Social Entrepreneurs Ireland - Impact Programme

An accelerator programme providing funding, support and mentoring to social enterprises in Ireland that are progressing innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland directly supports high potential social entrepreneurs to enable them to maximise their impact.

At the core of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland activities is the Impact Programme, which provides financial investment and direct support to early-stage social entrepreneurs.

The programme is open to social entrepreneurs living in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

Applicants must be aged 18 years or over at the time of application.

The project/organisation must:

• Be legally incorporated or registered with a recognised legal structure, including being a registered sole trader.

• Been actively delivering a solution (either as a sole trader or legally incorporated) for 12 months or more.

• Demonstrate a commitment to the project/organisation that is either part-time or full-time.

• Be aiming to significantly grow or scale the organisation in the next three years.

The Awards are not intended to support the following:

• Party-political projects.

• Projects with an explicit religious or faith-based agenda.

• Research projects.

The Impact Programme provides specialised support to help bring participating organisations to the next level of their development.

The nine-month programme will commence on 10 September 2025.

The deadline for applications is 28 April 2025.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland are holding an online information session for potential applicants on 8 April 202 (13:00 - 14:00). Applicants can register for the sessions on the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland website. 

Guidance notes and the online application portal can be accessed from the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland website.

 For more information, please visit Impact Programme - Social Entrepreneurs Ireland

MCS Foundation Grants Programme

Grants are available to incorporated organisations in the UK for retrofit-related projects as defined as energy efficiency or renewable generation measures to a domestic building which is in line with the Foundation's objective to make every UK home carbon free. 

The 2025 funding is for projects that are one or both of the following types: 

• Retrofit in action: projects demonstrating or experimenting with methodologies in the real world and actively evaluating results.

• Retrofit research: research projects which aim to research a particular issue and better inform retrofit work in the future.

Building on the Foundation’s knowledge of the sector and stakeholder consultation there is particularly interested in grants responding to one or more of the following questions: 

• What are effective grant and finance mechanisms to deliver measures?

• How do we engage citizens in retrofit and then turn engagement into action?

• How do we increase the numbers of people entering the retrofit supply chain? 

The maximum grant is £50,000 inclusive of VAT.

It is expected that around six grants will be awarded in this round, if the maximum amount of funding is requested.  

Applications may be submitted by any incorporated organisation including but not limited to private/public organisations, not-for-profit and charities.

The funding will support direct project costs, such as staffing, venue hire for an event, focus group expenses, grants to homeowners, or project specific equipment.

Project start dates can be any time within six months of the grant agreement being signed to suit the organisation’s capacity to deliver the project. However, projects should not have started before July 2025.

Closing date 01/05/2025 

For more information, please visit Home - MCS Foundation

PCSP Small Grants 2025

Up to *£5,000 funding available for Community Safety projects.

The PCSP Small Grants Scheme is a fantastic opportunity for local community and voluntary groups to develop community-led projects that address local safety concerns, including hate crime, cybercrime, road safety, anti-social behaviour, drugs & alcohol issues, and other relevant community safety concerns. For more information about funding or to obtain an application form, see ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/pcsp-grants or email pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk The closing date for applications is 4pm on Thursday 29th April 2025.

*Up to £5,000 available per grant application

https://ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/pcsp-grants

National Lottery Heritage Funding Available to Improve Protected Landscapes Across the UK

Grants of between £10,000 and £10 million are available for not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects that help world-class landscapes across the UK to become better for nature and more accessible for people from all backgrounds.

A total of £150 million is available for approximately 20 projects in National Parks and National Landscapes in England and Wales, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland, and National Parks and other equally important world-class landscapes in Scotland, that:

• Enable everyone in the UK to have access to landscapes rich in nature, clean water, fresh air, and places that are inspiring in their beauty and cultural heritage.

• Help these landscapes to become better for nature and more able to welcome people from all backgrounds.

• Are bold in ambition and create measurable outcomes for Protected Landscapes and equivalent outstanding landscapes in Scotland.

• Support those who live in and care for these places to strengthen them as working landscapes based on a clear diagnosis of why the landscape is currently failing to deliver for nature and people and how that will be addressed.

• Accelerate systemic and lasting nature recovery across whole landscapes, creating and sharing exemplars for how landscape conservation and nature recovery can be delivered with, by, and for people who live and work there.

• Create innovative frameworks for ways in which communities, landowners, organisations, and those that manage the land can work equitably together to agree on how to influence and drive change to ensure a legacy.

