National Lottery Community Fund to Close Two Northern Ireland Programmes

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced that two Northern Ireland programmes, People and Communities and Empowering Young People, will close for new applications in May 2024.

Each year, the National Lottery Community Fund awards nearly £30 million to communities across Northern Ireland. When the Fund launched its strategy 'It starts with community' in June 2023, the organisation committed to review its funding programmes in NI. Since then, National Lottery Awards for All has been refreshed and the Fund launched a new environmentally focused programme in Northern Ireland, Sustainable Community Buildings.

Closing People and Communities and Empowering Young People is intended to allow time to prepare for the launch of a new National Lottery grants programme in autumn 2024. Organisations applying before this date should note that demand is expected to be high, and should ensure their project idea strongly fits with the criteria before completing an application.

The following levels of funding are available:

• People and Communities offers grants of between £20,001 and £500,000 for projects lasting between one and five years.

• Empowering Young People offers grants of between £20,001 and £500,000 for projects lasting between one and five years.

Applicants can expect to hear from the National Lottery Community Fund within around six weeks of submitting their application.

The final deadline for new People and Communities or Empowering Young People applications is 13 May 2024 (5pm).

For more information please visit Funding in Northern Ireland | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

Christmas Festive Fund 2024 & Live Smart Grant is now open for applications

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has developed the Christmas Festive Fund to support Community Associations from the towns, villages and hamlets to help celebrate Christmas. Due to a limited funding pot only ONE community group per settlement will be successful.

Projects / events must take place between Saturday 30th November 2024 and 18th December 2024.  Activities must be cross community and open for all residents offering an opportunity for all within the locality to participate.

Levels of Grant Award are as follows:-

FUND A – Up to £2,500

Applications for settlements with a population of 1,000 and above can apply for a range of costs relating to festive entertainment. Priority will be given to projects that promote wide community involvement for outdoor events celebrating this festive period.

FUND B – Up to £750

Applications for settlements with a population between 100 -999 can apply for a range of costs relating to festive entertainment. Priority will be given to projects that promote wide community involvement for outdoor events celebrating this festive period.

You may find it helpful to discuss your application with one of the following officers within the Tourism Events Team before submitting your application:

Sara Adair              07856280307  sara.adair@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Tracey Freeman   07712235746   tracey.freeman@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

The Christmas Festive Fund closes for applications on Friday 31st May at 12 noon. For detailed guidance notes please select https://grants.ccgbcapps.com/

The LiveSmart Community Environment Grant is now open for applications.

Our 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 £750 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.

• FoodSmart: aims to prevent/reduce food waste and save money by encouraging and enabling us all to think, shop and eat smarter.

• PlasticSmart: aims to prevent/reduce plastic use and increase recycling with simple, practical actions. • LitterSmart: aims to prevent and reduce litter through education, encouraging responsible disposal and supporting local people to carry out litter lifts.

• ClothesSmart: aims to raise awareness of the impacts of purchasing, encourage lifelong care and reduce waste to landfill by giving unwanted clothes and textiles a new lease of life through donation, repair, reuse and recycling.

Applicants can request a grant up to a maximum of £750. 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.

Lisburn & Castlereagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership – Project Support Programme – 2024/25

The aim of our PCSP is to help make our communities safer by focusing on the policing and community safety issues that matter most across the City.  The Partnership is funded by the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) through the Joint Committee and Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

We have political representatives, statutory organisations and publicly appointed members of the community that play a role in tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

To help make Lisburn & Castlereagh safer, the PCSP will:

• consult and engage with the local community on the issues of concern in relation to policing and community safety.  The Policing Committee has a responsibility to provide views to the relevant district commander and the Policing Board on policing matters

• identify and prioritise the particular issues of concern and prepare plans for how these can be tackled

• monitor – a Policing Committee comprising the political and independent members will monitor the performance of the police and work to gain the co-operation of the public with the police in preventing crime

• deliver a reduction in crime and enhance community safety in the district, directly through its own actions, through the work of delivery groups or through support for the work of others

The funding specifically aims to obtain the co-operation of the public to work with the police to prevent crime and enhance community safety. Therefore this funding may be used to either improve an existing, or start/develop a new relationship with the police.

