Grant Aid Programme for Mid Ulster is now open

The Council’s Community and Voluntary Sector Grant Aid programme is now open for applications and will close at 12noon on Friday, 8th March 2024. The Council is holding a series of grant information sessions across the district. Come along and speak to a member of our grants team.

Grant Information Sessions

• Tuesday 6 February at 7pm - Cookstown Council office

• Thursday 8 February at 7pm - Indoor event space, the Hill of The O’Neill, Dungannon**

• Monday 12 February at 7pm - Magherafelt Council office

• Tuesday 13 February at 7pm  - Online via MS Teams.

 To register for any of the sessions above, please email ethan.quinn@midulstercouncil.org or call Ethan on 03000 132 132 Ext 24615.

** Please note the venue for the Dungannon information session has been changed to the Hill of The O’Neill.

Visit https://www.midulstercouncil.org/grants to find out more about what grants are available this year and how to apply.

Thomas Wall Trust Accepting UK Applications for Summer 2024 Meeting

Grants of up to £5,000 are available for UK registered charities for specific projects that improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports NEET people into employment.

The Trust views communication skills as critical capabilities for people who want to improve their employment prospects, self-confidence, resilience, and life chances.

The funding is for registered UK registered charities with an annual turnover of between £25,000 and £500,000 that are working to develop communication skills for people from disadvantaged groups who want to improve their employment prospects. Beneficiaries must gain at least one accredited vocational qualification during delivery.

As an inclusive charity, the Trust welcomes proposals which target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups demonstrably facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, and refugees.

Priority will be given to match funded projects and self-sustainable projects, with a view to becoming less reliant on grants in the future.

There is a two-stage application process.

The next deadline to submit a first stage application is 29 April 2024 for assessment at the July 2024 meeting. 

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

Henry Moore Foundation Accepting Applications for First 2024 Funding Round

Henry Moore Foundation is offering various grants of up to £20,000 for art galleries, museums, and other not-for-profit organisations concerned with art and art history across the UK to support projects that promote the growth and development of sculpture across historical, modern and contemporary registers, and research that expands the appreciation of sculpture. 

 The Foundation offers funding in the following categories:

• New projects and commissions: Grants of up to £20,000 to encourage new thinking about sculpture or sculpture history or contribute to public awareness and appreciation of sculpture.

• Acquisitions and collections: Grants of up to £20,000 for museums and galleries who wish to acquire or conserve sculpture for their collections as well as for cataloguing and display costs.

• Research and development:

• Long-term grants of up to £20,000 for projects that require funding for more than one year, such as a permanent collection catalogue.

• Small research grants of up to £2,500 for academics, curators, and independent scholars to cover research costs on the history and interpretation of sculpture.

• Conferences, lectures, and publications: Grants of up to £5000 to publish a new book or journal, or to stage a conference or other event related to sculpture. 

There are typically four deadlines per year.

The next deadline for applications is 1 March 2024 (23:00).

For more information, please visit Grants & fellowships | Henry Moore Foundation (henry-moore.org)

Pixel Fund Reopens for Applications in 2024

The Pixel Fund is offering grants of between £2,500 and £5,000 for UK-registered charities to deliver projects and activities that promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults aged under 26 years old and provide a measurable difference to the charity’s users.

From 1 February 2024, the Pixel Fund has introduced a new eligibility checklist and reevaluated their application process to help reduce the number of unsuccessful applications.

To apply, groups must first check the new eligibility checklist, before attending a Pixel Fund Applicants pre-meeting to discuss their ideas. Eligible charities will then be required to complete an Eligibility Requirements questionnaire and due diligence form before being assessed and potentially invited to complete a full application. 

There is a strong preference for charities with an annual income of less than £2 million. Typically, no single grant will be worth more than 5% of an organisation’s annual income. 

To apply, groups must first book a place at an Applicant pre-meeting which will be held regularly throughout the year. 

For more information, please visit The Pixel Fund - UK Mental Health Grants for Charities

Prudence Trust Accepting Applications for New Funding Round

Prudent Trust has launched a new funding round and is offering around five to eight grants of between £10,000 and £200,000 for youth mental health organisations with an annual income of more than £250,000 across the UK to deliver evaluation projects.