This strategic initiative is part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage 2033 strategy to offer targeted funding to address long-standing heritage issues across the UK.

Protected Landscape management bodies must be a key partner within any application relating to the landscape and where the works will be taking place (though they do not need to be the applicant or lead partner of an application).

Applications for up to £250,000 can be submitted at any time and applicants will be notified of any decisions made within eight weeks of the date of submission. For grants over £250,000, decisions are made quarterly by the Committee of the applicant’s nation or area or by the board of trustees.

The next deadline for applications over £250,000 is 28 May 2025 (noon). 

For more information, please visit Strategic initiatives | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Keadue Community Grants Fund

Keadue Community Grants Fund was established by a local family to provide support to local organisations tackling the growing social need in Derry City and surrounding Waterside areas.

Organisations and constituted groups which are supporting local people through short and long term crises caused by a range of social factors including issues such as poverty, addiction, and low educational attainment, can apply for a grant. The organisations which support people can also apply for running costs to maintain the support offered to those in crisis and need.

Social factors can include but are not exclusive to: poverty, ill health, addiction, disability, family breakdown, abuse, bereavement, loneliness and isolation, or low educational attainment.

Key objectives

With these grants we aim to fund local organisations who are already making a difference in the lives of people who are struggling with difficult life issues and their subsequent effects.

Grants can be used to fund any of the following activities:

• An existing support programme

• Creation of a new programme

• Staff costs including salaries, core costs and specialist training

• Small scale capital costs including refurbishment of premises and the

• purchase of equipment

• Events and awareness raising activities

• Capacity building activities to address elements of organisational sustainability

• Partnership building activities to strengthen support and impact

• Volunteer costs and associated expenses

Grants available

Grant sizes will typically be between £10k and £20k to be awarded over periods of up to two years. Organisations can re-apply in subsequent years following completion of grant evaluation and monitoring reports.

Basic eligibility

The fund is open to constituted groups, organisations and small registered charities based in Derry City and surrounding Waterside areas.

Partnerships are encouraged to apply, with one organisation identified as the lead.

Closing date for applications is 11th April 2025.

For more information, please visit Keadue Community Grants Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Evishagaran and Craiggore Community Benefit Fund

The Evishagaran and Craiggore Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund was established in 2022 by the ERG Group.

The fund’s aim is to provide financial support towards the development of locally-beneficial community-based projects and initiatives within a 7km radius of Evishagaran and Craiggore wind farms, Dungiven.

Applications are invited from charities and community organisations based within a 7km radius of the Evishagaran and Craiggore wind farm sites.

Evishgaran Map

Craiggore Map

Applicants can apply for financial support for any one or more of the following purposes:

• The advancement of education; and/or

• The advancement of environmental protection or improvement; and/or

• Projects for environmental and/or biodiversity benefit; and/or

• Improving the health of residents; and/or

• Promoting care & support of vulnerable people; and/or

• Promoting recreational or sporting activities; and/or

• The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science; and/or

• Improving or maintaining community buildings or facilities; and/or

• Social and local community development; and/or

• The promotion of culture and knowledge; and/or

• Support for young people and sports; and/or

• Promoting ERG’s culture and sustainability of renewable energies; and/or

• Supporting social development leveraging on ERG’s business activities; and/or

• Supporting the “call of ideas” for the innovation in the nearby areas; and/or

• Education in relation to sustainability, the development of renewables, and the fight against climate change

Priority will be given to:

• Education programmes for the next generation on the topics of Sustainability and Renewable Energy

• Collaborative projects

• Projects that aim to improve the health of residents, particularly mental health

• Projects that promote care & support of vulnerable people, particularly relating to the cost of living/fuel poverty

Amount of funding available:

Grants up to £4,000. Closing date for applications is 28th April 2025.

For more information, please visit Evishagaran and Craiggore Community Benefit Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Active Lives funding

Through Active Lives we make grants totalling about £700,000 per year. Due to an extremely high volume of applications we were only able to provide a contribution towards 5% of the applications received in the last funding round.

Therefore, the Trustees have decided to focus our limited resources by prioritising applications which meet all of the following criteria:

• work with people living with disabilities in the top 10% of areas of deprivation (Indices of Multiple Deprivation decile 1) AND

• from organisations with a track record of working with this population AND

• have a robust plan for wider impact of the project through dissemination, training etc

To avoid wasting your time, please ensure you meet our revised eligibility and funding criteria before starting an application.

