Community Foundation for Northern Ireland - Fibrus Community Fund

Closing date 09/05/2025

Grants are available for local community groups and voluntary organisations to address digital poverty in rural communities in Northern Ireland.

The funding is intended to assist grassroots organisations in providing digital technology for the most vulnerable, promoting connectivity, community and facilitating a strong, sustainable broadband connection across rural communities in Northern Ireland.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available.

Applications will be accepted from community groups, voluntary organisations and other local, grassroots or community-led organisations with an annual income below £50,000.

The fund offers grants for projects that address digital poverty with a particular focus on older people, people on low income and people with disabilities.

In the event of oversubscription, the fund will prioritise:

• Applicants who have not previously been awarded a grant from the fund.

• Those who more clearly articulate the need in relation to the beneficiaries.

Applicants should note the following:

• Applicants that currently hold a live Fibrus Community Fund grant and who are considering re-applying to the fund must ensure all outstanding information is provided for the current grant held. This includes details of spend and any monitoring.

• In cases where broadband installation/connection is being requested, applicants should check Fibrus availability at www.fibrus.com. If their premises are not connectable/yet connectable, they should consider applying for other types of digital equipment from the fund such as laptops, visual aids etc.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is used to support projects and activities that may, for example, include:

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

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

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

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Focus on the positive contribution of people within the community, and support those most in need of support to use and access digital technologies.

• Intend to build on the assets within the community, to support those who have faced digital challenges.

• Focus on the need of their beneficiaries in terms of digital poverty, as well as focus on what is good about their community, and how this project will build on previous successes as a community, and support the beneficiary/beneficiaries in the longer term.

Projects are expected to commence from early June 2025.

Available Grants - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

The Fibrus Community Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

PCSP Small Grants 2025

Closing date 29/04/2025

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

Bank of Ideas 2025

Do you have an idea for something creative you’d like to make happen in your local area? This could be an interest you’d like to share, something you’d like to change with the help of your neighbours, or any fun activity that brings people together.

By submitting and sharing your idea, you can be in with a chance to get up to £2,000 to make it happen!

Lots of things can be creative. That includes recycling, baking, walking, stamp collecting, gardening, skateboarding, sewing, cutting hair, telling stories, caring for others, music, movies, nail art, teaching languages, bird watching, hopscotching and more…

The Bank of Ideas is run through participatory budgeting, which means that residents decide how public funds are used in their area. Individuals and groups can submit their creative idea for funding and the people of Belfast vote for projects they want to support at a voting event.

The overall Bank of Ideas funding pot is £50,000, which will be divided evenly between North, South, East, West Belfast and the city centre or citywide projects.

• A minimum of 25 projects will be funded, each receiving up to £2000.

• There is a short and simple form to fill out for your idea.

• There will be a final celebration event bringing together all projects in December 2025.

For more information, please visit Bank of Ideas 2025 | Your say Belfast

Home Instead Charities - Grants Programme

Money raised from our dedicated network of Home Instead Offices and external supporters fund groups who support the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of ageing adults.

**We are changing our application windows from January 2024**

We will be opening applications for funding 4 times per year: January; April; July and October. Applications received outside of these windows will not be processed. Please build these new application windows into your funding timelines.

Applications received in January will be processed and awarded in February

Applications received in April will be processed and awarded in May

Applications received in July will be processed and awarded in August

Applications received in October will be processed and awarded in November.

Please bear in mind we are a small charity with limited resource. We aim to fulfil all eligible requests for funding, but limited resources means that this may not be possible.

Please note: If you opt out of email communications we are unable to contact you to tell you about the progress of your application. This effectively stops us processing your application for funding. We DO NOT use your email address for ANY marketing purposes, we use your email purely to communicate with you on the progress of your funding application.

Our eligibility criteria:

• If you are a small grass roots organisation you can apply for funding up to £500.

• If you are a small local registered charity you can apply for funding up to £1,500.

• If your group is a registered charity, you must attach a copy of your governing document AND your last set of accounts. If either of these documents are missing, we will not be able to process your application. 