In this funding round, titled ‘What’s Working for Young People’s Mental Health?’, a total of around £1 million is available to support charities working to support young people’s mental health to better understand how their service works and how it can be improved.

Examples of what funding can cover include:

• Consultancy support for work such as strategy review, theory of change, creation of an evaluation and change plan.

• Upskilling of staff responsible for monitoring and evaluation

• Costs to work with an external evaluator or academic on specific programmes.

• Staff or consultant time to review evidence of similar services.

Where a proposal is linked to a particular service, the service must have been running for at least two years and applicants must have secured sufficient funding to ensure the programme runs for the duration of the proposed evaluation.

Priority will be given to proposals that clearly demonstrate strategic value, eg designing more effective programmes, demonstrating impact for commissioning, stopping programmes, or aligning services with young people's needs. 

There is a two-stage application process. Groups must first submit an online expression of interest, before being invited to submit a full application. 

The deadline to submit an expression of interest is 8 March 2024 (16:00). 

For more information, please visit New Funding Opportunity from The Prudence Trust

Community Development Running Cost Grants open for applications

Ards and North Down Borough Council has opened its annual funding scheme for local constituted voluntary and community groups to apply for help with running costs. Awards are subject to budget availability. Groups from the Ards and North Down Borough can apply to the following grants funding streams –

 Funding Stream - Community Development Grants – Running costs

Open from 5th February 2024 at 9am

Closing date and time 27th February 2024 at 12pm

Application forms, guidance notes and criteria are available at:

Community Development Grants | Ards and North Down Borough Council

or may be requested from the Community Development Section.

Where possible completed applications should be emailed as a pdf with an electronic signature to communitygrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

If this not possible please forward completed application forms to the address below before the deadline.

Further information is available from: Community Development Section, Unit 5, 16 South Street, Newtownards, BT23 4JT Tel: 0300 013 3333 or via e-mail –

communitygrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

February 2024 - Update from the Reconciliation Fund

The Department of Foreign Affairs are pleased to inform you that the Reconciliation Fund’s Annual Funding Round (for 12-month funding) will open on Monday 12 February 2024 at 11am. They will accept applications through their online application portal until the final closing date of Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 12pm. No late applications will be accepted.

Due to the high volume of traffic on the online application portal, it may take some time to receive the email to register as a new user, or to reset your password, so please allow for this when planning the submission of your application.

From 2023, the Reconciliation Fund has moved to one annual funding application round only. This means there is no longer an autumn application round for annual grants. Please ensure that if you are planning to apply for grant funds from the Reconciliation Fund in 2024, you are prepared to submit an application in this upcoming round.

As previously advised, our new Strategy for 2021-2024 came into effect in March 2021 and sets out the current funding criteria and priorities that guide how grants are awarded by the Reconciliation Fund. All applicants should therefore consult this document to ensure that their proposals align with the criteria and priority areas identified there. A copy of the text of the Strategy is available here (in pdf format). 

In addition to project funding, the Reconciliation Fund will welcome applications for core operational as well as certain capital costs, where this will support organisations’ work within the framework of our strategy. Further information on this is available in the Strategy document and on our webpage.

Full details on how to apply in this funding round can be found on the website: www.dfa.ie/reconciliation. As always, “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” and “User Guide” documents are also available on the website to help you submit an application through their online portal.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at reconciliation@dfa.ie. 

National Lottery Community Fund - Sustainable Community Buildings Programme (Northern Ireland)

Grants are available for voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland to support them in making their buildings more energy efficient, helping to save money on bills.

Fund Information

Funding body: National Lottery Community Fund - Northern Ireland

Maximum value: £ 50,000

Application deadline: 20/03/2024

Background

The Sustainable Community Buildings programme is provided and administered in Northern Ireland by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Objectives of Fund

The funding is intended to support organisations with reducing their carbon footprint, creating an environment plan, and improving the environmental performance of their community buildings.

Value Notes

Grants of up to £50,000 are available.

Organisations that apply to the programme will also take part in free carbon literacy training delivered by Business in the Community, which will help them to look at ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Action Renewables will also support organisations to write and implement an environmental plan to consider steps to improve sustainability and cut costs.