Type of funding: We will consider applications for capital, project or core funding.

Location of project: Anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Grant amount: We accept applications for £5,001 – £30,000

Grant period: You can apply for a grant spread over 1, 2 or 3 years

All applications to Active Lives MUST:

• Offer high-impact, life-enhancing opportunities for those who live in the top 20% of areas of deprivation (IMD deciles 1-2)*

and

• Remove barriers to participation for people with disabilities, especially those living in the most deprived areas (as defined by IMD)*

For more information, please visit Active Lives | Peter Harrison Foundation

Community Grant Scheme

Apply for funding to raise awareness of CPR and defib use in your local community. 

Applications for RCUK’s Community Grant Scheme are now open until Thursday 17 April. 

As part of our Restart a Heart 2025 campaign, we have reopened our popular Community Grant Scheme following its success last year. Grants of up to £1,500 are available for small charities and community groups to help educate people about CPR and defib use. 

Recent research shows that 94% of UK adults agree CPR training is crucial, yet nearly a third said they wouldn’t know what to do if someone was unconscious and not breathing normally. Resuscitation education is vital to increasing the chances of survival from cardiac arrest in your community.  

For more information, please visit Community Grant Scheme | Resuscitation Council UK

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust

Applications for funding for projects and initiatives falling within the Objects of the Trust can be made in writing to:

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
Tiddington Road
Stratford upon Avon
Warwickshire
CV37 7BJ

E-mail: nfu_mutual_charitable_trust@nfumutual.co.uk

When making an application, details should be included of:

• The project, initiative or organisation for which funding is sought

• An indication of the amount of the donation requested

• Any business plans

• Details of any other funding sought and or obtained

• Any recognition which would be given to the Trust in recognition of its support

• Confirmation of whether or not the applicant is a registered charity

The Trust focuses on providing funding to larger initiatives, which would have a significant impact on the rural community. The Trustees are particularly interested in initiatives in the areas of education of young people in rural areas and relief of poverty within rural areas.

The Trustees meet twice a year to consider applications received. These meetings are currently held in June and November.

Applications for the June meeting must be submitted by 23rd May 2025 and for the November meeting they must be submitted by 10th October 2025.

For more information, please visit Applications for Funding | Charitable Trust | NFU Mutual

Leathersellers' Foundation

Grants are available to support the work of registered charities in the UK.

The foundation operates two grant programmes for UK registered charities:

• Small Grants Programme – one-off grants for small projects.

• Main Grants Programme – targeted funding rounds, with grants available towards core costs to support charities working within the focus area of the active round.

The following funding is available:

• Small Grants Programme grants of up to £5,000.

• Main Grants Programme unrestricted grant (core costs) of between £20,000 and £25,000 per year for a period of up to four years.

The Small Grants Programme accepts applications from UK registered charities including charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) but not community interest companies (CICs).

The Main Grants Programme:

Applications are invited from charities that work to prevent the occurrence of and/or support recovery from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) by providing services to children and young people and/or adult survivors in recovery. The term ACEs is used to recognise traumatic events that occur during childhood that can have a significant impact on a person's physical, emotional and mental health throughout their life. Examples include:

• Abuse – physical, sexual or psychological/emotional.

• Neglect – physical or psychological/emotional.

• Domestic abuse.

• Substance misuse by a close family member.

• Mental illness of a close family member.

• Having a close family member serve time in prison.

• Parental or caregiver separation or divorce on account of relationship breakdown.

Charities should use a  trauma-informed approach and evidence-based interventions. The foundation recognises that some communities suffer from a greater likelihood of ACEs due to systemic barriers. It welcomes applications from charities who support under-represented groups.

Small Grants Programme:

One-off grants can be used to support the activities of small UK registered charities, including charitable incorporated organisations but not community interest companies, that are currently supporting vulnerable people and working in geographical areas of high deprivation in the UK.

There will be 8 application rounds, with submissions accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and the total number capped at 40 per round.

Main Grants Programme

The 2025 application round is open to expressions of interest from 26 March 2025 (10am) to 30 April 2025 (5pm). The foundation expects to make 15–20 multi-year grants.

Small Grants Programme

The fund is a rolling funding programme. The next application window will open 31 March 2025 (10am).

There are 8 application windows throughout the year. Submissions are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. As soon as 40 applications have been received, applications will close for the round. (This can occur with one hour of the application window  opening.)

• 31 March 2025

• 6 May 2025

Applicants who have started an application form and then find that the maximum applications have been reached can save a draft and return to the application when the next round opens.

