintain and improve your wellbeing through the themes of ‘Connect’, ‘Be active’, ‘Take Notice’, ‘Keep Learning’ and ‘Give’.

To claim funding from the Clear project clubs will be asked to:

1. Submit grant application, then once accepted complete training.

2. Seek out a quote for the equipment (quote to be approved by the Clear Project).

3. Pay the chosen supplier directly. Where a club cannot provide sufficient evidence of proper financial processes, the Clear Project will pay for direct invoices/items needed.

4. Submit an invoice made out to the Clear Project for the amount spent, accompanied with the receipt/s as proof of purchase.

If the club does not have the finances, then requests for advance payment will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Any relevant sports club within the Western Trust area can apply for the funding however preference will be given to:

• Groups operating in the top 20% most disadvantaged Super output areas (SOA’s).

• Those with lower capacity.

Please note: The funding award will not be released until all training has been completed, and all paperwork has been returned.  All training must be completed by 31st January 2024.

Closing date for application is Monday 6th November, at 3pm

To apply, please download and complete an application form below:

• Announcement Flyer

• Guidance for Applicants - Process for purchase of Sports Equipment

• Application form 2023

• safeTALK Training Flyer

• Take 5 Flyer

• List of SOA's

Completed application forms and supporting documents will be accepted by email to annemarie@dhcni.com

Skills and Innovation Fund

We are delighted to announce the launch of the second year of the Tacking Textiles Grant: Skills and Innovation. This follows the successful pilot grant last year, where we supported five different projects across Northern Ireland. 

These projects included:

• developing skills within schools and communities around repair and reuse.

• supporting vulnerable groups to access sewing classes. 

• developing innovative online resources to inspire people.

• supporting a local business to bring sewing and repair skills into the community and corporate world.

We are looking for your ideas that support tackling textile waste through waste prevention, reuse, repair and reimagine.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is administering the grant provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) – Waste Prevention Policy Branch to explore ways to reduce the environmental impacts of textiles.

The production, consumption and disposal of clothing and textiles is a growing environmental issue both locally and globally. Across the UK we are throwing away over one million tonnes of textile waste with up to 300,000 tonnes ending up in landfill or incinerated*. 

According to WRAP clothing/textiles has the fourth largest environmental impact after housing, transport, and food.

We are looking for your ideas that help tackle this growing issue.

Value of grants available 

Between £500 to £2,500

We would welcome applications from the following types of organisations:

• Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (under 250 employees)

• Social enterprises

• Charities

• Not for profit organisations 

• Community & voluntary groups 

Currently not open to: 

• School and third level education organisations

• Sports clubs, churches, and youth groups

• Unconstituted groups

• Large enterprises (over 250 employees)

What type of projects will the Tackling Textile – Skills & Innovation Fund? 

We are looking for ideas that support:

1. Waste Prevention

2. Reuse and Repair Models

3. Reimagine 

Waste Prevention 

Materials and design innovation is critical to the future of a circular economy. By preventing waste at the design stage of product development, we can have consumption that is healthier and performs better for our people and the planet.

Reuse/Repair Models 

Reuse and repair are essential in the development of a more circular economy. Reuse of products and materials is more beneficial as it retains a product’s inherent value by keeping it in use for longer. This minimises waste, create jobs, has positive social impact, reduces consumption, and associated carbon impacts.

Reimagine

Climate change is real; we know the impact; we know we must act, and we know that we must make changes to our current model of ‘take-make-dispose.’  We are looking for new ways to tackle the problem of production, consumption, and disposal of textile waste with the aim of creating a more circular textile economy.

For more information and to apply please visit Tackling Textiles - Skills and Innovation Fund (Pilot Programme) (etinu.net)

Closing date for applications is Thursday 9th November 2023 at 5pm

LCCC Hardship Funding Programme 2023/24

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has developed a Hardship Funding Programme to support constituted/legally governed community and voluntary /not for profit organisations to address hardship due to the current cost of living crisis, particularly the increase in energy and food costs.  There is an overall allocation of £140,000 available.

The Hardship Funding Programme is developed in recognition of the difficult financial circumstances which currently exist in the community and voluntary sector, especially in respect of covering basic overheads which have increased substantially in cost.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon Friday 3rd November. Late applications will not be accepted.

This fund aims to assist local grass roots groups to:

• keep their community buildings operational for existing services

• provide additionality in programming for local community/individuals who are facing hardship

• enhance service delivery by keeping facilities open and possibly longer during the autumn/winter months

• provide sustenance and resources for the local community/individuals including supporting or developing community fridge initiatives, addressing fuel poverty, holiday hunger initiatives and/or meal projects

• develop or enhance a community planting scheme for materials to grow and supply perishable goods in their community.

For more information and to apply please visit Hardship Funding Programme (lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk)

Renewable Energy Fund

Sport NI Renewable Energy Fund is a £1million pound National Lottery investment for 2023/24, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of sports clubs throughout Northern Ireland.

The Renewable Energy Fund has one overarching objective:

“To reduce the environmental impact of sports clubs in Northern Ireland.”