Who Can Apply

Applications will be accepted from voluntary and community organisations with an annual income of less than £500,000. This includes:

• Registered charities.

• Unregistered voluntary or community organisations with a governing document, e.g. a constitution.

• Not-for-profit companies (company limited by guarantee).

• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO or SCIO).

• Community Interest Companies (CIC).

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have at least two board or committee members who are not related.

• Have a bank account in the organisation's name.

The applicant's community building must meet the following criteria:

• The building must have been built before 2005.

• The organisation must own their building or have an unbreakable lease for at least six years.

• The building must be open and used, evidenced by the number of people who use the building and its opening hours.

• The organisation must not be solely focused on delivering sports activities, or affiliated with a governing body of sport (recognised by Sport Northern Ireland).

• The building must not already have solar panels.

Location

Northern Ireland

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• Anything that is not listed on the environment plan that the applicant creates together with a sustainability expert.

• Revenue costs for the organisation, e.g. salaries or running costs.

• Activities or events.

• Sports clubs that are affiliated with a governing body of sport (recognised by Sport Northern Ireland) - for example, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Ulster Rugby and Irish Football Association.

• Individuals.

• Sole traders.

• Faith or religious institutions - such as churches, synagogues and mosques. However, faith-based groups that are working in a community setting are eligible.

• Organisations based outside Northern Ireland.

• Companies that can pay profits to directors, shareholders or members (including Companies Limited by Shares).

• Statutory organisations.

• Schools.

• Organisations applying to more than one National Lottery Community Fund programme for the same project over the same period.

• One organisation applying on behalf of another.

• Applications written on behalf of an organisation by private businesses or consultants.

Eligible Expenditure

Grants may be used for capital funding only.

Upon completing carbon literacy training and creating an environment plan, organisations invited to apply for funding to improve their building's environmental performance may use grants to support costs including:

• Solar panels.

• Battery storage.

• Ground-source heat pumps.

• Energy efficient lighting.

• New insulation.

• Energy-efficient windows and doors.

How To Apply

The Sustainable Community Buildings programme will open in stages across Northern Ireland.

In the first application period from 7 February 2024 to 20 March 2024, applications will be accepted from organisations with community buildings located in the following council areas:

• Ards and North Down Borough Council

• Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

• Mid Ulster District Council

• Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

In the second application period from 11 September 2024 to 23 October 2024, applications will be accepted from organisations with community buildings located in the following council areas:

• Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

• Derry City and Strabane District Council

• Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

• Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

In the third application period from 8 January 2025 to 19 February 2025, applications will be accepted from organisations with community buildings located in the following council areas:

• Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

• Belfast City Council

• Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

For all applicants, there is a two-stage application process:

• Stage 1: submit an Expression of Interest - National Lottery Community Fund aims to give applicants a decision in around six weeks. If successful, applicants will be invited to Stage 2.

• Stage 2: full application for funding.

Organisations successful at stage one will be asked to sign up to carbon literacy training. National Lottery Community Fund will also ask organisations to work with a sustainability expert to create an environment plan for their organisation.

Guidance notes and the online Expression of Interest form can be found on the National Lottery Community Fund website.

Useful links

National Lottery Community Fund - Sustainable Community Buildings Programme

Sustainable Community Buildings | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

Deadline - First Application Period

Application start date:

07/02/2024

Application end date:

20/03/2024

Frequency:

Key Deadline

This application period is for organisations with community buildings located in the following council areas:

• Ards and North Down Borough Council

• Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

• Mid Ulster District Council

• Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Call 1 2024/25 Financial Assistance is now open

Newry, Mourse and Down Dictrict Council are pleased to announce that Call 1 2024/25 Financial Assistance is now open and are inviting applications towards the programme areas outlines below:

• Arts & Culture Projects

• Community Engagement

• Community Events, Festivals

• Community Summer Schemes

• Good Relations

• Irish Language

• Minority Communities Fund

• Sports Programmes

• PCSP Community Safety Support

• Tourism Events

Closing: 28 February 2024 at 12 noon

Application and guidance notes can be reviewed online via: https://newrymournedowndc.smartsimpleuk.com/

Grand Choice 2024

Local residents or groups in the Castlereagh East area of Lisburn and Castlereagh can apply for up to £1,000 via the ‘Grand Choice’ participatory budgeting initiative from 15 January 2024.

