Applications Open for Northern Ireland's Arts and Older People Programme

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency and the Baring Foundation, is inviting applications for its annual Arts and Older People funding programme. This initiative offers grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 to support projects that enhance the representation of older individuals and promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing through the arts.

The programme aims to combat social isolation, poverty, and health issues affecting older people by encouraging their participation in arts-led activities. Eligible projects must align with one or more of the strategic themes, such as combating loneliness, fostering social inclusion, addressing poverty, and promoting mental health and wellbeing.

The funding is open to constituted community and voluntary groups, non-governmental organisations, local authorities, and arts organisations that work with older people in Northern Ireland. Applicants must demonstrate strong partnership working, particularly with care homes, carers and dementia groups.

Projects that focus on strengthening the voice of older people are particularly encouraged. These projects should offer artistic, professional and personal development opportunities to help older individuals advocate on issues affecting them.

Funding can be used for a variety of costs, including venue hire, materials, equipment, artists' fees, publicity, and community consultation. Supported projects are expected to commence after 1 January and be completed by 31 December 2025.

The deadline for applications is 17 October 2024 (12 noon). For more information, please visit National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

LCCC Good Relations Grant Programme

The Good Relations Grant Program opens today, Thursday 5th September. This grant aims to support community / voluntary organisations in the delivery of programs which focus on the objectives of good relations. Submissions for the Good Relations grant will close on Monday 23rd of September at 12 (noon).

Apply: Good Relations Grant 2024 - Lisburn & Castlereagh (lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk)

For assistance, grant workshops will be held on two dates:

Wednesday 11th September from 7pm-9pm in Bridge Community Centre, Lisburn

Tuesday 17th September from 7pm-9pm Ballyoran Community Centre, Dundonald

please email community.services@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk to book

A maximum award of up to £2,000 is available for any one organisation during the period of this funding.

More information is available on LCCC Website and social media platforms.

September Deadline for NI Textile Waste Skills Project Funding Applications

Funding is available to fashion and textiles sector organisations in Northern Ireland to support projects addressing textile waste through waste prevention, reuse, repair and reimagining.

The Tackling Textiles Grant: Skills and Innovation programme is administered by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful on behalf of the Northern Ireland Executive's Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). The programme, in its third year, is inviting applications to support the delivery of projects that meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Supporting the development of new skills around reuse, repair and reimagining of clothing and textiles within the wider community.

• Encouraging individuals and communities to reduce the amount of clothing and textile waste generated.

• Providing jobs, skills or training opportunities for individuals and/or communities which support the reduction of textile waste.

• Exploring new approaches to tackling textile waste which could include IT, fabric choice and design, learning/e-learning, sustainable garment design or research.

Eligible organisations include charities, social enterprises, not for profit organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises. Each applicant organisation can submit only one application, with the exception that an applicant may also be named as a partner in a second collaborative bid.

Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 are available.

The deadline for applications is 20 September 2024. For more information, please visit Tackling Textiles - Skills and Innovation Fund (Pilot Programme) (knib.app)

Funding and Support for Innovators in Dementia Care - Applications Open in October

The Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator Programme is targeting businesses creating a product or service that makes everyday tasks easier for people living with dementia.

Applicants may be using novel technologies to unblock challenges in the dementia pathway, or they could be giving an existing product a new purpose in the dementia space.

The programme offers a year-long partnership including: 

• £100,000 of funding.

• Expert innovation and dementia support.

• Peer-to-peer learning.

• Opportunities to learn from people living with dementia through co-creation.

• Support during the application process.

Applications are sought from early stage UK businesses solving problems in the dementia space. Applicants should be able to demonstrate proof of concept and early product traction. Applications from underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.

The 2024-25 programme opens to applications on 28 October 2024.

For application reminders and tips around how to apply, interested parties can register interest in the upcoming round.

For more information, please visit Accelerator Programme | Alzheimer's Society (alzheimers.org.uk)

Funding for UK Charities Helping People Over Age 65 – Brief Application Window

UK registered charities which promote a proactive approach to the physical and mental wellbeing of people who are over 65 years of age have until 10 September to submit their application.

Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 (average grant is £1,500) are available to UK-based charities that can demonstrate how they are making the lives of older people (over the age of 65 years) better.