• Most of your group members must be over 55 years old or the project you are requesting funding for must benefit people aged over 55

• The project must support its members through activities and projects that support wellbeing or reduce social isolation and/or loneliness

• Your group must be open and inclusive irrespective of race, religion, disability, sex or sexual orientation

• We will only fund individuals if it is to provide access to your group, i.e. transport costs or communications devices to access your groups activities.

• We will only fully fund grant requests from organisations who hold no more than 3 months operating costs in reserve. If you have more than this, the charity will only co-fund your project up to a maximum 50% of the funding required.

• We will consider applications from groups, associations and charities that do not service the over 50s directly but the project they require funding for does, i.e., a local school wishes to hold a special afternoon tea for its local care home residents.

• If you are a registered charity your application must be accompanied by a copy of your constitution and annual accounts.

• Community Interest Companies (CIC) are eligible to apply in the same was a registered charity is able to. This is because of the governance structure of these organisations.

What we can fund:

• Regular weekly or monthly events and activities such as weekly cinema club, weekly knit and natter or Thursday lunch club

• One off activities such as a day trip or a Christmas lunch

• Activities such as yoga or a guest speaker for your group such as a local historian

What we cannot fund:

• Salaries

• Core/running costs

• Capital and/or revenue projects

• Set up costs

• We are not able to fund the same project twice in one year.

For more information, please visit Apply For A Grant | Home Instead Charities

Community Relations / Cultural Diversity

Key Principles of the Community Relations/Cultural Diversity (CR/CD) Funding Scheme

1. The work MUST be intentional.

   Your programme must have a clear good relations purpose from the outset with deliberate and planned activities which directly address sectarianism and/or racism (the two main aims of the CRCD grant scheme).  This can be achieved in a variety of ways including facilitated workshops, discussions, Q&A, Speeches at events, showcase of cultural diversity through music, art, dance, food from different cultures, storytelling etc.  If your project does not include this learning element then it will not be considered a priority and will most likely be rejected.

2. It must address an identified good relations need.

All applications must be able to clearly demonstrate the good relations need they want to address and how they have identified this need.

The scheme supports a wide range of work and offers support and assistance whether you are a first-time applicant or have been supported in the past.

If you are planning events for the forthcoming year, please feel free to contact a member of our team to discuss your proposals prior to submitting your application. We can give you advice on how to plan your work and to source additional funding, if required.

Application Process

The Council tries to process applications as quickly as possible; this will depend upon current resources and demand. Applications usually take between 8 to 12 weeks to process. Applications that have been registered before the project takes place but have not been processed by CRC until after the event are still eligible. However, it is at the group's own risk to undertake an event before it has been assessed or awarded funding.

Applicants should understand that careful consideration is given to each application. Due to the large volume of applications received, it may not be possible to extend grant aid to each applicant or assist applicants to the extent requested, even if applications meet the criteria set out.

There is no restriction on the number of applications any one group can make to the scheme. However, if a group has received funding in the past, it may need to demonstrate that the new proposals will build upon earlier achievements. Please note any grants held in the previous financial year with outstanding claims must be completed and closed off before new applications can be considered.

It is always best to apply during the early development stages of the project as this allows time for CRC staff and the group to adequately discuss the project.

Current Good Practice

CRC has been gathering current good practice in relation to delivering programmes online and in different formats.

Please check out the examples of work currently taking place:

• CR/CD Small Grants Case Studies 2022

• CR/CD Small Grants case studies 2020

CR/CD Funding Details

• All projects in receipt of CR/CD funding must be completed within this financial year.

• Grants are up to £10K maximum and for project costs only.

• Average grant is £2K – £5K.

Aims of the CR/CD Scheme

The Community Relations Council, with the support of Government, has established a fund to spend each year on community relations projects. This funding is intended to help community/voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland develop their capacity to engage in community relations work and to enhance the community relations potential of projects they undertake.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a proposal prior to submitting an application please contact a member of the Funding and Development Programme or phone 028 9022 7500.

T:BUC Requirement

Applicants are required to outline the outcome in Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) to which the proposed project will contribute.