Funding is available to local groups, organisations and partnerships wishing to undertake a Policing and Community Safety Project under one of the following objectives:

Objective 1

To:

• work in partnership with local communities to reduce the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour by promoting local intervention initiatives

• to reduce the harm and effects of drug and alcohol as a contributing factor to crime and anti-social behaviour

• continue to work in partnership to increase reporting of Domestic Abuse incidents and to provide support for victims of Domestic Abuse

• increase the confidence in policing by developing and enhancing opportunities for engagement between local communities and police

Objective 2

To reduce:

• the fear of crime and help people feel safer, especially vulnerable groups and/or those at risk of becoming victims of crime including addressing hate crime

• road deaths and serious injuries by working in partnership with statutory and voluntary organisations

• the number of burglaries by working in partnership with key statutory and voluntary organisations

• reduce business and retail crime

Projects should have a direct impact on the creation of safer communities with lower levels of crime, fear of crime and anti-social behaviour and/or increased confidence in the police/reporting of crime within our council area during the period up to 28 February 2025.

The project support programme will be allocated in the range of £500 to £5,000.  

Lisburn & Castlereagh PCSP is not obliged to accept any or all bids and reserves the right to fund successful applications in part or in full.

Only one application will be accepted from each group/organisation/partnership.  

Projects submitted should contribute to and reflect the aim of funding section as outlined in either objectives 1 or 2.

For more information please visit Guidance Notes for Lisburn & Castlereagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership – Project Support Programme – 2024/25 - Lisburn & Castlereagh (lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk)

Material Focus Electricals Recycling Fund

The Electricals Recycling Fund aims to grow existing methods or test new creative and practical ones for recycling small household electricals. If you have a project that would make it easier for the public to repair, reuse or recycle their electricals, apply for funding below!

Almost 80% of people think recycling their electricals is the right thing to do – but only 45% of people think it’s easy. We are looking to fund projects that make it easier for the UK to repair, donate or recycle their old electricals.

Funding applications are currently open on a rolling basis, which means there is no deadline for them.

Submit an application

For more information please visit Electricals Recycling Fund - Material Focus

Openreach Community Fund (previously the Telecommunity Fund)

Who can apply:

Constituted grass roots community and voluntary groups

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

The Foundation will not fund organisations or activities which promote causes that are contrary to our purposes. Causes and activities that are contrary to our purposes include, but may not be limited to, those outlined in our investment policy. We will not therefore fund organisations or activities which we determine are linked to the promotion of armaments, alcohol, human rights abuses, tobacco or pornography.

The Fund will also not support organisations who advance religion, including those who have purposes within their governance to advance religion, or who seek financial support for any projects aimed at advancing a particular religion.

Examples of previously funded projects: 

• A 6 week programme of music therapy for children with autism. 

• A creative arts and crafts programme for older people. 

• The provision of an afterschool homework club in conjunction with a youth club. 

• A 12 month drama therapy programme for adults with learning disabilities. 

• A six week youth programme to design and produce outside art in the playground. 

Please note that this is a competitive process and that The Openreach Community Fund (previously the Telecommunity Fund) is normally significantly oversubscribed. Under the most recent funding round (January 2024) – 14% of applicants were successful.

Applying for The Openreach Community Fund (previously the Telecommunity Fund)

This round of the Openreach Community Fund (previously the Telecommunity Fund) will close for applications at 1:00pm on Tuesday 28 May 2024 .

It is recommended that you read our Grant FAQs before starting your grant application. Should you have any further questions please contact the Grants Team on 028 9024 5927.

For more information, please visit Openreach Community Fund (previously the Telecommunity Fund) - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Screwfix Foundation

The Screwfix Foundation is a registered charity set up in 2013. We are passionate about making a difference to communities across the UK. We are a grant giving charity with a clear purpose to support projects that improve, repair and maintain homes and community facilities used by those in need throughout the UK.