The key difference between Grand Choice and other council managed funding opportunities is that the successful projects are chosen by the community.  The votes of those living in Castlereagh East will decide which projects will be funded.

Councillor Thomas Beckett, Leisure & Community Development Chairman, said: “Once again the council is proud to be supporting this scheme. There is £15,000 available for projects across the council’s district electoral area of Castlereagh East. This includes the Moneyreagh, Ballyhanwood, Carrowreagh, Dundonald, Enler and Graham`s Bridge areas.

“As with previous rounds of Grand Choice, successful projects can win up to £1,000 and will be chosen by their local community. Voting will be in person at a Community Decision Event on Saturday 9 March in St Mary`s Church of Ireland Hall, Ballybeen, 1A Craigleigh Drive, Dundonald from 11am to 3pm.  We encourage residents in the Castlereagh East area to use their voting power to select the projects they feel best suit their communities.”

Projects that relate to one or more of the Take 5 themes of Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give will be eligible for funding.  

All projects must be completed between March and June 2024.

Councillor Alan Givan, Chair of the Lisburn & Castlereagh PCSP, said: “To date Grand Choice has been a great success in all the other district electoral areas with the most recent held in the Castlereagh South area in October 2023. It offers the perfect opportunity for residents, constituted groups and schools to bring a project or event to their local community.  If you and a few friends have an idea to support your local community then I would encourage you to consider applying.

“You can apply for up to £1,000 for things such as online or in-person activities, events, tutors, workshops, performers or specialist facilitator. Should you have a specific community issue that needs addressed then you could request funding for marketing campaigns or equipment for projects.  If your group is not constituted you must obtain sponsor support from a local constituted group.
“All applications will be assessed to ensure the project is legal, safe, and achievable within government guidance, the budget and timescale. Our communities have the power to decide where the Grand Choice funding goes.

“Three online workshops have been scheduled to help you decide if your project would be eligible for ‘Grand Choice’ funds.  Please join us and talk to the team who will be happy to answer your questions,” concluded Councillor Givan.

The scheduled community Teams workshops are scheduled for:

• Tuesday 23 January 2024 at 6.30pm

• Wednesday 24 January 2024 at 10am

• Thursday 25 January 2024 at 3pm

To register to attend one of the workshop sessions please email: pcsp@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk 

Lisburn & Castlereagh PCSP, PSNI, Sport NI, Ark Housing, Choice Housing and Northern Ireland Housing Executive have contributed to the scheme in addition to the council.

To apply online or to download an application form please use this link before Sunday 11 February 2024.

Boots Charitable Trust Extends Grants Programme to Support Local Communities across the UK

Boots Charitable Trust is an independent registered charity wholly funded by Boots UK Limited. The Trust recently expanded its grants programme from its home base of Nottinghamshire to across the UK.

Registered charities working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development and social care can apply four times a year for grants of between £100 and £10,000. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for smaller voluntary organisations whose income and expenditure is less than £5,000 per year and who are not yet required to register with the Charity Commission.

To be eligible, projects must meet at least one of Trust's four funding priorities:

• Health: Community healthcare, such as homecare or support for sufferers of medical conditions, and health education and prevention

• Lifelong learning: Local literacy and numeracy projects

• Community development: For example, supporting councils in providing voluntary services

• Social care: Personal, social or community activities or schemes.

Additionally, a particular focus within each of these priorities is how the projects demonstrate a commitment to improving diversity, equality and inclusion within the community.

There is particular interest in projects with the capacity to deliver significant impact and which reach the greatest number of people.

The funding can be used for most expenditure items, including salary and running costs. Large building or construction projects will not be funded, although minor structural improvements and refurbishments would be considered.

There are four application windows per year and applications will only be accepted during the quarterly windows.

Applications will next be accepted from 1 to 28 February 2024.

For more information and to apply please visit Boots UK - Boots Charitable Trust (boots-uk.com)

Water Quality Improvement Strand of NI Environmental Challenge Fund Open for Applications

Funding is available to community-focused organisations for projects to help people improve and to connect with Northern Ireland's aquatic environment.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has launched the 2024/25 call for applications to the Water Quality Improvement Strand of its Environmental Challenge Fund Competition. The competition is open to applications from constituted not-for-profit organisations and local authorities, with projects beginning from spring 2024.