The charity's work should fall into one of the following categories:

• Health and welfare - grants are for the refurbishment of residential care housing for the elderly and for building projects which are nearing completion. Consideration will also be given to the provision of equipment and furniture to enhance care and improve quality of life.

• Community and innovation - grants for community initiatives such as exercise classes for the over-65s, lunch clubs, horticultural therapy and day trips. Consideration will also be given to technology projects aimed at benefitting the over-65s.

The funding is for:

• Capital projects, such as refurbishment, furniture or equipment.

• Innovative projects such as IT for the elderly, fitness classes, lunch clubs, gardening projects, etc.

The trustees are interested in supporting a diverse range of charities, from large institutions to small community-run organisations. There is no upper limit in regard to annual turnover.

Applications are accepted from 1 September to 10 September 2024.

For more information, please visit W.G.Edwards Charitable Foundation (wgedwardscharitablefoundation.org.uk)

Halifax Foundation Celebrates 40 Years with Funding Programme for NI Charities

Established charities in Northern Ireland have the opportunity to secure significant funding through the Halifax Foundation's 40 INVEST programme.

The programme, launched to celebrate the Foundation's 40 years of grant-giving, is offering grants of up to £40,000 over two years to ten successful applicants. The funding aims to support charities working with the most vulnerable groups in society, including those living in poverty, those who are unemployed, and individuals with disabilities or mental health challenges.

In addition to the main grant, an extra £5,000 will be provided to each grantee to aid capacity building initiatives. This funding can be used to cover a wide range of costs, including salaries, materials, overheads and volunteer expenses.

Eligible applicants must be registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or another UK or Irish charity regulator, have an annual income of less than £250,000, and have published at least one year of annual returns. The programme also requires that charities have a safeguarding policy, adequate insurance, and a board with at least three unrelated trustees.

The deadline for applications is 30 September 2024 (12 noon).

For more information, please visit 40 Invest - Halifax Foundation NI

Make a BIG difference with a Small Grant!

The Small Grant Scheme will reopen for applications on 27th August 2024, offering another exciting opportunity to apply for funding for projects aimed at revitalising shared greenspaces benefitting the community and the environment. Since 2014, the funding stream has supported local community volunteers focused on environmental action. 

This grant scheme seeks to:

• Increase civic pride and improve the quality of the local environment through the creation of quality shared spaces.

• Transform underused spaces into vibrant and valued community places by adding habitats and increasing access to visitors.

• Deliver actions and projects in line with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful's Strategic Plan 

• Improve the health and wellbeing of communities whilst helping to improve and/or maintain public spaces.

• Improve the quality of the local environment by reducing littering and dog fouling through community action. 

• Support environmentally focused actions that help support people impacted by reduced contact with society.

To apply, please visit Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Submission Manager (submittable.com)

Scops Art Trust Accepting Applications for Third 2024 Funding Round

Scops Art Trust is offering grants of up to £30,000 to registered charities, and other constituted, not-for-profit organisations across the UK, to deliver projects that help people to understand, participate in, and enjoy the arts, particularly the performing arts (music, drama, opera, and dance).

In 2024, the Trustees have decided to move towards a more focused grants-making process, focusing on a particular performing arts area in each grant round.

For the third and final trustee meeting of 2024, the Trust is interested in applications to support instrumental and choral music groups, alongside children’s music education.

Priority will be given to small-to-medium-sized organisations. Most grants will be awarded for specific projects, but the Trust will also contribute towards the core costs of smaller organisations where a grant could make an impact.  Both one-off and multi-year grants will be considered.

There is a two-stage application process. Groups must first complete an eligibility check before being invited to submit a Stage 1 application.

The next deadline for Stage 1 applications is 10 September 2024. 

For more information, please visit Scops Arts Trust - Grant Funding for the Arts

Motability Foundation has announced closing date of 8th October for all stage 1 applications

There are a number of grants available through Motability Foundation’s grant programme which supports disabled people through other charities and organisations who provide transport, help to access it, or research how to make transport accessible. 