The Screwfix Foundation currently offers local registered charities and not for profit organisations funding up to the region of £5,000. All applications are reviewed individually by our team on a quarterly basis, the review dates are in March, June, September and December. Please see our Full eligibility criteria.

How do we raise money? We raise funds throughout the year to support causes that will change people’s lives. Look out for raffles and fundraising weeks held within Screwfix stores and you can also round up your pennies when shopping online at www.screwfix.com or on the Screwfix app.

As well as helping local charities and not for profit organisations, we also partner with Macmillan Cancer Support, donating funds towards their home improvement programme, which helps people suffering from cancer in financial need with minor home improvements.

You can see all of the great charities we have supported here.

Before applying for funding from The Screwfix Foundation, your organisation MUST:

• Be a registered charity or not for profit organisation.

• Help those in need. This could be by reason of financial hardship, sickness, distress or other disadvantages in the UK.

• Be looking for funding to support projects that relate to the repair, maintenance, improvement or construction of. homes, community buildings and other buildings.

Please see our Full eligibility criteria.

For more information and to apply, please visit Screwfix Foundation | Screwfix

The B&Q Foundation supports hundreds of registered charities across the UK every year.

Providing grants for a wide range of charities who are looking for funding to improve or develop spaces that benefit their local communities.

We know that charities are pushed for time and that is why we work with the team at Neighbourly to make the application process as easy as possible. Follow the three-step process below to apply for a B&Q Foundation grant.

STEP1

Check our grant criteria

Check that your charity and potential project meets our grant criteria:

Guidance & FAQs

STEP2

Apply for a grant

If your organisation meets the criteria for receiving a grant, please use the link below to apply through Neighbourly.

 https://www.neighbourly.com/BandQFoundation2024

STEP3

We'll be in touch

We’ll assess your application and one of the team will be in touch. Please note due to the volume of applications it can take up to 2 months after the deadline to be notified with the outcome.

For more information, please visit Apply For a Grant | B&Q Foundation (bqfoundation.org.uk)

The Small Grants Programme

The PCSP Small Grants Programme has been developed to support community and voluntary organisations to deliver diversionary and detached youth engagement projects which will target areas of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the Borough. 

The Small Grants Programme will open on Thursday 25 April 2024 and application packs will be available below.

The purpose of the Small Grants Programme is to develop community safety awareness amongst young people to tackle ASB in local neighbourhoods and encourage positive lifestyles.

Projects must demonstrate that they can address ASB in hotspot areas where groups gather and engage in a range of negative behaviour including substance abuse, criminal damage, disruption, nuisance, street drinking, trespassing, drug trafficking and rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour.

Funding Available:

The total amount allocated to the Small Grants Programme is £28,000, and the maximum grant available to each project is £4600.

Prospective applicants should note that all offers of funding are conditional and subject to the necessary budgets being secured by the PCSP.

Small Grants Application Pack 2023 2024 (Including guidance notes)

PCSP Small Grants Application Pack 2024-2025 (Word doc) [745KB](opens new window)

Closing Date:

The closing date for receipt of applications is 4pm on Friday 24th May 2024.

Late applications will not be considered. Applications should be emailed in PDF format to pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Support Available:

If you require guidance or support, please contact the PCSP team on 07748 148 796 or pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Funding for Financial Wellbeing Projects Focused on the Transition to Net Zero

Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust makes around 15 to 20 awards each year and intends to award around £3 million annually to organisations undertaking charitable activities in the UK for projects focused on financial wellbeing. This includes voluntary organisations, think tanks, campaigning groups, research bodies and universities. 

Funding is intended for strategic work that has the potential to improve financial wellbeing for those on low to middle incomes and on a national scale, including:

• Policy work.

• Campaigning.

• Research.

New for 2024, the Trust has launched a Climate Change and Household Finances in the UK programme. The programme aims to support projects focused on the household finances of people on low-to-middle incomes in the UK during the transition to Net Zero and adjustment to climate change. The Trust's general funding criteria apply to the programme, and projects must focus on Net Zero and financial wellbeing within one of the main funding programme themes: income, assets and spending.