All on the ground project activity must take place in Northern Ireland, with the three key themes for funding under this challenge competition as follows:

• Connecting people with the aquatic environment to achieve behavioural change.

• Conservation and restoration of our aquatic environments.

• Nature-based solutions, particularly for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Capital grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 are available to cover up to 85% of eligible project costs. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that sufficient match funding is available to complete their project, and projects must be completed by 28 February 2025.

The deadline for applications is 10 March 2024 (11.59pm).

For more information and to apply, please visit Environment Fund – Water Quality Improvement Strand 2024/25 | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)

Funding to Support Rural Development Projects Across the UK

NFU Mutual Charitable Trust is offering grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 for organisations working in agriculture, rural development, and insurance across the UK to deliver projects and activities across one or more of the Trust’s main objectives:

• To advance the education of the public using research and dissemination of information concerning agriculture.

• To advance the education of young people within rural areas.

• To relieve poverty within rural areas.

• To promote the benefit and social welfare of inhabitants of rural communities by associating together with the inhabitants and local authorities, voluntary and other organisations to advance education and leisure.

• To promote research into agricultural-associated activities.

• To advance the education of the public using research and dissemination of information concerning insurance.

Priority will be given to larger initiatives that would have a significant impact on rural communities, as well as initiatives in the areas of education of young people in rural areas and relief of poverty within rural areas.

Trustees met twice a year to consider applications, typically in June and November.

The next deadline for applications is 24 May 2024. 

For more information and to apply, please visit NFU Mutual Charitable Trust: What do we do | NFU Mutual

Coastal Foundation Fund Accepting Applications for 2024

Sea Changers is offering grants of up to £2500 for community groups and other not-for-profit organisations to help prevent negative impacts on UK coastal and marine environments and species by reducing marine litter through the provision of well-located coastal water fountains that will significantly reduce the use of non-reusable plastic drinks bottles.

The Coastal Foundation Fund will support groups to cover the cost of purchasing a water fountain unit for installation in a busy or environmentally important coastal location. 

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Need and impact – fountains should be placed in areas which either:

• Have significant public use/a lot of littering.

• Are of environmental importance or status.

• Viability to be operational within 2024.

• Sustainability.

• Value for money.

Funding is only for the cost of purchasing a water foundation. Installation or maintenance costs will not be considered.

The deadline for applications is 23 February 2024.

For more information and to apply, please visit Coastal Fountain Fund 2024 | Sea-Changers

Creative Youth on a Shared Island Programme Invites Applications

Grants are available for sectoral organisations to facilitate projects encouraging creativity among 0-24 year-olds across the island of Ireland.

The Creative Youth on a Shared Island funding scheme seeks to reach children and young people by leveraging the experience and expertise of organisations working in the creative, cultural, arts, community and youth sectors. The primary focus is to encourage collaboration among young people, fostering opportunities for creative engagement across the island of Ireland.

The programme is seeking projects from partnerships that are of significant scale and ambition. Applications must be jointly made with at least one partner based in the Republic of Ireland and at least one partner based in Northern Ireland, with a lead partner identified for the project

Eligible projects may include expanding existing initiatives or pilots, and applications are sought from diverse entities, including youth organisations, community development groups, arts institutions, charities, philanthropic bodies, and more.

It is anticipated that a maximum grant of £154,000 (€180,000) will be awarded per project and that at least three projects will be funded. The timeframe for the projects to run is June 2024 to December 2025.

Applications are particularly sought which will foster sustained engagement between young people, as distinct from once off stand-alone events or engagements. Additionally, due to the commitment within the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 to young people who are considered seldom heard, it is envisaged that at least one of the projects funded would target a cohort in this category.

The deadline for applications is 25 March 2024 (5pm).

For more information and to apply, please visit Applications are open for the Creative Youth on a Shared Island Fund - Creative Ireland Programme

The Foyle Foundation Completes its Grant Giving Programme in 2025

The Foyle Foundation will complete its grant giving programme in 2025, marking 25 years of giving to the fields of the Arts, Learning, Community Small Grants, State Schools Libraries and formerly Health.

