Groups Supporting Families of Convicted Individuals in Northern Ireland Invited to Apply for Project Funding

Funding is available to community groups across the island of Ireland to facilitate projects to improve the system of support for families affected by convictions and imprisonment.

St Stephen's Green Trust is inviting applications to its Family Matters programme, which prioritises families in the criminal justice system, aiming to reduce harm, aid rehabilitation, and strengthen family bonds to lower reoffending risks, while considering the best interests of both families and prisoners.

The programme supports non-profit groups across the island of Ireland through two strands of initiatives:

  • Under Strand 1, groups can apply for grants to support work which tests new approaches, adds value to current family support work and develops pathways to knowledge and learning around how to improve the situation for families. The focus is on children and families with a loved one affected by convictions and imprisonment as well as developing and strengthening systems which acknowledge prisoners as a family member.

  • Strand 2 funds groups which are working strategically towards the programme outcomes. Funded groups should have a good understanding of the context for family support systems in the criminal justice sector and have ambitions for improvement using a systems change approach.

The following levels of funding are available:

  • Strand 1 - groups can apply for one-year grants of up to £6,000 (€7,000).

  • Strand 2 - groups can apply for up to £21,500 (€25,000) per annum for one to three years.

Groups should only apply under one strand unless there are particular reasons for applying under both strands - for example, as part of a consortium.

The deadline for applications is 9 September 2024.

For more information, please visit St Stephens Green Trust – grant programmes: families affected by imprisonment (ssgt.ie)

Northern Ireland Community Groups Invited to Apply for Environmental Improvement Funding

Funding is available to community groups in Northern Ireland for local projects aimed at promoting civic pride within communities and improving the environmental quality of shared community spaces.

The Small Grants Scheme forms a key part of the wider Live Here Love Here programme, a partnership between local councils, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. The scheme's 2024/25 funding round will be accepting applications from local community organisations including:

  • Community and voluntary groups (including non-constituted groups).

  • Sports clubs.

  • Churches.

  • Youth groups.

  • Schools and third level education organisations.

Funding is intended for purchase of equipment and items that enable volunteers and community groups to deliver practical environmental action in their locality. Eligible costs and activities include:

  • Community food growing projects.

  • Development of community gardens.

  • Planting for pollinators.

  • Addition of assets to existing shared places.

  • Materials to tackle dog fouling (in line with local councils' own schemes).

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to constituted organisations, and non-constituted groups can apply for a maximum of £1,500.

The 2024/25 funding round will open for applications on 27 August 2024 and close to applications on 17 September 2024.

For more information, please visit Live Here Love Here | Small Grants Scheme (etinu.net)

National Lottery Community Fund Makes Some Changes to its UK Fund

Created last summer, the UK Fund has been ­­a significant commitment to the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) new strategy ‘It Starts with Community’ which aims to tackle social issues facing UK communities.

In its first year, the UK Fund focused on supporting communities to connect in ways that better fit changing lives.

A year on, NLCF is increasing the focus and investment in creating lasting change for children and young people as part of its community-led mission to support communities to help children and young people thrive.

Grants of between £500,000 and £5 million are available for not-for-profit projects that run for 2 to 10 years.

The funding is intended to increase the impact of what is already being done.

Projects need to:

  • Benefit communities across the UK (by working in different locations, or by sharing learning between countries).

  • Scale up their impact by expanding their work (by helping more people, or doing more for people they already work with).

  • Support people experiencing poverty, disadvantage, and discrimination.

  • Help make significant changes to services or systems that affect people’s everyday lives.

Projects must also meet at least one of the following aims:

  • Improve relationships between people with different life experiences.

  • Help people and communities who find it difficult to meet face-to-face to make meaningful connections online.

  • Help people from all backgrounds to influence the future of their communities.

  • Help children and young people facing specific challenges change the systems that affect them.

  • Help more organisations to involve and listen to children and young people.

NLCF is holding three webinars giving further details about the recent updates to the fund:

Registration for the webinars is required and can be done through the NLCF website.

Registered charities, constituted voluntary and community organisations, companies limited by guarantee, CICs, CIOs, community benefit societies, co-operative societies, statutory bodies and partnerships can apply for funding.

Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information, please visit The UK Fund | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

Applications Open for Tenant Support Funding from Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Funding is available to voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland for projects and activities that promote the welfare of Housing Executive tenants and the sustainability of their tenancies.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is investing a total of £3 million through its Sustaining Tenancies programme for the 2023-25 period. Expressions of Interest are now invited for the second tranche of funding, which will provide grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 to fund projects lasting up to 36 months.

Applications will be accepted from constituted voluntary and community groups based in Northern Ireland. This includes (but is not limited to):

  • Housing Community Network groups.

  • Residents' groups.

  • Social enterprises, charitable organisations and Community Interest Companies that are limited by guarantee.

Grants are used to support the delivery of projects that address one or more of the programme's Priority Areas:

  • Early tenancy support for new Housing Executive tenants (within the first 12 months of a tenancy starting).

  • Projects that help Housing Executive tenants to manage their tenancies and look after their homes.

  • Projects that provide practical and social support to care experienced young tenants (under the age of 25) to set up a tenancy or build resilience in an existing Housing Executive tenancy and strengthen their community ties.

  • Practical support within the home for older Housing Executive tenants (does not include therapeutic support for medical conditions, eg hoarding).

  • Intensive support for Housing Executive tenants with acute mental health issues or other vulnerabilities in localities where there are gaps in services.

  • Crisis intervention models.

Eligible costs and activities include salary and volunteer expenses, venue and transport hire, minor property works, and purchasing goods, materials and equipment.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest for 2023-25 Tranche Two funding is 8 August 2024 (4pm).

For more information and to apply, please visit The Housing Executive - Sustaining Tenancies (nihe.gov.uk)

Grants Available for Children’s Summer Holiday Activities (UK)

Sports or holiday clubs across the UK can apply for a share of £150,000 to provide activities for children under 18 during the summer holidays.

The Tesco Stronger Starts Fund – Activity for All campaign, delivered in partnership with the Sun Newspaper, aims to improve children’s access to physical activity by funding better equipment, resources and healthy food and snacks for those who need it most.

150 grants of £1,000 are available to support a wide range of sports and physical activities to promote children’s health and wellbeing, particularly those unable to access their usual provision or where cost is a barrier.

The closing date for applications is the 5th August 2024.

Learn More 

Funding to Address Violence Against Women & Girls (UK)

Grants of up to £25,000 are available to support organisations run by and for women who stand up and take action to address violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The funding can support organisational development work that empowers and strengthens frontline VAWG organisations. At least eighteen organisations are expected to be supported.

Organisations with an average annual income of between £100,000 and £500,000 can apply. The funding is being made available by the charity Rosa through its Stand With Us Fund which closes to applications on the 30th July 2024.

Learn More

The Foyle School Library Scheme Final Deadline Announced - Reminder (UK)

The Foyle Foundation has announced that its School Library Scheme will finally close to applications on the 30th September 2024.

The scheme awards grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 to UK state schools to improve or establish their libraries. Priority is given to primary schools up to Key Stage 2, but secondary schools that need books and reading resources for catch-up reading programmes for Key Stage 3 pupils and/or transition reading programmes for feeder/local primary schools will also be considered. The Foundation can also consider applications from special schools for all SEN age groups.

Applications can be submitted at any time up to the final deadline.

Learn More

Peter Harrison Foundation Active Lives Programme (UK)

Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) throughout the United Kingdom can apply for grants of up to £50,000 to the Peter Harrison Foundation Active grant scheme.

The grant scheme aims to provide opportunities for sport and physical activity at a grassroots level that enable physically, mentally, socially or economically disadvantaged people to develop personal and life skills to fulfil their potential. The grants can be used for various purposes, such as funding new sports programmes, improving existing sports facilities, or providing training and support for sports coaches.

Priority will be given to organisations with an annual turnover of up to £500,000. The next closing date for applications is the 1st October 2024.

Learn More

National Churches Trust: Small Grants

Next Deadline : 30 August (midnight)

This programme offers our Small grants of between £500 and £5,000 (with capacity to award  up to £10,000 where the case for investment and need are demonstrated to be very high, and funds are available to award) towards urgent maintenance works and small repairs identified as high priority within a recent Quinquennial Inspection, Building Survey or Condition Report. Also, small investigative works and surveys.