Applications are made using the online application form on the Leathersellers' Company website. The Small Grants Committee meets regularly to ensure charities receive a decision within a month of submitting their application.

Contact the Leathersellers' Foundation for further information - Foundation -

Goldsmiths’ Foundation – Inaugural Grants Programme

Grants are available for charities and housing associations that focus on vocational skills and technical training in the creative industries in the UK.

The funding is intended for projects and organisations operating in the UK and that are focused on skills and training in particular in the creative industries. 

The inaugural funding round aims to:

• Build capacity and resources for technical and vocational skills development in creative industries, especially within historically underfunded communities.

• Explore the role that skills development, and creative people, makers and designers can play in addressing issues of social justice.

• Create the infrastructure for a more equitable creative industry sector.

This round is focused on organisations working in the one or more of following areas:

• Craft.

• Design.

• Art.

• Architecture.

The Foundation offers two different grants:

• Regular Grants (inaugural grants) of between £30,000 and £50,000 available throughout the year. 

• Landmark grants of £100,000 per year are available once every three to four years. 

There is £500,000 available for the inaugural grant funding round. It is anticipated that a maximum of 10 grants will be awarded. There will be another, larger, funding round later in the year.

The size of the grant will be determined by the size of the applicant organisation.

Applications will be accepted from:

• UK registered charities

• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)

• Housing Associations (RSL)

• Excepted and exempt charities.

Applicants must have at least one year’s worth of annual accounts as a registered charity and submit one of the following: 

• Their annual accounts, independently audited or examined.

• A copy of their Charity Commission annual return.

The funding will support projects and organisations operating in the UK that are focused on skills and training in particular in the creative industries. Training programmes do not need to be accredited but they need to be run by professionals who are qualified to teach those skills.

The funding can be used for operating/core costs or for a specific project.

 For more information, please visit Inaugural Grants Programme — The Goldsmiths' Company

Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund

Grants are available to support health and wellbeing programmes in Museums across the UK. 

This fund aims to support the development and continuation of groundbreaking health and wellbeing programmes in UK museums during a time of financial crisis and increasing demand for services

Around ten grants of between £50,000 to £75,000 are available per funding round.

UK Museums can apply.

Applicants should have:

• A proven track record for the work they are doing.

• A strategic commitment to health and wellbeing at their Museum.

• A clear idea of how they would like to develop their work. 

This fund will enable Museums to build on their existing leading health and wellbeing work. 

This fund will open for applications on 28 April 2025, with a submission deadline on 26 June 2025

The application process is as follows:

• Potential applicants must complete a short online eligibility quiz.

• Eligible applicants will then be able to book a conversation with Museums Association to discuss their idea.

• Applicants who then meet all the essential criteria and excel in at least one of four criteria for success will be invited to complete a full application.

Applicants will be notified of any decisions made in late September 2025.

Guidance notes and an online eligibility quiz will be available when this fund opens. 

For more information, please visit Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund - Museums Association

Stephen Lloyd Awards

These global financial awards aim to help create success by finding and nurturing innovative ideas and projects undertaken by start-up enterprises or social entrepreneurs that can lead to practical, sustainable social or environmental change, particularly those that address social problems at a systemic level.

The awards are about creating success and, in line with Stephen’s own approach, they will harness the expertise and the finance of those with deep knowledge of the charity and social enterprise sector to help socially valuable projects move from concept to realisation.

Winners will receive funding of at least £25,000, along with extensive pro bono support from experts in the social enterprise sector, who are committed to creating a positive impact on society in a long term and sustainable way.

Shortlisted applicants will also be awarded up to £2,500 to further develop their project ideas, and may also benefit from similar pro bono expertise.

Anyone resident in the UK, or any organisation or charity established in the UK that has an innovative idea seeking to address a problem systemically, can apply.

Ideas may come in many forms. They may be a new-start enterprise or an extension of an organisation’s existing work. They might be a discrete piece of lobbying work or a high-profile campaign; the aim might be to change policy or legislation or to create a new legal form or financial structure, for example.

This is an annual awards programme.

Applications closes on 14 May 2025 (24:00).

All application entries should be emailed to info@stephenlloydawards.org

More details are available at the Stephen Lloyd Awards website.

LFT Trust- Enriching Lives Grant Programme V1

LFT Charitable Trust is a family foundation based in Belfast. Our priority is to fund partner organisations which make a lasting difference to people’s lives; focus on reducing isolation, inequality and stigma; and inspire and empower individuals to realise their potential and share in the life of the whole community.

