Northern Ireland Launches Research Initiative to Address Blue-Green Algae in Lough Neagh

Funding is available to organisations in Northern Ireland to explore potential solutions to treat and reduce blue-green algae blooms without impacting the natural environment of Lough Neagh and associated Northern Ireland waterways.

The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Department for the Economy have launched a new Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition in response to increasing concerns over the impact of blue-green algae on water quality and aesthetics. The algae, particularly prevalent in Lough Neagh in 2023, are fuelled by excessive nutrients from agriculture and wastewater, rising temperatures, and invasive species. The competition seeks innovative methods to treat and suppress these blooms, with the goal of developing practical and environmentally friendly solutions.

Phase 1 of the competition focuses on demonstrating the technical feasibility of proposed solutions. Five successful applicants will receive grants of up to £90,000 each to develop proof-of-concept studies. This phase is set to run until March 2025, with a potential Phase 2 to follow in the 2025-2026 financial year.

Organisations with a viable route to market can apply. Projects must offer practical, energy-efficient solutions for algae treatment that can be scaled and applied to other Northern Ireland waterways. Solutions must also ensure they do not contribute to further environmental degradation or increase water toxicity. Additionally, proposals should address the safe disposal or utilisation of extracted algae biomass.

The deadline for Phase 1 applications is 13 September 2024. For more information, please visit Lough Neagh : Blue Green Algae | SBRI NI (simplydo.co.uk)

NI Arts Groups Invited to Apply for Small Capital Grant Funding

Funding is available for voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland to buy equipment and make minor improvements to their premises, helping them stay active in the arts sector.

The Small Capital Grants Programme provided by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland is intended to support organisations in maintaining their creative spaces and addressing any issues that hinder their work. This includes ensuring necessary equipment is in place to welcome staff, artists and audiences, and supporting the delivery of the arts to maintain and improve artistic quality, accessibility, environment and audience experience.

Grants of up to £20,000 are available. The following criteria apply:

• Applicants do not have to be primarily an arts organisation (for example, community groups may apply to the scheme); however, the purpose of the requested equipment and/or minor works must be clearly focused on the arts.

• Local authorities are eligible to apply but they are a low priority.

• Registered charities and other fully constituted organisations which cannot distribute a profit are eligible to apply.

• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the equipment and/or minor works is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.

• If the organisation has a limited membership, it must show that the equipment and/or minor works will benefit the wider public.

• Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects may apply.

Grants are used to support the costs of equipment and/or minor works to help adapt the organisation's venue or working practice. Eligible costs and activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• New equipment/structures to enhance accessibility/delivery.

• Accessibility equipment and minor works.

• Creation of safe spaces.

• IT equipment to assist/improve arts delivery. 

• Software (pre-loaded operating systems and packages only). 

• Works in relation to upgrading and maintaining existing systems.

• Transport.

• Tablet computers (maximum ACNI contribution of £500).

• Laptops/PCs (maximum ACNI contribution of £1,200).

All purchases and minor works must be completed by 14 March 2025.

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

For more information and to apply, please visit Small Capital Grants Programme | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community Fund Consultation

Passionate about sustainability in your community? Have you had your say on the new €5m/£4.3m all-island SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community Fund?

Our consultation phase has been extended to 23 August. You can share your input by filling out our online survey at https://lnkd.in/e3nkASrj

You don't need to be based close to a SSE energy-generating asset to apply. The investment is part of SSE Airtricity’s commitment to create a more sustainable future for everyone, aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and our mission to support communities, homeowners and businesses on the journey to a net zero future.

Press Release

SSE Airtricity invites local urban and rural communities, as well as individuals, to actively engage in the consultation process for the newly established Generation Green Community Fund. This €5m/£4.3m million fund aims to support sustainability projects across the island of Ireland, offering a unique opportunity for participation in a transformative initiative.

The Generation Green Community Fund is part of SSE Airtricity’s commitment to customers, and the communities it serves, by supporting them on the path to net zero through education, awareness raising, as well as grant funding and energy efficiency supports. The consultation phase is now open, providing an opportunity for communities and individuals to share their ideas on how the fund should be designed and delivered.  