Project costs should be up to £20,000 incl. VAT and awards will never exceed 50% of the costs. Decisions are made on a rolling basis.  Small grants | National Churches Trust

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council: 'Sports Club Accelerator’ Fund

Applications are open for the second year of the ‘Sports Club Accelerator’ Fund to provide much needed financial support to local sports clubs.

Up to £3,000 is available exclusively for sports organisations to help meet the costs associated with their development. The fund is aimed at sports clubs located within the Lisburn and Castlereagh area who are affiliated to both a national governing body as well as their local sports advisory body, Sport Lisburn & Castlereagh.

The closing date for applications is Friday 23rd August. For more information contact Kevin.Madden@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk

See ‘Sports Club Accelerator’ Fund - Lisburn & Castlereagh (lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk)

The Fore’s Funding Programme Opens for Registration on 24 July

The Autumn 2024 funding round opens for registration at 12pm (midday) on 24 July 2024 and closes at 12pm (midday) on 31 July 2024.

The Fore provides unrestricted grants to small charities and social enterprises based in the UK.  The funding is intended to have a transformational impact on the organisations being supported by unlocking exponential growth, sustainability, efficiency, or some other major step forward.  There is particular interest in grassroots organisations working with underserved communities.  The grants are viewed by the Fore as investments in the organisations it supports.

The Fore funds work across the following charitable sectors:

  • Arts and culture / Disability / Economic development and employability / Environment / Health and wellbeing. / Housing and homelessness / Human rights, law and justice / Poverty and disadvantage / Sport / Women and girls / Youth and education.

For more information please visit Home - The Fore

Barclays Community Football Fund Invites UK Applications to Round 2

Barclays Bank in partnership with the Sported Foundation is offering grants of up to £1,000 to not-for-profit organisations operating in an area of high deprivation to support delivery of their football activities to engage with young people (under the age of 25 years) from underrepresented groups.

This is an access grant which aims to help improve access to football for all. The funding is for groups that are running football activities for one or more of the following underrepresented groups: women and girls, young people with disabilities, young people from racially diverse communities, young people from the LGBTQ+ community and young people from lower socio-economic groups.

The funding can be used for anything that will support delivery of football activities to underrepresented groups. Typical examples of costs might include a contribution towards:

  • Venue hire including floodlights and heating / Coaching costs / Volunteer expenses / Equipment / Kit / Marketing and communications / Training and qualifications / Insurances and affiliation.

Apply to the Barclays Community Football Fund 2024 | Sported

Northern Ireland Youth Service Small Grants Programme Accepting Applications

Funding is available to young people aged 4-25 years, who are part of an Education Authority Youth Service registered group, to take part in projects which have been planned by young people for young people in Northern Ireland.

The Small Grants Programme is intended to strengthen the participation of young people as decision-makers within the local and wider community by providing grants for projects which contribute to one or more of the following aims:

  • Promote youth participation, leadership, and volunteering.

  • Build and develop life skills.

  • Promote positive mental health, wellbeing, and self-care.

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

  • Demonstrate care and concern for the environment.

  • Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within the programme.

The programme is open to groups of young people aged 4-25 years, who are part of an Education Authority Youth Service (EA-YS) registered (and verified) group. The group applying should be made up of no less than three young people.

Groups can apply for:

  • A maximum of £500 for a one-off event.

  • A maximum of £1,500 for a group work programme with multiple sessions.

Grants can be used for equipment, venue hire, transport, and consumable and material costs associated with the project.

The deadline for applications is 30 September 2024.

Small Grants Programme 2024-2025 | Education Authority Northern Ireland (eani.org.uk)

Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership Programme

The Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) is a joint venture between the Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and the Health and Social Care Board with strategic direction offered by a multi-agency Steering Group. BCPP projects address a wide range of issues operating in both villages and urban housing estates. The projects work best when local groups work with pharmacists in their own area although some projects do cover a wider geographical area. The funding is intended to promote and support local communities to work in partnership with community pharmacists to address local health and social wellbeing needs using a community development approach. 