Identifying the right network of dedicated and ambitious partners enables us to deliver on our charitable purposes.

The aim of the Enriching Lives Grant Making Programme is to support initiatives which bring different generations together to engage in meaningful, mutually beneficial activities which encourage greater understanding and respect and contribute to greater community connectedness.

This funding is intended to promote opportunities for sustained engagement between the same participants over a period of time and facilitate the development of relationships rather than one off events. Activities could include educational initiatives, Health & wellbeing programmes or social and recreational projects.

Please visit https://lftcharitabletrust.com/enriching-lives/ for more information and to learn how you can apply for a grant of up £7,000.

Please check assessment criteria and eligibility carefully before applying.

Submissions must be made by 12 noon on Tuesday 29th April 2025.

ABC Funding Opportunities

Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council is offering financial assistance to eligible groups in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector for Call 2, the period 16 June 2025 - 31 March 2026 for:-

•Running costs (for eligible organisations)

•Programmes

•Events

Funding is available through the following grant programmes:

•Community Grants

•Arts, Culture and Events Grants

•Good Relations Grants

Applications are open at 9am on Monday 24 March 2025 to 12 noon Friday 25 April 2025.

Civic Representation Grant 2025/26 for eligible organisations and individuals:

Applications are open at 9am Monday, 24 March 2025 to 12 noon Friday, 6 February 2026

For more information, please contact Valerie Armstrong on 07515 60748 or email fap@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk

Keadue Community Grants Fund

Keadue Community Grants Fund was established by a local family to provide support to local organisations tackling the growing social need in Derry City and surrounding Waterside areas.

Organisations and constituted groups which are supporting local people through short and long term crises caused by a range of social factors including issues such as poverty, addiction, and low educational attainment, can apply for a grant. The organisations which support people can also apply for running costs to maintain the support offered to those in crisis and need.

Social factors can include but are not exclusive to: poverty, ill health, addiction, disability, family breakdown, abuse, bereavement, loneliness and isolation, or low educational attainment.

Grants can be used to fund any of the following activities:

• An existing support programme

• Creation of a new programme

• Staff costs including salaries, core costs and specialist training

• Small scale capital costs including refurbishment of premises and the

• purchase of equipment

• Events and awareness raising activities

• Capacity building activities to address elements of organisational sustainability

• Partnership building activities to strengthen support and impact

• Volunteer costs and associated expenses

Grant sizes will typically be between £10k and £20k to be awarded over periods of up to two years.

The Fund will close for applications on Friday 11 April 2025 at 1:00pm.

For more information, please visit Keadue Community Grants Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Material Focus's Electricals Recycling Fund Opens for 2025 Applications

Material Focus, an independent not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to stop electricals from being hoarded and thrown away, is once again offering grants to communities across the UK to reuse and recycle small household electricals.

A total of £750,000 is available to support two types of projects:

• Growing existing services – grants of up to £100,000 for projects that grow existing collection methods for small electricals. This could be community drop points in libraries and other community locations, adding cages under refuse collection vehicles, bring banks/WEEE banks.

• Innovating new methods – grants of up to £50,000 to come up with new approaches to repair, reuse and/or recycle electricals, for example, collection points at large offices/campuses, drop-offs at post offices, major supermarkets, large shopping centres, retail parks, collection of waste electricals using the return journey/spare capacity during collection/delivery of parcels, or projects that support tackling the growing concerns around digital inclusion.

The funding can be used for:

• The purchase of new bins/collection points (‘bring banks’).

• The adaptation of waste collection vehicles to include cages for kerbside WEEE.

• Vehicle rental.

• Installation of bins.

• Communication and marketing materials.

• Staffing costs to cover the time spent planning and delivering the project.

• Salaries if the person is working to deliver the funded project.

A range of registered organisations can apply, including charities, local authorities, waste partnerships, private waste contractors, other private companies, and compliance schemes.

Material Focus will provide successful applicants with project management support.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information, please visit Electricals Recycling Fund - Material Focus

Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Open for 2025 Applications

Parkinson’s UK supports activity providers, national governing bodies, Parkinson’s groups and branches, and sports and healthcare professional who are based and operating within the UK.

For a fifth year, grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available to support physical activity projects for people with Parkinson's within the UK.

The funding is for projects that can demonstrate the following desired impact:

• People with Parkinson's become and stay active, and/or significantly increase their levels of activity if they are already active.