Eligible projects under the programme may focus on the following areas:

• Transport.

• Consumerism.

• Energy use.

• Labour market transitions.

• Other relevant Net Zero and financial wellbeing themes.

Funding is available for UK-wide projects. However, the Trust is keen to support work in Scotland, including UK-wide work with a Scottish element.

There is no minimum or maximum size of grant. Grants typically range between £10,000 and £200,000, with most being between £50,000 and £120,000 in total. The funding may be spread over one, two or three years, and sometimes shorter periods, for example six months.

Project and ongoing costs are eligible for funding, including staff salaries and overheads. 

Applicants to the Climate Change and Household Finances in the UK programme must contact Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust before applying.

There are typically two application deadlines per year.  

The second deadline for outline applications is 3 June 2024 (13:00).

For more information, please visit Home | abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

Steel Charitable Trust Accepting Applications for Rolling Grants Programme

Charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) and municipally funded museums across the UK with an annual income of more than £50,000 can apply for funding to deliver a variety of projects and activities across the following core categories:

• Arts and Heritage

• Education

• Environment

• Health

• Social or Economic Disadvantage

Proposed projects for the health category should have a focus on one of the following:

• Programmes and activities that aim to support, maintain, and improve mental health in any demographic.

• Health care for older people.

Proposed projects for the social or economic disadvantage categories should focus on one of the following:

• Disadvantaged children.

• Housing and homeless people.

Funding can be used to cover core costs, capital works, and specific projects.

The minimum grant size is £10,000. Awards of more than £25,000 are rare.

There are typically four application periods throughout the year.

The next application deadline is 11 July 2024.

For more information, please visit steelcharitabletrust.org.uk

Wellbeing of Women Launches Women’s Health Community Fund

Working in partnership with Holland & Barrett, the charity Wellbeing of Women is offering grants of up to £5,000 to small, grassroots organisations and community groups to deliver health information and support to women, girls and people from underrepresented groups in the UK.

The funding is for projects that address the following key points:

• Projects that aim to improve information, education and support for menstrual health, related gynaecological conditions e.g. PCOS, endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, PMDD, and menopause.

• Support people and groups that are often underrepresented in mainstream healthcare, information and services, for example people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds (BAME/global majority), LGBTQI+, people living with disabilities, deaf people, blind and partially sighted people, people experiencing homelessness, addiction, people living in areas of economic deprivation.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to spend across 12 months. Funds will be distributed in two tranches, 50% at the beginning of the project and 50% upon receipt of a six month report.

The deadline for applications is 19 May 2024.

For more information, please visit Women’s Health Community Fund - Wellbeing of Women

Fibrus Community Fund Open for 2024

Funding is available for community groups and voluntary organisations to address digital poverty in rural communities in Northern Ireland.

The Fibrus Community Fund is awarding grants of a maximum of £2,000 to assist local groups and organisations in certain areas to improve digital access for the most marginalised members of the community, with a particular focus on older people, people on low income and people with disabilities.

Examples of the types of projects that could be funded include:

• Projects that provide access to engage with a range of digital devices (laptops, tablets, iPads, smart phones, etc), such as a community loan facility, etc.

• Projects that strengthen the capacity of individuals to use a range of available digital services, such as training workshops or courses.

• Projects that provide access to enhance connections with others, such as a community-use internet hub, or internet café, etc.

The Fibrus Community Fund will have one round of funding in 2024. Applications will be accepted from community groups, voluntary organisations and other local, grassroots or community-led organisations with an annual income below £50,000. A detailed list of eligible postcodes can be found on the Community Foundation Northern Ireland website.

The deadline for applications is 17 May 2024 (1pm).

For more information, please visit The Fibrus Community Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Community Cashback is back!

Does your local community group need funding? Spar’s grant scheme is aimed at supporting and giving back to the communities that they serve. 

This year, they’ve got 20 x £1000 grants to give back to local communities.

Applications for this year’s scheme open on Thursday 11th April 2024 and close at 23:59 on 22nd May 2024.