The overall aims of the programme include:

  • Enabling project participants to achieve their full potential.

  • Supporting pharmacy to fulfil their role as advocates for public health within communities.

  • Supporting community partners to recognise and address health inequalities in their community.

  • Increasing social capital to build connected and engaged communities.

The following grants are available: Level 1 grants: £2,500 maximum for a six-month project. / Level 2 grants: £12,000 maximum for a one-year project.

Building the Community-Pharmacy Partnership Programme | Community Development and Health Network (cdhn.org)

CFI at Home Funding 2024

The Community Food Initiative (CFI) is a programme that aims to positively influence the eating habits of families with children across the Island of Ireland. The programme runs over a three year cycle (2022-24) and its purpose is to support the development of knowledge and skills around food and cooking. The programme is funded by safefood, an All-island government body responsible for the promotion of food safety and healthy eating. The programme is managed by SECAD Partnership on behalf of safefood.

 

CFI at Home

safefood is inviting organisations who are not currently involved in the CFI to apply for funding to deliver an online project that meets the criteria of the CFI at Home Programme.  The purpose of the CFI at Home Programme is to support families in their own homes to develop their food and cooking skills.  Projects could include all or some of the following elements:

 

·     Learning how to prepare & cook a recipe

·     Attending an online cookery session

·     Online support groups for sharing ideas and tips

·     Online interactive talks delivered by a dietitian or registered nutritionist

 

Examples of online projects that were delivered during 2020 and 2021 can be found at this link: CFI Booklet 2019-21

 

safefood Resources

The resources needed to plan and deliver a CFI at Home project can be found on the safefood website at www.safefood.net/cfi-hub and include:

 

•    Recipe books and videos

•    Food Pyramid and EatWell Guide posters and leaflets

•    Kitchen skills and food safety videos

•    Booklets and posters on healthy eating and food safety

 

Funding

Interested organisations can apply for funding up to a maximum of €2,000 or £1,720 to deliver a project in their local area.

 

Applicant Organisation Criteria

Organisations must:

 

•    Be community-led organisations with a legal status and appropriate governance structure

•    Be experienced in the management of public funds which support social inclusion initiatives

•    Currently employ and manage full time professionals with community development experience

•    Have experience of working with the target group identified

•    Be supporting other broader community initiatives through their work

•    Provide supports across communities irrespective of age, race or creed

 

Preparing an Application

Please contact SECAD Partnership for details on how to apply for the funding at:

 

Sinéad Conroy

SECAD Partnership CLG

T: 00 353 (0)87 354 3606

E: sconroy@secad.ie

 

Closing date for application

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but as all activities must be finished by 1st November 2024, it is important that applications are submitted as soon as possible.

Sustainable Community Buildings

Sustainable Community Buildings helps organisations identify and make changes to their community building, to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on bills.

Groups will have the opportunity to complete free carbon literacy training and work with energy experts to develop environment plans, to identify how they can improve sustainability and save money. Grants of £50,000 are available to make improvements such as the installation of solar panels, energy efficient lighting or improve insulation.

More information can be found on the Sustainable Community Buildings webpages: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/sustainable-community-buildings

When to apply

Applications will open from 11 September 2024 to 23 October 2024 for groups with community buildings in Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council or Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area.

Applications will open from 8 January 2025 to 19 February 2025 for organisations with community buildings in Belfast City Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council area.

The programme was open for applications earlier this year for organisations in
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Mid Ulster District Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council and Armagh City and Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area.

Around 50 applicants have now completed accredited carbon literacy training and are identifying what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint, save money and improve their area.

As part of their strategy to 2030, It starts with community, The National Lottery Community Fund has a clear focus on funding groups that consider environmental sustainability.

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


Enquiries: 028 9055 1455 or enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

Climate Action Fund

The Climate Action Fund is open to applications from organisations in formal partnerships, with ideas inspired by people’s everyday lives and interests, to help communities tackle climate change and be environmentally sustainable.

They want applications from those new to climate action, and are particularly interested in projects that involve people, places and communities experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.

The minimum amount awarded is £500,000, but they expect to fund most projects for between £1 million and £1.5 million over 3 to 5 years.

