The Good Relations Awards 2026 are now officially open!

These awards are a unique opportunity to shine a light on the dedicated individuals, groups and projects working tirelessly to build lasting peace throughout the region. Whether through community engagement, education, cultural initiatives or cross-community collaboration, these efforts deserve recognition and celebration.

Submit your nomination here: https://goodrelationsawards.com/

The deadline for nominations is Friday, 19 December 2025, so please, if you know any individual or group you believe deserves special recognition, nominate them before than.

For further information visit Good Relations Awards 2026 Now Open for Nominations | Community Relations Council .

Help us honour those making a real difference—nominate today and be part of the celebration of peacebuilding and good relations.

Multi Annual Arts Grants

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Multi-Annual Arts Grant is offered every two years and supports arts organisations within the borough in creating programmes which benefit local residents.

Who can apply?

Non-profit making Arts Organisations based in the borough of Ards and North Down.

For full eligibility requirements, please read the Criteria and Guidance Notes carefully.

Full Criteria details and Application Forms will be available HERE when applications are open for 2026/28

What is available?

A maximum grant of £5,000 per annum is available.

Application Deadline:

Applications for 2026 - 2028 will close on: Monday 12 January 2026, 12noon (sharp)

Eligibility Criteria

This funding stream is for non-profit making Arts Organisations based in the borough of Ards and North Down. 

For full eligibility requirements, please read the Criteria and Guidance Notes carefully.

How do I apply?

Please read the full Multi-Annual Arts Grant Criteria document (available below) before completing your application.

Application to the Multi-Annual Arts Grant is by an application form which can be downloaded below when the applications open.

Completed application forms must be emailed to the address below.

Email: artsgrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 

Please download Multi-Annual Arts Grant Guidance Notes here:

Applications available to download from the application open date.

Please download Multi-Annual Arts Grant Application Pack here:

Available to download from the application open date.

Further Information

If you require further information, or require assistance with your application form, please contact Ards Arts Centre at: artsgrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk 

Voices from the Frontline

Rosa’s Voices from the Frontline fund, now in its eighth year of running, offers  grants of up to £10,000 over 18 months to women’s and girls’ organisations to support campaigning and influencing work  that enables women and girls to use their voice to achieve change. 

Rosa is proud to champion the campaigning and influencing work that women’s and girls’ organisations do, as we recognise that every progress in culture, law and practice in women’s and girls’ lives over the last two hundred years has been pioneered by women and girls, organising and mobilising. 

Women’s and girls’ organisations are at the forefront of addressing social issues. We believe change comes about when women and girls who have lived experience of injustice and inequality get heard. 

However, there remains a critical need for funding for women’s and girls’ organisations to deliver activism and campaigning to raise awareness of the issues women and girls face. This is why Voices from the Frontline exists. 

The deadline for applications is 4pm on Tuesday 9th December. You need to submit your application form and video by this date.

Please see the application guidance, FAQs and eligibility criteria below. 

‘How to apply’ webinars

You may also wish to join us at one of the ‘How to Apply’ webinars on: 

• Monday 10th November 10.30 – 11.30 am – Register here

• Thursday 27th November 2.00-3.00pm – Register here

If you are not able to attend either of these dates, please get in touch and we can share the webinar recording after 10th November. 

For more information and to apply, please visit Voices from the Frontline - Rosa

Cash for Kids: Mission Christmas

Mission Christmas offer gifts or gift vouchers for children living in poverty at Christmas. Applications can be made on behalf of children from a recognised referral source such as professionals within a governing body (e.g., social services, GP, teacher etc.), from a registered charity or community organisation with a formal constitution / governance document and safe-guarding policy, and CICs.  The supported children (aged 0 up to and including 18 years old) will be at risk of waking up to no presents on Christmas morning. 

To apply please visit Mission Christmas Application - Cash for Kids

The Digital Inclusion Fund

At Fight for Sight, we believe blindness or vision loss shouldn’t be a barrier to opportunity. Yet the number of people in employment remains stubbornly low: fewer than 1 in 3 blind or vision impaired people in the UK is in paid work. The impact of this is devastating – economically, socially and in terms of well-being.