Welcoming submissions, Klair Neenan, Managing Director of SSE Airtricity, said: “Achieving net zero is in everyone’s interest and local communities will be at the heart of the energy transition. We know there are passionate people and groups working hard across the island of Ireland and we want to help them make a positive difference by powering up their sustainability plans. However funding can often be a barrier, which is why we’re delighted to launch our unique Generation Green Community Fund. 

We are eager to hear your ideas and vision about how this fund can best serve your community and advance our shared goals. The form takes just five minutes to complete and will have a real impact on how this Fund is administered. By actively participating in this consultation, you can shape and influence the programme’s design and delivery.”

The consultation process will help establish priorities for the Generation Green Community Fund, ensuring it focuses on what is most important to communities, for example green energy upgrades for community buildings, community biodiversity projects or green skills workshops and education.  

Following the initial consultation period, which ends on 23 August, the Fund will open to applications later this year. To submit your views to the consultation or to learn more, please visit: www.sseairtricity.com/communityfund. 

Grants for physical activity providers

Our grant scheme helps fund activity providers to give people with Parkinson's more opportunities to get and stay active. 

In 2024, we're providing grants of up to £3,000 to support physical activity projects for people with Parkinson's all over the UK.

Before applying, make sure you carefully read the essential guide for applicants and contact your local Parkinson's UK staff member. We also highly recommend using the complete checklist for applicants to help you complete your application.

Finally, we encourage completing the Parkinson's UK: physical activity and exercise awareness course ahead of submitting your application.

For more information, visit Grants for physical activity providers | Parkinson's UK (parkinsons.org.uk)

Funding for UK Schools with STEM Partners to Run STEM Projects in Spring 2025

The Royal Society’s annual Partnership Grant scheme is currently accepting applications from primary and secondary schools, including sixth form colleges, for the third and final round of 2024.

Grants of up to £3,000 are available for partnership projects between a school partner from the UK and a STEM partner from academia or industry for a specific investigative project that increases the appeal of science and engineering to children aged 5 to 18 years across the UK. (STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.)

The funding, which is predominantly to be used to buy equipment, is for projects that meet the following criteria:

• Students involved in the project must be between 5 and 18. Reception years are eligible if the project is run in conjunction with other age groups. Sixth form and further education colleges are also eligible.

• The title of the project must be a scientific question that the students are attempting to answer by completing their research.

• The project must be specific to the school and cannot be part of a third-party scheme or competition.

• There must be at least one term between the date the application is submitted and the project starting to allow time for judging and administration to transfer funds.

• The project must run for a minimum of one term.

The deadline for applications is 29 November 2024 for projects starting from April 2025.

For more information, visit Partnership Grants | Royal Society

Small Grants to Support Unpopular Causes, Particularly in Areas of Deprivation

Registered charities and other organisations which are not charities, but which seek funding for charitable work can apply for grants of up to £3,000, though most grants will be for less than £1,000.

The funding is for charitable causes that are unpopular or do not receive widespread attention within the UK, with particular focus on deprived areas. This could be due to negative focus within the media; due to difficulty in accessing statutory, voluntary and institutional funding; due to the cause being seen as politically controversial; or because the issue is not typically seen as a charitable cause.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Asylum seekers and refugees

• Migrant communities

• Offenders and ex-offenders

• People experiencing violence or abuse

• Sex workers

• Trafficking and modern slavery

• Dependency or Addiction

• LGBT+

• Sexual and reproductive health.

The funding can be used for overheads, core costs, or administrative costs where they improve the sustainability and long-term success of an organisation.

This funder is looking to support organisations to undertake work and projects which are sustainable beyond the period of funding.

To be eligible, applicants must have an average annual income of less than £300,000, a bank account in their name, and a safeguarding policy if working with children or vulnerable adults.

Applications are encouraged from organisations that work together and can demonstrate how their work improves collaboration across the sector.

The next deadline for application is 1 August 2024 for awards in late summer.

For more information, visit Seven Friends Foundation | Registered Charity

Cash for Kids - Sports Challenge Now Open

The Cash for Kids Sports Challenge is a fundraising competition for grassroots sports groups. The funds support initiatives to encourage the participation of disadvantaged or disabled children and young people in sports.