Active Travel  Active Travel Grant Programme | Charitable Grants | Motability Foundation

Community Transport  Community Transport Grant | Charitable Grants | Motability Foundation

Reducing Barriers to Driving Reducing Barriers to Driving Grant | Charitable Grants | Motability Foundation

Research grants Research Grant Programme | Charitable Grants | Motability Foundation

Travel with Confidence Travelling with Confidence Grant | Charitable Grants | Motability Foundation

Wheelchair Sector Grant Wheelchair Grant | Charitable Grants | Motability Foundation

Closing date is 8th October 2024

Healthy Heart Grant

Healthy Heart Grants offer up to £15,000 for community projects aimed at supporting adults to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease, helping them to live healthier, happier and longer lives. Projects must focus mainly on one or more of the following: healthy eating, physical activity, smoking and/or alcohol consumption.

Grants are available to charities and community interest companies across the UK.

Are you a small, registered charity or community interest company with an annual income of less than £1 million? Do you have an idea for a project that will improve heart health?

Apply here - Healthy Heart Grant Application Form 2024 - Northern Ireland - Formstack

Sport NI: Creating Opportunities

Project Creating Opportunities is the next phase of funding to connect communities, enabling more people to take part in sport and physical activity throughout Northern Ireland.

In particular, a focus of the project is to ‘level the playing field’, so that accessibility and inclusion is felt and experienced by those who have been traditionally excluded from not only participating in sport, but playing an active role within the club (e.g. coaching, officiating and leading as part of a board).

You will need a crowdfunding project to apply for funding. Start creating your campaign project at Start crowdfunding | Crowdfunder UK and, if eligible, you’ll be prompted to apply for our funding. Have a look at the videos below which will explain the process in more detail. This investment aims to support projects and initiatives that are creative and innovative and will engage or re-engage people back into sport.

Important Documents

Funding Conditions

Guidance Information

Creating your Crowdfunder Campaign Page

Creating Opportunities FAQs

Terms & Conditions

Who is Creating Opportunities for?

Applications should focus particularly on people from at least one of the following priority groups:

• Women & girls;

• People with disabilities;

• Children & young people – especially those aged between 11-18 years;

• Older people aged over 50;

• Ethnically diverse communities;

• LGBTQ+ community;

• People living in areas of greatest need (based on NISRA postcode, quartile1);

• People living in rural areas (based on NISRA postcode)

Our match funding, of up to £5,000, aims to help the sports sector ‘level the playing field’.

To be eligible to apply you must be one of the following organisations:

• A constituted sports club which is affiliated to a governing body of sport which is recognised by Sport NI OR Sport Ireland.

o   Recognised Sport NI Governing Bodies

o   Recognised Sport Ireland Governing Bodies

• A community/voluntary sector organisation that delivers or enables sport and/or physical activity as your primary activity. Sports and activities must be recognised by Sport NI.

• A charitable trust that delivers or enables sport and/or physical activity as your primary activity. Sports and activities must be recognised by Sport NI.

• A constituted Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that delivers or enables new/additional extracurricular sport and/or physical activity including outdoor activity residentials. Sports and activities must be recognised by Sport NI

For more information, please visit Creating Opportunities | Sport NI

Hunter's Hill Wind Farm Community Fund

The fund is currently open to receive applications. In order to apply to the fund applicants must return a completed application form and supporting documentation by email to Omagh Forum by the deadline of 12 noon on 23rd August 2024

Applications from organisations and groups within 7.5km of Hunter’s Hill Wind Farm are eligible.

Proposed projects must demonstrate a clear focus on one or several of the following fund themes:

• Education and skills

• Health, safety and wellbeing

• Environment and habitat conservation

• Energy efficiency and sustainability

• Culture and heritage

• Recreation, sport and social inclusion

For more information, please visit Hunters Hill Community Fund 2024-25 Now Open | Omagh Forum

Funding for Innovative Projects that Engage the Public on Topic of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Inspire Fund has opened for applications. This call is offering seed funding grants of up to £5,000 per project to new applicants from across the UK.

The funding is for projects that meet both of the following core criteria:

• Projects must engage with underserved audiences on the topic of dementia, such as minority ethnic communities, marginalised or socio-economically disadvantaged people.

• Build knowledge and understanding about brain health (in the context of dementia risk reduction) and explore ways to encourage behaviour change.

Projects can use a range of methods to engage with their audience and applicants are encouraged to consider their audience when selecting methods of engagement, to ensure people are able to take part.