More information can be found on the Climate Action Fund webpages: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/climate-action-fund-our-shared-future#section-2

Northern Ireland Community Organisations Invited to Apply for Youth Integration Project Funding

Funding is available for cross-community projects that give disadvantaged young people (aged 11-18) in Northern Ireland the opportunity to work together on practical projects that foster teamwork, creativity and personal development, especially within the arts or in the great outdoors.

Hope for Youth (formerly the Women Caring Trust) was founded in 1972 and helps young people in Northern Ireland, particularly those from disadvantaged areas. Community organisations based and working in Northern Ireland are invited to apply to its annual grant programme to support delivery of projects which:

  • Engage with young people in Northern Ireland, normally aged between 11 and 18 years.

  • Foster community integration.

  • Focus on outdoor activities, sport, music, dance, drama and the arts.

  • Promote personal or team development.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate a cross community emphasis, eg a focus on improving community integration in regard to cultural, ethnic or religious diversity.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. Larger sums may be offered in exceptional circumstances at the Trustees' discretion.

The deadline for applications is 31 July 2024.

For more information, please visit Grant Applications — Hope For Youth NI

Funding for Community Tree Planting Projects Across the UK

The International Tree Foundation is offering grants for community-based organisations across the UK to deliver tree-planting projects that protect and restore indigenous trees and woodlands, support community engagement in tree planting, and increase awareness of the importance of trees and forests to environmental and human well-being.

The UK Community Tree Planting Programme will support projects that meet the following essential criteria:

  • Plant trees in public/publicly accessible spaces: sites that are readily accessible to the public, including schools, parks, rights of way, and sites managed by community groups.

  • Plant indigenous tree species: this may include traditional fruit trees and ‘honorary’ natives where appropriate.

  • Engage community members in tree planting and enjoying the benefits of woodlands.

  • Have clear plans for maintenance and sustainability.

In addition, for this funding round proposed projects must meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Engage children and young adults in tree planting and learning about trees.

  • Engage vulnerable groups and groups with low access to woodlands.

  • Create biodiversity in habitats.

  • Conserve soil and water.

  • Demonstrate new approaches, such as agroforestry.

  • Support rewilding and natural regeneration.

  • Support work or research on tree pest and disease resistance and climate change adaptation.

  • Support urban tree planting.

Grants are available across two funding streams:

  • Grants for community woodland/hedging projects that range from 100 to 25,000 trees planted per year, with a maximum price equivalent to £1.95 per tree.

  • Grants for community orchard projects of up to 30 trees planted per year.

There is a two-stage application process. Groups must first submit an online Expression of Interest form before being shortlisted to complete a full application.

The deadline for applications is 13 December 2024 (noon).  

For more information please visit International Tree Foundation

Which? Fund 2024 Opens for Applications

Which?, the UK’s consumer champion, is inviting UK registered charities, universities with exempt charitable status and not-for-profit Community Interest Companies registered in the UK to apply for a share of the £75,000 being made available for 2024/25.

In this call for applications, the Which? Fund is offering restricted grants to support work aiming to:

  • Improve understanding of consumer harms affecting diverse and disadvantaged communities, including novel harms in digital markets.

  • Identify evidence-led, pragmatic solutions to consumer harm.

  • Develop partnerships and encourage collaborative working to provide a more powerful voice for all UK consumers.

To be eligible, projects should address at least one of the following funding calls:

  • Projects exploring consumer harms experienced by diverse and disadvantaged communities, such as women, people living with disabilities or health conditions, low-income households or members of diverse ethnic communities.

  • Projects exploring consumer harms experienced by diverse and disadvantaged communities in digital markets, where information asymmetries, malign online choice architecture, automated decision-making, AI interfaces, dynamic pricing and other characteristics of digital markets can place consumers at a distinct disadvantage, and some groups may face greater detriment than others.

There is no set minimum or maximum grant. It is anticipated that a small number of high-quality projects will be funded. Applicants should cost their project based on what they need. It is expected that projects will take up to 12 months to complete.

Applications will be accepted from 19 June 2024 to 19 September 2024.

For more information please visit The Which? Fund - Which? Policy and insight