To apply for a grant please visit SPAR NI donate £20,000 to local community organisations | SPAR (spar-ni.co.uk)

Sports Forum and Capital Grants 2024-2025

Funding is available to clubs through the annual Sports Forum Grant and Capital Grant Scheme. Both grants are managed by Sports Development. 

Further information on grants and making an application is available by emailing the team at: sportsdevelopment@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Sports Forum Grants

Sports Forum Grants are now available for 2024/2025 to affiliated Sports Forum members.

The various funding streams available include the following:

• Anniversary - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £750.

• Club Travel and Accommodation - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £500.

• Coach Education - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £500.

• Equipment - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £1000.

• Event - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £1000.

• Goldcard - Application/Guidelines - Access to Council Leisure facilities at reduced rates.

• Individual Travel and Accommodation - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £500.

• Schools Clubs Pathway - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £500.

• Seeding - Application/Guidelines - Grant value up to £250.

Sports Forum Grants are only available to Sports Forum members who have been affiliated for a minimum of three months prior to application. £45,000 has been allocated for 2024/2025 financial year, application forms and guidance notes for each grant are available:

• By emailing sportsdevelopment@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

• Contacting Sports Development on 07741 235231/0300 0133333 ext.40338

• Online at www.leisureardsandnorthdown.com/sports-development/funding

• Sports Development, Londonderry Park, Newtownards BT23 8SG

Capital Grant Scheme

The Sports Development Capital Grant Programme provides financial assistance to eligible Sports Clubs for the delivery of capital projects and the purchase of capital equipment. ‘Capital Expenditure’ is defined as expenditure for purchase, improvement, restoration and construction of an asset directly related to the applicant organisation. It should have ‘physical substance’ i.e. be a tangible asset that can be listed on an asset register or a company’s balance sheet (e.g. equipment, buildings) for use in the delivery of an organisation’s activities; and it should have a useful life of more than one year. 

The Council has set aside £45,000 for 2024/25 financial year and can award up to 50% of eligible capital costs with a maximum award of £5,000 in respect of any one project. Following grant assessment and allocations and if there is funding remaining, Council may consider awarding grants of more than £5,000 should the need be identified and in merit order.

Capital Grants are now open for 2024/2025. Deadline for submission is July 29th 2024 for assessment.

Application Process
Download an Interactive form by clicking here - Capital Grant Form and Guidance Notes

Please submit forms to Sportsdevelopment@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Comic Relief Launches New Youth Homelessness in the UK Fund

This is a new funding opportunity for UK based not-for-profit organisations that specialise in providing holistic support to young people aged 16-25 in the UK, who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness.

Comic Relief is offering flexible, core funding in the way of grants of up to £200,000 over a three to five year period to organisations which do both of the following:

• Specialise in the provision of holistic support to young people aged 16-25 in the UK, who are at immediate risk of, or experiencing homelessness. Support services should be tailored, inclusive and accessible, to remove barriers and better meet the multiple and diverse needs of young people at immediate risk of or experiencing homelessness. This work could be delivered by the applicant alone or in partnership.

• Meaningfully involve young people with lived experience of homelessness, or who have been at risk of homelessness. This should include involving young people in the development of the organisation’s work and priority areas, and/or in the running of the organisation.

Although not a requirement, there is interest in organisations who work to change public attitudes towards youth homelessness and/or reduce the stigma and discrimination that young people face. This influencing work can be done either by the applicant or by working in partnership with others to effect change.

To be eligible, applicants must have an annual income of between £250,000 and £10 million and a set of annual accounts.

Comic Relief predominantly funds charities. Organisations that are not a registered charity must have a governing document that outlines the organisation's social purpose, demonstrating that any profit or assets are used for this purpose, and show that an asset lock is in place.

Flexible, core funding is designed to support the good work of organisations, and not just projects. This could mean core funding of the organisation’s annual budget to continue its good work, or funding to expand the work, or to add something new that amplifies the work or its results.

The deadline for applications is 7 May 2024 (15:00).