Technology and digital literacy are unlocking opportunities in employment but too few blind and vision impaired people have access to consistent, high quality training and support to set them up for success. Whilst the Access to Work (ATW) scheme provides essential access to hardware, software and training once someone is in work, there is huge unmet need amongst people who are getting themselves ready for the workplace, applying for jobs or adjusting to new roles or to changes in their vision.

Thriving in the workplace requires blind and vision impaired people to stay abreast of the latest developments, identify and communicate their access requirements and stay productive as workplaces continue to evolve.

We don’t believe that digital skills and confidence is a ‘nice to have’. We want to fund projects that deliver a step-change in people’s ability to know what’s out there, how to access and use it and how to take control of their own digital development. This is likely to lead to improved employment outcomes and more robust pathways into work and beyond.

Purpose of the fund: To improve access to employment for blind and vision impaired people by driving digital inclusion at crucial points as people start to get themselves work ready and start or develop their careers.
Maximum funding per project: £30,000
Project duration: 12 – 36 months
Deadline: 6th January, Midday, 2026

For more information, please visit Fight for Sight - The Digital Inclusion Fund

LCCC Grants now opened

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is pleased to announce the launch of its latest round of community funding totalling £483,000, with applications opening on Monday 3 November and closing on Friday 28 November 2025, 4pm. 

The funding programmes include the Community Support Grant, Community Festivals Fund and a range of Arts Grants, bursaries and awards, all designed to empower local groups and organisations to deliver meaningful projects that enhance community life and cultural wellbeing across the council area.

In addition to these core grants, the council is also launching two one-off funding opportunities:

• Inclusive Communities Fund – aimed at supporting the delivery of programmes and events to promote community integration and inclusion, and 

• Community Cohesion Fund – focused on strengthening relationships between diverse communities and fostering mutual understanding through partnership delivery.

Three information workshops have been scheduled to guide groups through the application process. These will take place on:

• Monday 10th November at 7pm at ISLAND Arts Centre

• Thursday 13th November at 7pm at Moneyreagh Community Centre

• Wednesday 19th November at 7pm via Teams

Councillor Tim Mitchell, Chair of the council’s Communities & Wellbeing Committee welcomed the launch, stating:

“Our community and arts organisations are the heartbeat of Lisburn & Castlereagh. This funding represents a significant investment in the people and projects that bring our communities together, celebrate our diversity, and support those most in need. I encourage all eligible groups to attend the workshops and apply for these valuable grants.”

Find all the necessary forms and detailed guidelines here: https://www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/w/community-grants

For further information, please contact Community Services community.services@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or call 028 9244 7713.

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 the period 1 April 2026 - 31 March 2027 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

•International Linkages Grant

Applications are open at 9.00am on Monday 3 November to 12 noon Friday 28 November 2025. For more information, please visit FundingABC - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

Kristina Martin Charitable Trust Accepting Applications

Grants are available for UK-registered charities whose work supports people with mental health issues and addresses issues such as, but not exclusively, suicide, online bullying, grief, and fostering hope and resilience.

In this funding round, the Kristina Martin Charitable Trust has made £400,000 available, split across the following themes:

• Breaking the link between homelessness and poor mental health.

• Reduction in the effects of social media on mental health. 

• Reduction of Social Isolation. 

• Improving mental health outcomes for children and young people.

A total of £100,000 is available for projects in each funding theme. The Trustees aim to provide grants on an unrestricted basis where possible.

The deadline for applications is 12 December 2025. For more information, please visit Home

Applications Invited to Annual Funding Programme for NI Arts Organisations

Grants are available for organisations in all artforms and practices to support core and programming costs under the Annual Funding Programme provided by Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI).

The programme is accepting applications from the following:

• Non-profit distributing organisations that can demonstrate that they require a year-round resource to deliver the programme.

• Commercial organisations if the proposed programme is primarily for the benefit of the public and where there are plans to re-invest any surplus into a similar and ongoing arts programme.