We are delighted to announce that applications are still open for the final rounds of grants for projects which will complete by the end of 2025.  For full details, including timings of the application process and cut off dates, please see the relevant specific section of each of our grantmaking schemes (Main Grants Scheme, School Library Scheme, Small Grants Scheme).  Please also see Frequently Asked Questions.

What We Currently Fund

The Foundation awards funding in three main areas:

ARTS and LEARNING charities predominantly via the Main Grants Scheme

SMALL CHARITIES of all descriptions (with a turnover of less than £150K per annum) via the Small Grants Scheme (grants between £2K and £10K)

STATE FUNDED SCHOOLS predominantly via the Foyle School Library Scheme (grants between £2K and £10K)

For more information, please visit The Foyle Foundation

The Brian Conlon Foundation

The Brian Conlon Foundation is an independent Charitable Trust set up in Brian’s memory to continue his legacy by supporting causes that were close to his heart and that he was passionate about.

Brian was hugely successful in many walks of life – a high achiever in education, entrepreneurship, sport and in business. When a knee injury ended his budding Gaelic football career, Brian turned his attention to business, setting up First Derivatives from his mother’s spare bedroom in 1996. Now one of Ireland’s most successful companies, it employs nearly 3,000 people with fifteen offices globally. Thousands of local graduates have passed through the company’s HQ in Newry, many of whom ended up being deployed to large financial institutions throughout the world.

Brian was immensely proud of his roots and his hometown of Newry, and, despite all of his success, he remained a humble and generous individual throughout, supporting numerous people and deserving causes, often quietly.

Grants will be awarded to community associations and groups in the Newry area, who are working to advance education, amateur sport, provide opportunities for young people, and assisting communities in the local area.

Grants up to £3,500 will be open for applications.

The Brian Conlon Foundation will support the provision of support for projects based in Newry City – view boundary map here

The fund will focus on the following priorities:

• Advancement of Education

• Advancement of Amateur sport

• Opportunities for young people from the local area

• Assistance for communities in disadvantaged areas

This might include:

• Educational activities supporting people from disadvantaged areas

• Projects that provide enhanced sporting opportunities for people who are particularly disadvantaged

• Projects that will directly benefit those disaffected from mainstream education

• Early years intervention, particularly in disadvantaged areas, within Newry city

Awards will be available of up to a maximum of £3,500 to support small community projects. We anticipate, however, that the average grant will be around £2,000.

Under the most recent funding round (May 2023) – 43% of applicants were successful.

Who can apply?

• Constituted organisations with charitable purposes based within and to support beneficiaries in the Newry city area

Closing date for applications is 9th February 2024.

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

Openreach Community Fund

Constituted grass roots community and voluntary groups – grants between £500-£2000

Criteria:

• Priority will be given to applications from small groups, typically with an annual income of less than £200,000, as evidenced in most recent set of accounts

• Projects must aim to directly support one of the following specific groups:

·       Young people

·       Older people

·       People with disabilities

• The Fund will not support projects targeting all ages.

• Priority will be given to projects that will benefit groups dealing with disadvantage (e.g. rural isolation, low income, social exclusion, reduced access to services), and projects that involve the beneficiaries in their development and delivery.

• In the event of oversubscription, priority will be given to lower income organisations

Examples of types of projects that may be supported within Fund themes:

• Community education and training opportunities

• Communication and leadership skills

• Local initiatives to improve resources and community facilities

• Creativity and self-expression through drama, music or a range of arts activities

• Inclusion and involvement of disadvantaged communities

• Out of school projects for young people

This round of the Openreach Community Fund (previously the Telecommunity Fund) will close for applications at 1:00pm on Tuesday 30 January 2024 .  To apply please check the website – www.communityfoundationni.org

Cregganconroe and Inishative Community Benefit Fund's are now open

Cregganconroe Community Benefit Fund

Purpose of the fund:

This local community benefit fund was set up by Gaelectric in 2016 and is now managed by CGN Europe – a wind energy and energy storage company that believes in a sustainable future. GCN is committed to ensuring that their wind farms, whilst having obvious environmental benefits, also provide significant economic benefits to the local community.