Applications will be accepted from people with a range of backgrounds and expertise, such as dementia researchers, community groups, artists, creative organisations, and people responsible for cultural spaces such as museums and libraries. There is particular interest in proposals led by community groups and organisations. Applicants are encouraged to forge links with collaborators or groups to grow the scale of ideas and the impact of projects.

The grants will not support projects providing dementia care or other frontline services (including arts therapy).

An online information webinar will be held on 17 September 2024 (12-1pm) for potential applicants to find out more about the scheme and ask questions. Applicants can sign up to attend on the ARUK website.

The deadline for applications for seed funding grants is 14 October 2024. For more information, please visit Inspire Fund – public engagement grant - Grant scheme - Alzheimer's Research UK (alzheimersresearchuk.org)

Funding for Children Experiencing Disadvantage to Take a Holiday Before the New Year

The Henry Smith Charity’s Holiday Grants programme supports recreational trips or holidays for groups of children aged 13 or younger who experience disadvantage or who have disabilities. There is particular interest in contributing to trips that would not take place without the Charity’s funding.

Applications are currently being accepted for holidays taken between 1 September and 31 December 2024.

Schools, youth groups, not for profit organisations and charities in the UK can apply for a one-off grant of between £500 and £2,750 to support a day trip or a longer residential of up to a week for groups of children aged 13 years or younger. The trip could be to a countryside or city location but must be outside of the children’s immediate locality. Day trips should not involve a disproportionate amount of time spent travelling. Consideration will be given to trips which are more local but these should have an emphasis on providing a new experience for the children and broadening their horizons.

Priority will be given to projects level that will benefit disadvantaged and disabled children in the most deprived areas in the UK.

Grants are made on a first come, first served basis until the available funding for that round has been fully allocated. All applications should be received at least six weeks before the date of the trip to allow for administrative processing and decision making.

The deadline for applications is 19 November 2024. For more information, please visit Holiday Grants for Children - The Henry Smith Charity

Edge Fund’s Annual Funding Programme Opens for UK Applications

The Edge Fund is offering 40 grants of £1,000 each to communities and campaign groups based in the UK and Republic of Ireland that are working for social, economic and environmental justice.

The Fund supports efforts to create long-term change in society by addressing the causes of injustice and inequality by achieving social, economic and environmental justice and to end imbalances in wealth and power. It also gives people a say in where the money goes and is an alternative fund for those who struggle to get funding elsewhere.

The grants will support:

• Work that creates long-term change in society by addressing the causes of injustice and inequality.

• Work addressing issues facing a particular community that is led by that community i.e. lived experience is key.

• Groups based in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

• Small groups that struggle to get funding elsewhere, particularly if other funders might consider them to be too radical.

• All types of non-profit organisations, including groups that are not formally registered.

Groups who have a religious purpose are welcome to apply (but financial support for any activity, initiative or project where the primary aim is to promote religion cannot be funded).

Two online Q&A sessions will be held on 30 August and 6 September 2024.  Interested applicants should register online.

Social enterprises, registered charities and CICs are not usually funded but applicants should contact the Edge Fund for further information. The funding is not available for traditional charity work that only aims to, for example, improve health and well-being, relieve financial hardship and unemployment, improve social inclusion and harmony, conserve the environment, advance education and training.

The deadline for applications is 13 September 2024. For more information, please visit Edge Fund

Henry Moore Foundation Accepting Applications for Sculpture Projects Across the UK

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

 The Foundation offers funding in the following categories:

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

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

• Research and development:

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

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

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

There are typically four deadlines per year.

The next deadline for applications is 1 September 2024. For more information, please visit Grants & fellowships | Henry Moore Foundation (henry-moore.org)

Branching Out Fund Accepting Applications for 2024/25 Winter Planting Season

The Tree Council is offering grants of between £250 and £2,500 for schools, constituted community groups and charities, community interest companies, Tree Warden networks, and other organisations across the UK to deliver tree-planting projects during the 2024/25 Winter planting season (between the end of November 2024 and early February 2025).

Through the Branching Out Fund, groups can purchase:

• Bare root, UK-sourced and grown, native trees of an appropriate size (priority will be given to younger trees that will establish better).

• UK-sourced and grown, bare-root whips (saplings) and cell-grown (root trainer) stock for hedging projects (between 40-120cm height).

• Hedgerow trees.

• Orchards, such as fruit trees on semi-vigorous, vigorous, and very vigorous rootstocks.