However, the programme also has secondary objectives, which reflect commitments made in Sport NI’s Corporate Plan – The Power of Sport (2021-2026), including:

• To reduce the environmental footprint of sports clubs.

• To reduce carbon emissions at sports clubs.

• To contribute to a more sustainable sports club network.

• To create a ‘greener’ sports club sector.

• To save on utility bills and reduce costs, enabling sports clubs to redirect resources back into their clubs/sport.

REMEMBER: any applicant making an application must also complete an Environmental Sustainability Survey to be eligible.

HOW THIS PROGRAMME WILL BE DELIVERED

In 2023/24 the Renewable Energy Fund will operate as a ‘pilot programme’. Subsequently, the ‘pilot’ will not use scoring criteria and applications will not be assessed. The primary purpose of the pilot programme is to provide learning to Sport NI so that we become more knowledgeable about types of energy interventions and their impact, as well as helping to shape future rounds of the Renewable Energy Fund (subject to budget availability).

The application form takes approximately 1-2 minutes to complete. Applications to this Pilot Programme will be selected at random (process outlined in the information and guidance notes), with those selected progressing with project delivery. The programme is being delivered in two main stages:

• Project Development and Project Delivery.

At the Project Development stage, applicants will be required to procure an energy consultant to undertake a ‘building energy survey’ which will identify potential energy projects (more information at Chapter 11). At the development stage the maximum project value will be £3,000.

At the Project Delivery stage, applicants will procure suppliers/contractors to undertake the installation works for the preferred energy project (more information at Chapter 11). At the delivery stage the maximum project value will be £30,000.

WHO CAN APPLY?

The Renewable Energy Fund Pilot Programme will ONLY accept applications from the following organisations who either own or operate their own sports facilities:

• Sports clubs (affiliated to a Sport Northern Ireland recognised governing body of sport).

WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS CAN BE FUNDED?

Sport NI are interested in taking forward the following types of energy projects within sports clubs:

• Solar Energy Systems (and ancillary equipment).

• Air Source Heating Systems (and ancillary equipment).

• Ground Source Heating Systems (and ancillary equipment).

• Sustainable Water Recycling Systems.

• Fixed Floodlight Upgrades (Specifically upgrades to LED Bulbs and Connection to Grid).

Sport NI may consider alternative interventions if recommended in your club energy audit, and if the benefits of that intervention have been clearly articulated.

For more information and to apply, please visit Renewable Energy Fund | Sport NI

Deadline 30 October 2023 (4pm).

EA Foundation Offers Funding to Improve Lives of Disadvantaged Communities

The EA Foundation was established in 2021 by the co-founders of Energy Aspects, a data & intelligence company headquartered in the UK. The EA Foundation has been set up to improve the lives of disadvantaged communities around the world. To date, the EA Foundation has received over £5 million of donations, which it will distribute over the coming years.

The funding is intended for charitable projects which align to at least one of the following four funding priorities:

• Provide educational opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged individuals and communities.

• Improve access to basic services and infrastructure to disadvantaged communities, including but not limited to healthcare, clean water and electricity.

• Support people in reduced circumstances, without sufficient means, or those who are experiencing times of need thereby providing important support for the relief of poverty or other forms of disadvantage such as disability.

• Address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development, both and through the pursuit of the other key areas of focus.

There is no specified upper or lower grant limits. However, based on the Foundation’s current giving trends to date, the grants approved have averaged between £20,000 - £50,000 for an average duration of 12-24 months. Applicants are encouraged to operate a full cost recovery mode by including all relevant costs of their project in the budget, including proportionate costs of overheads related to the effective delivery of the project.

UK-based charitable entities can apply. Applications will be considered from a diverse range of organisations irrespective of turnover.

The deadline for applications is 6 November 2023 (12 noon BST).

For more information please visit Home (ea-foundation.org.uk)

Funding to Help Disadvantaged Groups to Improve their Communication Skills (UK)

The Thomas Wall Trust is accepting applications from UK charities with a turnover of £10,000 to £500,000 that have been registered with the Charity Commission for at least three years.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available, and the Trust can support annual repeat funding for up to three years.

The funding will support a project or running costs for a charity that equips disadvantaged people (aged 18 and over) with the communication skills ready for employment.

Priority will be given to:

• Match funded projects.

• Charities that can provide compelling evidence of impact.

• Charities working with collaborative networks.

• Self-sustainable projects, with a view to becoming less reliant on grants in the future.

There is particular interest in hearing from groups supporting people experiencing multiple deprivation or major hurdles to employment including women, people with physical, mental or learning disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers.

There is a two-stage application process.

The deadline for stage one applications is 8 January 2024 for consideration in March 2024.

For more information please visit Thomas Wall Trust | Thomas Wall Trust

Community Benefit Funds administered on behalf of CFNI

The following Community Benefits are open for applications, closing date is 10th November at 1pm;

• Long Mountain Community Benefit Fund - Long Mountain Community Benefit Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

• Rathsherry Community Benefit Fund - Rathsherry Community Benefit Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

• Thornog Community Benefit Fund - Thornog Community Benefit Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Micro grants of up to £3,000 for small projects

Strategic grants of £30,000 over a 2-year period for larger scale strategic partnership projects, with one lead applicant.