Currently, only groups from certain locations in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland may apply for funding. Applicants are advised to check the Cash for Kids website for the eligible regions.

The following organisations who work for the benefit of disadvantaged or disabled young people (up to and including the age of 18) may apply:

• Local sports groups with a formal governance document.

• Charities, community, and voluntary groups that deliver sport or physical activity in their community with a formal governance document.

• Community amateur sports clubs.

• After-school sports clubs.

If selected, the group must fundraise as much money as they can (from 7 September to 7 October) and finalise the Cash for Kids grant application form on the GivingisEasy platform that was completed as part of the application process.

The top three fundraising groups will receive an additional £5,000, £2,500 and £1,500, respectively. Furthermore, there are special awards of £500 each for the Teamwork Award and Sports Challenge Champion Award.

The closing date for applications for groups to be considered for the fundraising competition is midday on 2 September 2024.

For more information, visit Sports Challenge | Cash for Kids | Helping the children that need it most

7Stars Foundation Reopens for Third 2024 Funding Round

7Stars Foundation is offering grants of up to £2,500 for registered charities with an annual turnover of less than £1.5 million across the UK to deliver projects and activities that support young people aged 16 years and under across the priority themes of abuse, addiction, child carers, and homelessness.

Funding for offered across the following streams:

• Project grants to cover the costs of projects that respond to one or more of the funding priorities of the 7stars Foundation.

• Shine Bright funding for registered charities to purchase items and resources to protect and support the children they serve through the cost-of-living crisis.

• Direct grants funding to individuals affected by the Foundation's priorities, supported by outreach/social/care workers or legal professionals. (Applications must be submitted by the supporting professional/organisation.)

• Social Impact funding for three charities across the year for projects that align with awareness days across the year.

The trustees typically meet four times a year to review grant applications.

The next deadline for applications is 31 August 2024. 

For more information, visit Apply for Funding - the7stars foundation

£1,000 Grants for People of Colour in Arts (UK)

Through the Grand Plan Grant, funding is on offer to support people of colour who want to create and deliver a new cultural project.

The programme supports creativity in all its forms, including poetry, paintings, fashion, zines, music, food, flowers, photographs, workshops, events, or something else completely.

Grants of £1,000 are available to cover the cost of equipment, courses, applicant's time, materials, travel, etc.

Applications are open to UK-based individuals, aged over 18, who and identify as a person of colour (Black, Asian, Brown and/or part of the Global Majority).

The deadline for the current round is 7 August 2024 (18:00).

For more information, visit Application Guidance — Grand Plan (grandplanfund.co.uk)

Funding to Help With Maintaining Public Memorials in UK

Grants are available to help with VAT on the construction, repair and maintenance of public memorial structures in the UK for work which took place on or after 16 March 2005.

The funding is intended to cover the costs of VAT already paid. The maximum grant available is the full rate of VAT (20% of project costs).

Applications will be accepted from registered charities and faith groups excepted from registering as a charity to help with the cost of works like repairing and cleaning public memorials or installing a new memorial. 

The memorial can commemorate a person/people, an animal/s or event/s.

The funding can only be provided for works that have already taken place. It cannot be used for future works. Part-funding is available for ongoing work for parts of the work which have been completed.

To be eligible, the memorial must:

• Be a public memorial

• Be a structure or involve construction

• Have a commemorative purpose

• Be single purpose.

• Be accessible to the public allowing people to visit, reflect, and pay their respects. The public must have access for at least 30 hours per week.

The funding is for relevant costs which are services provided by a VAT-registered contractor, such as

• Construction of an eligible type of memorial

• Cleaning

• Repairs

• Removal of graffiti

• Repainting or other decoration

• Minor landscaping of areas around a memorial (where it is part of other eligible work)

• Minor landscaping in the course of memorial construction.

Local authorities, costs which can be reclaimed from HMRC, grave markers, headstones, mausolea, memorial gardens and trees are not eligible for funding.

The deadline for applications is 30 September 2024.

For more information, please visit East Midlands Business Limited | EMB Group (emb-group.co.uk)

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:

• 29 July 2024 (14:00)

• 1 August 2024 (11:00)

• 6 August 2024 (15:00)

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)