Cregganconroe wind farm is based just off the Loughmallon Road, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone.  The areas located within a 6-mile radius of the wind farm are largely rural, having a rugged mountainous terrain within the Sperrin Mountains and comprises dispersed rural settlements including the hamlets and villages of Cappagh, Galbally,  Pomeroy, Carrickmore, Kileenan  and the Rock.

The Cregganconroe Community Benefit Fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

The Cregganconroe Community Benefit Fund is available for local community projects within a 6-mile radius of the wind farm. Applicant organisations must be located in this area.

Cregganconroe Boundary Map

The fund aims to encourage:

• Any programmes/projects that address marginalisation and help tackle rural isolation.  In particular, support will be considered for transport solutions that allow a greater sharing of local community resources and to allow for improved mobility for the most isolated.

• Projects that have a particular emphasis on maximising community space by providing minor capital works that bring premises or facilities up to modern standards and in line with current building control regulations.

• Activities/services that are specifically aimed at children and young people and older people; provision of local educational classes/training courses and health related initiatives and arts/cultural activities.

• Projects designed to improve and develop local environmental schemes.

• Priority will be given to beneficiaries within the Pomeroy area given their close proximity to the wind farm.

• Projects that encourage greater cross community interaction at a local level with a focus on improving relations between nationalist and unionist communities in the area.  Consideration will be given to activities and events designed to encourage this interaction and cohesion e.g. – Open Days, Festivals and other Community Events including programmes of shared culture, music, sport, drama and dance.

Inishative Community Benefit Fund

Purpose of the fund:

This local community benefit fund was set up by Gaelectric in 2016 and is now managed by CGN Europe – a wind energy and energy storage company that believes in a sustainable future. GCN is committed to ensuring that their wind farms, whilst having obvious environmental benefits, also provide significant economic benefits to the local community.

The Inishative Community Benefit Fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

The Inishative Community Benefit Fund is available to local community projects within a 6-mile radius of the wind farm.  Priority is given to applicant organisations based within the Carrickmore (3.5 miles), Galbally/Cappagh (4-5 miles) and Sixmilecross (6 miles) areas.

Inishative Boundary Map

The fund aims to encourage:

• Stronger more inclusive communities by ensuring that local people have ownership and involvement in the design and delivery of the project.

• Partnership working with community, voluntary and statutory agencies to ensure a coordinated approach.

• Sustainable solutions that address local issues.

• Projects that improve the utilisation of existing community space in each of the above 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.

• Given the remoteness of some of these locations, the isolation and lack of statutory transport provision consideration will be given to local transport initiatives.

• Projects and programmes offering invaluable advice and information and signposting on key rural issues e.g. Farm Support Services, Welfare & Benefits and Parenting/Family issues etc.

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

• Finally, 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.

• Funding will be considered for costs associated with running/administration costs and for purchasing additional equipment to expand services/activities in each of the areas.

• Priority will be given to projects which demonstrate the ability to collaborate, network and share best practice.

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

Applications are open for the Creative Youth on a Shared Island Funding Scheme

The Shared Island-dimension of the Creative Ireland Programme wants to explore creative opportunities for young people to connect.

The scheme seeks to reach children and young people across the island of Ireland.  Our aim is to harness the experience and expertise of organisations working in the creative, cultural, arts, community and youth sectors to engage young people. Together we can bring children and young people together and nurture a sense of collaboration, understanding and hope for the future, through a creative medium.

We are seeking projects from partnerships that are of significant scale and ambition. Applications should have at least one partner based in each jurisdiction. Grant funding of up to €180,000 will be awarded to at least 3 projects. It is envisaged that at least one grant will be awarded to a partnership that targets seldom heard children and young people. The projects should run between June 2024 to December 2025.

A full briefing document and FAQ is available below:

Briefing Document in English
FAQ

Applications must be completed online and submitted via Submit.com by 25th March 2024.

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Opportunities to Receive Further Information and Network

Creative Ireland will be holding three information and networking sessions. These sessions will comprise of a presentation of the fund, Q&A, and the opportunity for applicants to meet potential partners from across the Island in order to collaborate on their projects. We will hold an online session and in person in both Belfast and Dublin. Please follow the below link to secure your place on these sessions:
 

Online        Thursday 18th January                    Register Here

Belfast       Wednesday 24th January                 Register Here 

Dublin        Thursday the 8th February               Register Here

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