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

• Energy efficiency and sustainability

• Social, cultural or sporting benefit for the local community

• Educational issues with a sustainability angle

• Environmental benefit or economic benefit

More information is available in the following link - Available Grants - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

The Pink Ribbon Foundation

Any charity working in the field of breast cancer can apply for a grant.

To be considered for a grant in 2024, please submit your grant application to the Foundation by Friday 31st May 2024. Grants are awarded annually in late July. Please note the following:

• All applicants must be prepared to inform the Foundation of their projects progress at least twice in the year of the grant, unless it is to be used for a specific event then only one report is required.

• A set of your most current accounts must accompany any grant application.

• All organisations awarded a grant must send an email of grant award recognition to the Foundation as soon as they are in receipt of the grant.

For more information and to apply, please visit The Pink Ribbon Foundation

LCCC Hardship Funding Programme 2023/24

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has developed a Hardship Funding Programme to support constituted/legally governed community and voluntary /not for profit organisations to address hardship due to the current cost of living crisis, particularly the increase in energy and food costs.  There is an overall allocation of £140,000 available.

The Hardship Funding Programme is developed in recognition of the difficult financial circumstances which currently exist in the community and voluntary sector, especially in respect of covering basic overheads which have increased substantially in cost.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon Friday 3rd November. Late applications will not be accepted.

For more information and to apply, please click on the link: https://www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/resident/community-services/community-grants/hardship-fund

Kellogg’s School Breakfast Club Grants Accepting Applications for Autumn 2023 Funding Round

Kellogg’s, in partnership with Forever Manchester, is offering grants of up to £1,000 to schools across the UK to help fund breakfast clubs and ensure that children who need it most receive a morning meal.

Priority will be given to schools that either:

• Have 35% and above of children eligible for pupil premium funding (for England) and eligible for free school meals (Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales); or

• Are based in an area which is classified as falling in the 10% of most deprived areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Only one grant per school in each academic year is available. A limited number of grants are available, and the fund may close at short notice if oversubscribed.

Applications can be submitted at any time.

For more information and to apply, please visit Grants For Schools | Kellogg's (kelloggs.co.uk)

Applications Invited for Arts Council of Northern Ireland Commissioning Programme

Funding is available for arts organisations in Northern Ireland to support the costs of new commissions for specific performances and/or other forms of public presentation.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Commissioning Programme is intended to enable organisations to produce 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.

Priority will be given to 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.

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

Grants of up to £25,000 are available for projects taking place between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024.

The grant supports fees paid to the artist(s) by the commissioning organisation. All other costs relating to the rehearsal, production, presentation, exhibition or dissemination of the commissioned work must be borne by the commissioner.

In addition to the maximum amount permitted, the Arts Council will also consider access costs specifically relating to the making of work by D/deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists. An amount of up to £3,000 each year is available within the grant for such successful applicants.

The deadline for applications 1 November 2023 (12 noon).

For more information and to apply, please visit National Lottery Commissioning Programme | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

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.

BCPP Closing Dates 2023/24

R45 - Level 1 Thursday 12th October 2023

R45 - Level 2 Thursday 9th November 2023

R46 - Level 1 Thursday 29th February 2024

R46 - Level 2 Thursday 21st March 2024

Level 1 Application Pack - Click here

Level 2 Application Pack - Click here

Please visit Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership Programme | Community Development and Health Network (cdhn.org) for more information.

A Million & Me – Big Sky Programme

BBC Children in Need is here to make sure that every child has the childhood they deserve and the support they need to thrive.

Our A Million & Me fund supports children aged 8-13 years old. It focuses on their emotional wellbeing and mental health.

This fund aims to provide support at an early stage, before mental health problems are established.

As part of this programme, we focused on the impact of geographic isolation on children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. Research by the Centre for Mental Health (report) highlights the voices of children are often absent from consultations. Dedicated support and funding should be allocated to reaching children in remote communities.

The Big Sky programme has been developed in response to these needs.

Grants are for early intervention approaches. These grants will support the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children aged 8-13 years living in spatially isolated communities.

• This is an invite only programme for organisations working in rural, remote and island areas.

• As applications are by invitation only, they will be developed through conversations with BBC Children in Need teams in each of the 4 nations and draws on our local knowledge and insight.

• We are committed to funding grassroot organisations across the UK, providing those vital positive relationships that support good emotional wellbeing and mental health.

• Funding of up to £5,000 will be awarded although we expect there to be mix in the range of grants awarded.

• Organisations can apply for up to 2 years, with no application deadlines. Applications must fit within BBC CiN localised funding plans and rural identifiers developed at a local level. Contact details for local teams are here.

• Applicants may already hold a grant with us but we are keen to target organisations and groups that have not been funded by us.

• Organisations will only be able to hold one Big Sky grant.

For more information, please visit Big Sky Programme - BBC Children in Need