For more information and to apply, please visit Youth Homelessness in the UK | Comic Relief

Breast Cancer Charities have until 31 May to Submit a Grant Application (UK)

The Pink Ribbon Foundation is currently accepting applications from across the UK to its annual grants programme.

Grants of up to £6,000 are available to breast cancer charities in the UK that assist people affected by breast cancer and organisations that work on breast cancer research and prevention. The funding is for projects and initiatives that make a direct impact on individuals with breast cancer in the UK.

For the 2024 grant period and with requests for assistance growing, the Foundation decided to focus in the main on organisations with limited financial resources to deliver their services.

Application should relate to a specific project, not 'business as usual' or core costs. However, the Foundation has ‘helped out’ with core costs should the need be vital to the continuity of an organisation. Up to 15% of requests can be for unrestricted funding for the organisation to use as it deems necessary.

In most instances, the Foundation will consider funding delivery for projects that are already up and running. These can also be pilot programmes that are being rolled out to reach a new or much wider audience or projects that take a new approach in tackling a specific challenge.

Registered charities, community interest groups and social enterprises with a legal constitution and charitable objectives may apply.

The Foundation welcomes applications from all ethnic and minority groups. 

Grant applications must be hard copy and reach the Foundation by the deadline.

The deadline for applications is 31 May 2024.

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

Ultach Fund for Irish Language Community Activities Invites Applications

An annual funding programme available to community organisations in Northern Ireland wishing to use and promote the Irish language is accepting applications.

The Ultach Fund is administered by Community Foundation for Northern Ireland after originally being established with capital from The Iontaobhas Ultach Trust. The fund is accepting applications for projects taking place in 2024/25 from registered charities and constituted grassroots community and voluntary groups based in Northern Ireland.

Funding is intended for projects that promote and encourage the use of the Irish language at community level and demonstrate cross-community aspects. Examples include:

• Irish language classes, courses and other relevant learning opportunities.

• Structured Irish language social events to improve fluency and/or support fluent Irish language speakers, including families.

• Production of Irish language learning or awareness resources, such as innovative publications and relevant digital resources.

• Irish language arts based activities.

Eligible costs include:

• Small capital costs, where essential to the project.

• Running costs may be deemed eligible for Irish language centres.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available.

The deadline for applications is 7 May 2024 (1pm).

For more information and to apply, please visit An Ciste ULTACH / The Ultach Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

Cultivating Creativity: National Lottery Funding for Northern Ireland Arts Initiatives

An annual programme designed to assist organisations to deliver arts projects which contribute to the growth of arts in the community for new and existing audiences, and which reflect the diversity of Northern Ireland's society and culture, is accepting applications.

The National Lottery Project Funding programme provided by Arts Council of Northern Ireland is inviting applications from a wide range of legally constituted organisations including registered charities, public sector bodies, commercial organisations and partnerships of organisations working together.

Projects must take place between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Eligible projects and activities include:

• Projects, events and programmes of activity together with related overhead costs associated with the delivery of the project/event or programme.

• Projects which contribute to the growth of the work force and/or artistic development through mentoring programmes or opportunities.

• Projects which promote mental health and wellbeing for all participants.

• Projects which have sustainable development at their core, or which address environmental issues.

• Accessibility costs: these are costs associated with the delivery of a project for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998, eg sign language interpretation, Braille paperwork, transport costs, carer costs.

• Continuation of salaries of existing administrative and/or arts posts.

• New work commissions and productions in all art forms.

• Research and Development.

• Audience Development - to meet the needs of audiences and to help arts organisations develop ongoing relationships with diverse audiences.

• Touring (in more than one local authority area).

• Presentations or exhibitions (in more than one local authority area) of work by artists and arts organisations, which develop opportunities for audiences to attend international events in Northern Ireland which they might not otherwise see.

• Projects which are planned to reach significant audiences through 'live', 'as live' or recorded digital performance, publication, broadcast, reading, recording, and/or other audience channels.

• Modest requests for capital equipment, website design and upkeep costs and digital platform development will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and these must be integral to project design and/or delivery and/or specific project costs.