Read more about the T:BUC strategy.

Eligibility Requirements

There are certain specific criteria you must adhere to when applying for funding:

Read about the CD/CR scheme criteria.

Apply for the Scheme

Closing date for applications: Friday 16 January 2026 at 4 PM.

Apply for the CR/CD Scheme now(external link opens in a new window / tab)

VE DAY 80 – Grant Funding

Re-opening for a 2nd round for applications for the VE Day Commemoration Fund 2025

Ards and North Down Borough Council are re-opening the funding scheme for local constituted community and voluntary groups who may wish to run a community event in the Borough for VE Day 80 years commemoration. The maximum amount that can be applied for is £1,000.00

Small local community events that mark the commemoration of VE Day must take place

between Saturday 3rd May and Monday 12 May 2025.

Funding Stream - VE Day Commemoration Fund 2025

Open date and time - Thursday 10th April 2025 at 9am

Closing date and time - Thursday 24th April 2025 at 12 noon

Applications and guidance available at https://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/grants

Commemoration/Celebration Packs will also be available - These packs will be available for those who did not qualify for the grants scheme, but who wish to hold Street parties / Tea parties in their local neighbourhood or village. Celebration packs will be allocated on a first come first serve basis until the scheme is depleted. If you wish to apply for a pack, please contact Esther or Sharon at cdadmin@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Creating Opportunities

Introduction

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

Phase 2 – Your Guide to Being Successful

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

Pledge Criteria

If your application is approved you will get match funding of 50%, up to a maximum of £5,000

This offer will be valid for 2 weeks after the date of notification, if you do not launch your crowdfunding campaign within 2 weeks of notification the offer will be rescinded.

Following approval for funding, you MUST NOT make any amendments to your campaign page (otherwise any offer of funding will be rescinded).

Tips for 2025-26

• Applicants are required to demonstrate how the participation project they wish to deliver will contribute towards ’Levelling The Playing Field’. How does the project address those who have been traditionally excluded from, not only participating in sport, but playing an active role within the club.

• Proposed projects must be new or additional to what your club or organisation/association normally delivers on a day-to-day basis.

• Projects targeting specific groups mentioned above, can receive 50% match funding from Sport NI (up to a maximum of £5,000)

• Projects requesting from £4,000 to the maximum £5,000 match-funding, must include a project video within their campaign providing information on their specific project.

• Clubs and organisations can only have one application to the programme within a 12 month period (April – March)

• All applications MUST be submitted by the specified Phase date:-

PhaseApplication Closing DatePhase127th January 2025Phase229th January 2026Phase325th January 2027

PhaseClosing DatePhase131st March 2025Phase231st March 2026Phase331st March 2027

• All projects MUST be completed and Sport NI monies spent by the specified date

To receive a pledge, you will need to do two things (the ‘fund conditions’):

1) Raise at least 25% of your initial target,

2) Raise this from a minimum number of supporters. To verify whether Supporters are unique we will take account of information including, but not limited to: name, address, email addresses and payment card used.

The minimum number of unique supporters required is 25: Following receipt of a pledge you will also need to reach 100% of your initial funding target to receive the funds from Sport NI. If the project fails to reach 100% of the target the Sport NI pledge will be rescinded.

Note – Sport NI reserve the right to vary these pledge criteria; projects will be notified if their pledge criteria will vary from the stated terms above. Before completing your application, you will need to read the full Eligibility and Pledge Criteria as detailed in the programme guidance document on our website. Funded projects will be required to agree to the terms and conditions of award.

Applicants will be offered support during the application process. Sport NI staff will be on hand to answer any questions or queries that you may have. Crowdfunder will deliver a suite of online training tutorials and videos which will guide applicants from developing your initial project idea, right through to delivery.

Have you got questions?

Get in touch via e-mail: creatingopportunities@sportni.net

This project has been made possible thanks to the support from The National Lottery and the National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million every week for good causes.