• More physical activity provision for everyone with Parkinson’s across the UK.

• Improved social wellbeing in people with Parkinson’s as a result of attending the project.

Priority will be given to innovative and new projects that will help people with Parkinson's:

• Become and stay active, or 

• Who are already active to significantly increase their levels of physical activity.

Projects should reach and engage with a wide range of people with Parkinson's especially those who may be from the following groups:

• Newly diagnosed.

• Young onset.

• People and groups seen as 'under represented’ - including socially isolated, not digitally connected or ethnic communities.

• People who are not engaged with Parkinson’s UK.

• People who are inactive, or active at low levels.

• People who are still working.

Projects must run for a minimum of three months and a maximum of 12 months and must start within three months of receiving the grant.

The funder is planning to provide specific grants to support physical activity projects for people with Parkinson’s from marginalised communities and underrepresented groups. Further details are expected later this year.

Parkinson's UK will be hosting the following free ‘Meet the Funder’ webinars:

• 19 March 25 (10:00 - 11:00)

• 8 April 25 (14:00 - 15:00)

Registration is required and can be done via the funder's website.

Applications are open and will be accepted until all of the funding has been allocated. 

For more information, please visit Grants for physical activity providers | Parkinson's UK

The Lidl Green Fund

The Lidl Green Fund is a new community sustainability initiative from Lidl Ireland. The Green Fund aims to support, promote and empower environmentally conscious and healthy local community projects across the Republic of Ireland. At Lidl, we have created the €100,000 fund to support communities take an active role in championing sustainable living.

Community groups, schools and charities across the country can apply for funding through the application portal. Shortlisted groups are selected per county by Lidl employees and independent judges and the winners are selected by publicly nominated voting in Lidl stores through the Lidl Plus App.

For further information download the guidance document which will provide an overview of the details of the Lidl Green Fund, including how to apply and what types of projects are eligible.

Eligibility

• All registered charitable organisations that have a charity registration number in Ireland. You will need to provide this registration number on the nomination form.

• Voluntary community groups or clubs

• Primary and post primary schools

Nominations for the following applicants and projects are excluded:

1. Organisations that relate to religious, medical or political activities.

2. Animal charities where animals are the primary beneficiaries (exceptions include projects that involve animals where the primary beneficiaries are individuals i.e. Autism assistance dogs or similar examples.)

3. Funding for fundraising e.g. skydive.

4. Projects or activities that the state has a legal obligation to provide.

5. Purchase of land.

6. Retrospective funding (work that has already taken place.)

7. Nominations for projects with the purpose of promoting sport/competitive sport.

8. Do not directly benefit the community.

9. Ongoing programme delivery or core organisation costs such as rent, salaries insurance etc.

10. Projects taking place outside of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

Community groups, primary and post primary schools and charities must complete the online application form below.

We are proud to support local charities and community groups who promote social inclusion, health and wellbeing and environmental programmes. Where a local community group is hosting a community event or fundraiser which mirrors our values and pillars, we are happy to provide Lidl vouchers to support. These vouchers can be used by community groups and charities across the country for raffles, bake-sales, school healthy eating weeks, science projects and sports programmes. Please request a community request form from your local store.

Before submitting your application please download the Guidance Document and read the FAQs. You must complete all fields in the form to submit your application.
For more information on the fund and your application, please contact csr@lidl.ie
This is the Application for the Lidl Green Fund Republic of Ireland. For the Northern Ireland Green Fund application portal please Click Here»

Lidl Green Fund. Get a cash grant for your sustainability project!

Sustainable Community Buildings Programme

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

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

Grants of up to £50,000 are available.

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

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

Applications will be accepted from voluntary and community organisations. This includes:

• Registered charities.

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

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

• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO or SCIO).

• Community Interest Companies (CIC).

To be eligible, applicants must:

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

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

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

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

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

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

• The building must not already have solar panels.

Priority will be given to buildings that can demonstrate they are well used throughout an average week. 

Grants may be used for capital funding only.

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

• Solar panels.

• Battery storage.

• Ground-source heat pumps.

• Energy efficient lighting.

• New insulation.

• Energy-efficient windows and doors.

The deadline for applications is 23 April 2025.

There is a two-stage application process:

• Stage 1: submit an Expression of Interest. If successful, applicants will be invited to Stage 2.

• Stage 2: full application for funding.

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

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

Contact the National Lottery Community Fund for further information.

Sustainable Community Buildings | The National Lottery Community Fund