• Cardboard/bioplastic tree/hedge guards.

• Non-plastic ties.

• Stakes (coppiced material such as chestnut or hazel is preferred, although machined softwood will also be considered).

• Mulch.

• Non-peat-based soil improvers if needed.

The following may also be considered:

• Non-native tree varieties if appropriate to the setting.

• Non-native varieties and species that are chosen with climate change adaptation and resilience in mind.

• Fruit trees on dwarfing rootstock if the setting is appropriate.

• Trees in containers/raised beds if the reason is adequately explained and supported by a robust and comprehensive irrigation and aftercare plan.

• More robust and costly guards if the setting justifies it.

• Other project resources to support tree establishment such as irrigation equipment like watering cans/irrigation aids, and PPE.

Priority will be given to applicants that have strong community engagement embedded from the beginning of the planting project.

The deadline for applications is 1 December 2024. For more information, please visit Branching Out Fund - The Tree Council

New Funding Available for Tourist Attractions Along Iconic Irish Routes

A new funding programme from the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project, featuring Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland, has launched. 

The Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme is seeking to enhance the travel experience and storytelling capabilities along the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland and the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland, encouraging visitors to explore both iconic tourist routes. This will be achieved by improving immersive experiences at existing visitor attractions.

The total budget for the scheme is €3 million (approximately £2.5 million). Out of this total fund, €1.5 million is available to support eligible projects in Ireland, and £1.25 million is available to support projects in Northern Ireland. The following levels of funding are available:

• The minimum investment grant value available is £40,000 in Northern Ireland or €50,000 in Ireland for any one project under this scheme.

• The maximum investment grant value is £250,000 in Northern Ireland or €300,000 in Ireland.

The maximum investment grant rate for all applicant projects will not exceed 80% of eligible capital expenditure.

The scheme is inviting applications from within the local authority areas of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council along the Causeway Coastal Route as well as counties Donegal, Sligo and parts of Leitrim on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Applications are invited from public, private and community/voluntary sector applicants. All applicants are required to evidence that:

• The existing visitor attraction/experience has been operational since 1 March 2023.

• The visitor attraction/experience is open to the public full time (five days per week, including weekends) for a minimum of five months of the year.

• The visitor attraction currently employs a minimum of two full-time employees, ie Full-Time Equivalents.

Eligible project costs include interpretation planning and delivery, construction costs, and external consultant fees, excluding salaried staff.

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 30 August 2024. For more information, please visit Shared Island Coast-to-Coast Capital Investment Scheme 2024 (tourismni.com)

Arts Council NI Invites Groups to Apply for Musical Instrument Funding

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is inviting applications for two of its annual funding programmes, designed to support both community bands and professional as well as non-professional performing groups with acquiring musical instruments. These programmes form part of the Arts Council's effort to foster and sustain the performing arts sector.

Currently, applications are open for the following initiatives:

• Musical Instruments for Bands - this programme provides financial assistance for traditional and community bands to replace old instruments and purchase new ones, offering grants of up to £10,000.

• Musical Instruments for Professional and Non-Professional Performing Groups - aimed at helping both professional and non-professional groups acquire new instruments and related equipment, this programme provides grants of up to £30,000.

All instruments funded through these programmes must be purchased and delivered by 14 March 2025. Detailed guidance notes and supporting information can be found on the Arts Council of Northern Ireland website.

The deadline for applications is 30 September 2024. For more information, please visit Funding for Organisations | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)

WCIT Charity Accepting Applications for IT4Good Grants

The WCIT Charity is offering grants of up to £15,000 for educational establishments and not-for-profit organisations across the UK to support IT projects and activities.

The IT4Good Grants Programme will support activities within the themes of education, inclusion, IT for charities, and understanding of IT, such as the development and delivery of new services, solutions, training, apps, analytics, AI, robotics, or accessibility features/hardware.  

Projects that are more likely to be funded include:

• Projects where WCIT is a material or sole funder.

• Projects where WCIT is the sole funder of the IT component of a larger project.

• Organisations that could benefit from pro-bono support.

Proposals should demonstrate an innovative use of IT, be scalable for wider replication, and be sustainable over time. Grants of over £15,000 may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

The next deadline for applications is 31 October 2024. For more information, please visit Home - WCIT Charity