Creating Opportunities | Sport NI

Funding to Support Disable Children and Children with Life-Limiting Conditions Across the UK

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for registered charitable organisations with an annual income of less than £350,000 across the United Kingdom to deliver projects that work to improve the lives of disabled children and young people up to the age of 25, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families.

The True Colours Trust Small Grants Programme will support projects such as:  

• Activities for disabled children, children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

• Activities which support siblings of disabled children or siblings of children with life-limiting conditions.

• Bereavement support for children and young people and families bereaved of a child.

• Family and parent-led peer support for parents of disabled children.

• Respite which supports the whole family.

Priority will be given to organisations that operate in areas of high deprivation.

Eligible costs include renovation work, upgrading, and additional equipment for hydrotherapy pools and multi-sensory rooms, minibuses, and specialised play equipment or access to play for disabled children, children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information, please visit The True Colours Trust | UK small grants

Ultach Fund for Irish Language Community Activities Accepting Applications

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

The Ultach Fund is administered by Community Foundation for Northern Ireland after originally being established with capital from The Iontaobhas Ultach Trust.The fund is accepting applications for projects taking place in 2025/26 from registered charities and constituted grassroots community and voluntary groups based in Northern Ireland.

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

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

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

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

• Irish language arts based activities.

Eligible costs include:

• Small capital costs, where essential to the project.

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

Grants of up to £4,000 are available.

The deadline for applications is 2 May 2025. For more information, please visit An Ciste ULTACH / The Ultach Fund - Community Foundation Northern Ireland

Support Offered for Initiatives Showcasing Quality Northern Ireland Food

An annual programme for sectoral organisations in Northern Ireland for projects and activities that promote quality regional food and increase its consumption within Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain is inviting applications.

The Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme (NIRFP) provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in collaboration with Invest Northern Ireland is accepting applications from not-for-profit groups, regional development agencies and registered charities to help support a sustainable and thriving rural economy by raising the profile of quality NI food.

Successful applicants can obtain up to 40% financial contributions on eligible project expenditure for regional fairs/exhibitions, seminars/workshops, or information programmes. A further management fee of 10% of total project costs may also be available, subject to budgetary constraints.

Applications are open for projects taking place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.

The deadline for applications is 16 April 2025. For more information, please visit Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

Call 2 Financial Assistance 2025/2026

Call 2 Financial Assistance Opened 31 March 2025 at 12.00 midday and is closing on the 23 May 2025 at 12.00 midday.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council invites applications for Financial Assistance towards the thematic areas outlined below:

• Sports Facility Capital

• Community Capital for Community Facilities

• Community Capital Minor Items

Application and Guidance Notes can be viewed online via our Grants & Funding portal visit: 

https://www.newrymournedown.org/residents-grants-and-funding

 Information workshops can be booked via TicketSource:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/call2grantsandfunding2025-2026

Information workshops, will take place as follows:

• 7pm Tuesday 8 April 2025, Newry Leisure Centre

• 7pm Thursday 10 April 2025, Downpatrick Leisure Centre

• 12.30pm Tuesday 15 April 2025, Online Workshop

Groups wishing to be notified of future funding opportunities, should request their details be added to the Council’s database by contacting:

Grants & Funding Unit

T: 0330 137 4040

E: grantsandfunding@nmandd.org

Calisen Impact Charitable Trust

Grants are available for charitable initiatives that champion sustainable energy solutions and foster inclusive, safe, and diverse educational and work environments within the UK.

The funding is for UK registered charities whose work reflects and supports the following Calisen Charitable Impact Trust values:

• Help to achieve the UK climate targets.

• Move the UK towards zero emissions.

• Create a more sustainable energy system.

• Embrace and promote inclusion and safe, diverse educational and working environments.

• Extend economic and social development relevant to the communities within which Calisen operates in the North West and across the UK.

UK registered charities can apply.

• To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be registered with the Charity Commission.

• Represent that they do not discriminate in employment practices or services they provide on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, age, marital status, disability, pregnancy or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

• Agree that they comply with all applicable laws.

The funding is to be used for project costs. Closing date  30/04/2025

 For more information, please visit Charitable Trust Home - Calisen Impact

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