All new applicant organisations to the programme must have been in receipt of a single award of at least £10,001 from ACNI since 1 April 2023 in order to be eligible for the scheme.

No minimum or maximum value of grant is specified. Organisations may apply for one year funding only.

Within the overall grant, funding is also available for successful applicants who can clearly demonstrate that additional costs such as sign language provision, translation and carers' costs are associated with the delivery of their project to relevant people as defined under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

New applicants must contact the relevant art form officer by 5pm on 24 November 2025, at the latest, to discuss a possible application.

The deadline for applications is 8 December 2025 (noon). For more information, please visit Annual Funding Programme 2026/27 | Arts Council NI

PEACEPLUS Change Maker Programme Pauses to Applications

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has announced a pause on all applications to the PEACEPLUS Change Maker funding programme while it reviews and simplifies the application process.

PEACEPLUS is a European Union funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, building upon the work of the previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes.

Change Makers is for partnership projects focused on cross-community relations and cross-border collaboration as part of the wider PEACEPLUS programme. The total budget for the programme is €40 million to be distributed in tranches between 2025 and 2027.

Further details on the revised application process and opening date will be provided once available. Change Maker Funding Programme | SEUPB

Funding to Support Historic Designed Landscapes Across the UK

The Gardens Trust is offering grants of up to £8,000 for volunteer groups across the UK to help seed-fund projects that will improve, enhance, and support historic designed landscapes

The Gardens Trust Community Grants Fund will support both capital and revenue costs related to historic designed landscape projects. Priority will be given to:

• Seed-funding or pump-priming for a sustainable activity, such as a restoration plan, Friends Group set-up costs, research project, or volunteer training schemes.

• Applications that reflect the Trust priorities around conservation, knowledge sharing, and encouraging participation and enjoyment of historic landscapes.

Preference will be given to smaller charities and projects that will be completed within 18 months of the application.

The deadline for applications is 14 November 2025. For more information, please visit The Gardens Trust Community Grant - The Gardens Trust

Funding to Support Disadvantaged Adults Move Toward Employment (UK)

Grants of up to £5,000 are available for UK registered charities for specific projects that improve communication skills for disadvantaged adults and supports NEET people into employment.

The Thomas Wall Trust views communication skills as critical capabilities for people who want to improve their employment prospects, self-confidence, resilience, and life chances.

The funding is for registered UK registered charities with an annual turnover of between £25,000 and £500,000 that are working to develop communication skills for people (aged 18 years and older) from disadvantaged groups who want to improve their employment prospects. Beneficiaries must gain at least one accredited vocational qualification during delivery.

Proposals are welcome which target people experiencing multiple deprivation or other groups demonstrably facing major hurdles to employment, especially women, people with physical, mental, or learning disabilities, and refugees.

Priority will be given to match funded projects and self-sustainable projects, with a view to becoming less reliant on grants in the future.

Grants cannot be used for capital costs.

There is a two-stage application process.

The deadline for stage one applications is 22 December 2025 for consideration at the March 2026 meeting.

For more information please visit Thomas Wall Trust | Thomas Wall Trust

The Rural Action Awards for 2025/2026 are open for applications.

The Awards offer rural community-based organisations in Northern Ireland or the border region of Ireland the opportunity to apply for and secure £1000 or €1000 towards their volunteer led community action project.

CURRENT CLOSING DATE:

20th NOVEMBER 2025

What is a Rural Action Award?

Our Rural Action Awards scheme for this year will again support 12 volunteer led community action projects up to March 2026.

As before, the scheme is open to constituted rural community-based organisations including charities, not for profit community groups, sporting and cultural organisations, heritage groups, Parent Teacher Associations, youth groups/clubs and social enterprises.

The scheme seeks to support practical, tangible and timebound projects where the project must complete within 12 weeks.

What is different for this years Awards?

This years Awards will operate 3 calls for applications in the financial year to end March 2026.  After each call a random selection will identify 4 recipients.  Upon successful completion of verification, each will receive £1000/€1000 towards their chosen community project.