Grants of between £10,001 and £75,000 are available. Applicants are required to provide a minimum of 10% of total project costs from non-Lottery, non-Arts Council sources, comprised of cash and/or in-kind funding.

The deadline for applications is 7 May 2024 (12 noon).

For more information and to apply, please visit National Lottery Project Funding 2024-2025 | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

Triangle Trust to Open for UK Applications with New Focus for 2024

Following on from its change in funding strategy last year, the Triangle Trust 1949 Fund is focusing its funding in 2024 solely on not-for-profit organisations working with vulnerable young women and girls who have been in the criminal justice system or who are at a high risk of entering it.

 The Trust holds two grants rounds per year with grants of up to £80,000 over two years (up £40,000 can be requested per year):

• The Spring round is for proposals wanting to work with young people who already have a criminal conviction.

• The Autumn round is for proposals focused on targeted work with high-risk young people on the edge of the criminal justice system.

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

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have previous experience of working with vulnerable young women or girls either on the edge of the criminal justice system or who already have criminal convictions.

• Be requesting funding for a project working exclusively with young women and girls.

• Work solely with women and girls.

• Have a proven track record of running projects working with young women and girls that is both gender and trauma informed.

• Be proposing a project with targets that are specifically linked to either reducing the number of young women or girls who reoffend or reduce the number of young women and girls who receive a first conviction.

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

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

The Trust particularly welcomes applications from organisations working in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Spring 2024 application window opens on 18 April and closes on 23 May 2024.

For more information and to apply, please visit The Triangle Trust

Heart of the Community Fund 2024

The Heart of the Community Fund is an open grant round designed to meet the needs of not-for-profit organisations delivering vital services and supports to people across the island of Ireland.

The Ireland Funds recognises the challenges organisations face in securing funding to build their capacity or meet their core costs, so the Heart of the Community Fund 2024 will provide Organisational Investment Grants. The application form will enable you to share what you’re working towards and how you deliver on your mission, so we can get a picture of your organisation as a whole. If your application is successful, you can then allocate the funding to meet your most pressing needs.

How to Apply 

Applications are being accepted through the online portal only, which will be available on the website from Monday, April 15th. Please read the guidelines in full before beginning your application.

The closing date is Friday, May 3rd. Late applications will not be accepted.

APPLY NOW

Funding Levels

The Heart of the Community Fund 2024 will provide grants between €5,000-25,000 to not-for-profit organisations with an annual turnover of less than €/£3,000,000.

At least €500,000 will be distributed through this grant round.

How will this work?

The application form includes questions that will help us understand what your organisation does, why you do it, who you do it for and how you monitor your effectiveness. It also includes questions about your budget for the year and how much your current shortfall is, as well as a section where you can provide some examples of what this funding could be used for.

The Ireland Funds Grants Team will assess your application and, if your application is successful, will determine the most suitable amount to offer your organisation within the range available.
When you receive the grant offer, you will then be asked to specify the designation for the funding e.g. €10,000 for Marketing Manager Salary and €10,000 for Utility Bills.

They understand the need to have flexible funding that can be deployed throughout the year as needed, so up to 25% of the amount you are awarded can be designated to your “Flexible/Contingency Costs Fund”.

Please note that funds must be expended within 12 months.

Funding Priorities 

In 2024, within the four pillars, they will prioritise applications from organisations working in the following spaces:

1. Community Integration and Inclusion

The focus here is ‘Belonging’. Your organisation defines what community means to your work e.g.older people, LGBTQI+, people with disabilities, migrants etc.

2. Youth and Family Supports

This stream focuses on areas such as youth clubs, food provision and mental health supports. For the purpose of this grant round, youth is defined as 0-18years.

You will not be asked to self-identify as aligning with one or more of these priorities, our team will determine that based on your application.

If your organisation works outside of these areas, please still feel welcome to apply, just note that these areas are where we will focus the majority of funding.

Contact

Due to an expected high volume of applications, all inquiries will be dealt with through email. Please contact us at grantsinfo@irelandfunds.org if you have any outstanding questions that have not been addressed through the information provided.

For more information, please visit Grants - The Ireland Funds, Progress through Philanthropy