The current call for applications will close on 20th November 2025.

Rural Action Awards Terms & Conditions.

• A bonafide rural community organisation

• Evidence of governing document can be supplied if successful

• Based in rural Northern Ireland or the border region of Ireland

• Must be able to use the Award within 12 weeks of receipt

• Registered bank account in name of applicant organisation

• VIEW FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

“Rural Action was established out of a continued desire to make a positive contribution to the everyday lives of rural communities.

Our strapline is ‘Making it Happen’ and we hope that these modest awards, can in some way, contribute to doing just that, to help to support rural communities to make things happen locally”.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

To apply to the Rural Action Awards simply follow the link below:

APPLY TO THE RURAL ACTION AWARDS SCHEME

Boxing is Love Equipment Fund

Over the next three months, the Boxing is Love Equipment Fund will be giving away free punching bags and offering an additional £10,000 worth of high-quality boxing bags at heavily subsidised rates to UK gyms, charities, and youth organisations that share our values. The application form below includes guidance to help you complete each section with confidence. 

Applications

• 6 October – 10 November 2025 (9:00pm GMT)
• Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 10 December 2025.

For who?

This fund is open to UK-based boxing gyms, charities, and youth-focused organisations that can demonstrate how their work reflects the values of Boxing is Love.

What happens if my application is successful?

• Pre-filled boxing bags will be delivered directly to your gym within one week of notification.

• The Boxing is Love team will also arrange a visit to record a short video interview about your work and impact.

For more information and to apply, please visit BOXING IS LOVE FUND | Boxing is Love

US/NI 250 funding programme is open for applications

In April the Minister announced funding of £250,000 for organisations to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Applications are now open for £150,000 of this funding to support organisations and individuals across Northern Ireland to celebrate the anniversary next year.

Minister Lyons said: 

“This is a great opportunity for Northern Ireland to celebrate the strong and enduring links that connect us with the United States and have shaped both our countries in lasting ways.

“This is an open call for applications from groups and individuals for activities which will commemorate events or people from here who were involved in this period of American history.

“This initiative, delivered through the Ulster-Scots Agency, will enable local organisations and individuals to tell their stories and celebrate the deep historic connections that exist, ensuring that Northern Ireland’s role is marked.”

The fund will be administered by the Ulster-Scots Agency on behalf of the Department for Communities and will provide financial support for a wide range of projects. This includes community events, cultural exhibitions, educational programmes, storytelling that reflect the shared history and links between Northern Ireland and the United States.

Applications will open on Monday 20 October and for more information please visit the Ulster Scots Agency website(external link opens in a new window / tab). 

New JobStart scheme announced

The JobStart Scheme provides funding from the Department for Communities to allow employers to create new job opportunities to help those who are currently unemployed or economically inactive, in receipt of working age benefits and wish to enter or re-enter the workplace.

Employers in Northern Ireland can receive 100% funding to create job opportunities for 16 – 65 year-olds who are unemployed or economically inactive and need support to enter or re-enter the labour market.

Funding for each JobStart opportunity will cover:

• the relevant National Living Wage for up to 25 hours per week*

• the associated employer National Insurance contributions

• an employer's minimum automatic enrolment pension contributions.

*Employers can offer additional hours but will have to fund the additional hours themselves

There will also be funding available to support participants to develop their employability and occupational skills and to help them move into sustained employment after they have completed their JobStart opportunity.

A support grant of £750 is available for 6-month opportunities and £1,000 for 9-month opportunities. 

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 31 December 2025.

For more information please visit Apply for JobStart Scheme funding | Department for Communities

Ulster Garden Villages reopens its grantmaking

Based on the current critical issues facing our communities, for the next 18-24 months Ulster Garden Villages is focusing its support on the areas of Poverty and Homelessness.

Grants range from £750 to, in exception, £1,000,000, depending on the project, the proposed impact and each charity’s size and scope of work.

Open to registered charities, their preferred projects will demonstrate active participation and self-help. They should be innovative and developmental with an achievable, practical and sustainable objective.

Accepting Expressions of Interest from 1 November to 30 November 2025.

For more information and to apply, please visit How to Apply for a UGV Charitable Grant in NI

Free Equipment & Training for Sports Clubs 2025/26

The Public Health Agency, through the Clear Project, are offering constituted voluntary sector sports clubs in the Western Trust area the opportunity to avail of training, which will help them support their members. The amount available to spend on relevant sports equipment for their club is £500.

1. safeTALK dates & Informatiion

2. Booking Guidelines

3. Process for purchase of Sports Equipment 

4. List of SOA’s 

5. Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing

Click for Full Information

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 5th November 2025 @ 3pm

Health Minister opens 2026/2027 Core Grant funding scheme

The Health Minister launched the Department of Health’s Core Grant funding scheme for 2026/2027.

The scheme is open to community and voluntary sector organisations and is intended to support them with core operating costs.

To ensure more organisations receive support under the scheme in 2026/2027, the maximum bid per eligible organisation is being capped at £50,000.

This guarantees a minimum of 64 recipients from a budget of £1.8m, compared to 26 recipients in 2025/2026.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: 

“My Department and I are committed to supporting the community and voluntary sector as much as possible, recognising its vital role in promoting public health and social wellbeing.

“Community and voluntary sector organisations provide vital assistance to those within our communities who need it most, and in doing so, support statutory services in what remains a very challenging environment.

“My Department has been liaising closely with the sector and their valuable feedback has helped inform the development of the 2026/27 scheme. I want to thank all of those who engaged so constructively with my officials, including colleagues from NICVA, CO3, and the Northern Ireland Health Collective.

“Although I would have liked to have been able to devote more than the £1.8m, I have protected this important investment in the community and voluntary sector, despite the continued severe budgetary constraints facing my Department. I will continue to press the case for sustained additional funding for health and social care.

“I have listened to the feedback following the outcome of last year’s application process, which made it clear that the scheme should be supporting a larger number of organisations, and particularly those smaller organisations which struggle the most to cover their core costs. The scheme has therefore been restructured to ensure that at least 64 organisations working across four key priority policy areas can be supported in 2026/27, and a majority of those supported will have an annual income of less than £1m.”

Under the 2026/2027 scheme, eligible organisations are invited to apply to one of four policy funds, each totalling £450,000. They are:

• Public health, including reducing health inequalities;

• Supporting adults, including those with disabilities, to live independent, healthy and inclusive lives;

• Supporting children and young people, including those with disabilities and vulnerabilities, and their families;

• Improving the mental health and wellbeing of the population.

Organisations have until 12pm on Friday 28 November 2025 to apply for funding from the scheme.

Further information, including the application form and guidance, can be found online at: Core Grant Funding Scheme 2026-27 | Department of Health

Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation

Applications can be submitted at any time.

Grants are available for registered charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK to deliver projects and activities that promote non-violence and support adults and young people who are victims of violent crime and terrorism. 

This Foundation aims to support projects and activities that promote non-violence against young people and support the victims of violent crime/terrorism.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available. 

The following can apply:

• Charities registered with the Charity Commission.

• Not-for-profit organisations.

• Companies that are limited by guarantee and registered with the Companies House.  

Priority will be given to:

• Organisations with strong community links that can provide firm evidence that any funding provided will improve young people’s lives.

• Organisations working with victims of violence or extremism based on political affiliation, race, gender, and/or faith. 

Funding can be used for:

• Helping adults and young people who are victims of violence due to their gender, ethnicity, or faith, and those at risk of being affected by social violence.

• Promoting non-violence in schools and further education.

• Working with victims of terrorism and their families.

• Helping people build skills and resilience to make informed life choices.

Salary costs associated with the project can be considered. 

Applications can be submitted at any time.

Guidance notes and an application form are available from the TPJB Foundation website.

Applicants will typically be notified of any decisions made within three months of the application date.

 For more information, please visit Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation