Ards and North Down Borough Council Tourism Events and Festivals Fund

Opens THURSDAY 31st OCTOBER 2024 at 12noon and close on MONDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2024 at 12noon. 

The aim of the Fund is to provide grant aid for tourism events and festivals which can demonstrate a positive economic impact within Ards and North Down by attracting additional visitors and spend, contributing to a positive image of the Borough among visitors and residents.   

Guidance Notes for Applicants - please download here  Guidance Notes for TEFF 2025-26 (PDF) [356KB](opens new window)

Please email tourismgrants@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk to register or for further information. 

Please note, all successful applications are subject to budget confirmation. 

Applicants should also refer to the Event Management Toolkit for more information and guidance to assist in organising your event. This includes the Event Management Guide, the Event Management Plan Template, the Risk Assessment Template and the Council Land Request Form. 

Free Equipment and Training for Sports Clubs in the Western Trust area

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.

 
In order to receive this aid clubs must:

• Be a constituted voluntary sector sports club and enclose a copy of this document and a list of their committee members.

• Be appropriately insured or prepared to obtain appropriate insurance if awarded.

• Enclose the most recent annual accounts or statement of income and expenditure which must be approved and signed by an officeholder.

• Operate within the Western Trust area.

• Have a significant impact upon or involvement from their local community.

• Must have a minimum of 3 to 5 members attend training safeTALK, relevant approved mental health programme (Level 1 mental health awareness e-learning module and Zero Suicide Alliance

 Please note: This must be members who have significant input in / involvement / role with the club. 
(SafeTALK trainings will open for bookings once grant applications have been approved)

Equipment requested should help the club develop activities that meet the needs of the local community and support the delivery of the ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing’. 
These are five simple steps to help maintain and improve your wellbeing through the themes of ‘Connect’, ‘Be active’, ‘Take Notice’, ‘Keep Learning’ and ‘Give’.

To claim funding from the Clear project clubs will be asked to:

1. Submit grant application then once accepted complete training.

2. Seek out a quote for the equipment (quote to be approved by the Clear Project).

3. Pay the chosen supplier directly.  Where a club cannot provide sufficient evidence of proper financial processes, the Clear Project will pay for direct invoices/items needed.  

4. Submit an invoice made out to the Clear Project for the amount spent, accompanied with the receipt/s as proof of purchase. 

If the club does not have the finances, then requests for advance payment will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Any relevant sports club within the Western Trust area can apply for the funding however preference will be given to:

• Groups operating in the top 20% most disadvantaged Super output areas (SOA’s).

• Those with lower capacity.

Please note: The funding award will not be released until all training has been completed and all paperwork has been returned.  All training must be completed by 31st January 2025

To apply, please download and complete the application form below

1. Sports Grant  Announcement Flyer 

2. Application form 

3. safeTALK Training Flyer 

4. Process for purchase of Sports Equipment 

5. List of SOA’s 

6. Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing 

Closing date for applications is 
Wednesday 20th November 2024 at 3pm

Completed application forms and supporting documents will be accepted by:

Email: clear@dhcni.com 
or 
Post: Clear Project (Sports Grants), Building 83 Ledwidge Avenue, Ebrington, Derry~Londonderry, BT47 6GZ.

Small Grants 2025-26 Tranche 1

Belfast City Council’s Small Grants 2025-26 Tranche 1 are now open for applications for the grants listed below. The submission deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Friday 10 January 2025.

1. Community Festivals Fund

2. Arts & Heritage

3. Good Relations

4. Parks Events

5. Sports Events

6. Support for Sport: Large Development Grant

7. Support for Sport: Small Development Grant

8. Support for Sport: Hospitality Grant

9. Support for Sport: Sporting Individual Grant

10. Community Summer Scheme

For further details, guidance notes and to apply online please visit our website https://grants.belfastcity.gov.uk or contact the Central Grants Unit Belfast City Council at cgugrants@belfastcity.gov.uk

Community Support Grant Aid Programmes

Derry City and Strabane District Council has the following funds open for applications:

• Community Festival Fund 2025-26

• Christmas Event Fund 2025-26

• Headline Events Fund 2025-26

• Access Programme for Cultural Organisations 2025-26

• Artist & Cultural Practitioner Awards Fund 2025-26

• Heritage Animation & Visitor Servicing Programme 2025-26.

  Open 14 October 2024 (10:00am). Deadline 15 November 2024 (noon).

  For more information, please visit dcsdcgrantaid.com/grant-aid-programmes.asp

Small Grants to Support Those in Need of a Safe and Secure Home

UK registered charities from anywhere in the UK can apply now for small grants of between £250 and £1,000 for projects that support those in need of a safe and secure home.

The funding is intended to support projects to improve the health, wellbeing and financial literacy of people who are experiencing homelessness.

Grants are only for capital expenditure (that is, to purchase items used to directly help those in need).

Applications will be accepted from registered charities in the UK that have a turnover of less than £1 million.

The deadline for applications is 11 November 2024.

For more information, please visit About Charitable Foundation | Leeds Building Society

Funding to Help Disadvantaged Groups Improve their Communication Skills

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.

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

Applications will be accepted from UK charities, registered with the Charity Commission for least three years, with an annual turnover of between £25,000 and £500,000 that are working to develop communication skills for people from disadvantaged groups who want to improve their employment prospects. Beneficiaries must gain at least one accredited vocational qualification during delivery.

Proposals are particularly 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 6 January 2025 for consideration in March 2025.

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

Funding to Support New Housing Ideas Focused on Migration, Asylum and Human Trafficking

Commonweal Housing, an independent social justice charity working to investigate, pilot and champion housing-based solutions to social injustice, is offering up to three grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 to carry out a feasibility study to evaluate a housing and support model that addresses a specific social injustice.

The Autumn 2024 Call for New Ideas is exclusively focused on injustices around migration, asylum and human trafficking.

There is particular interest in new and imaginative ideas for housing projects that seek to:

• Address transition points between and within systems that drive housing insecurity (such as asylum to refugee status, the NRM lifecycle, unaccompanied minors to adulthood, family reunification, etc).

• Support survivors of trafficking, both non-UK and UK nationals.

• Demonstrate possible long term cost savings benefits for the government through focusing on community integration or employability support, as examples.

Not-for-profit organisations in the UK may apply. They do not need to be experts in housing or have experience in delivering housing projects. However, they do need to demonstrate their understanding of the issue they are seeking to address.

Joint applications will be accepted. Partners must be a not-for-profit but can include local or combined authorities.

The deadline to apply is 4 November 2024 (17:00).

For more information, please visit Call for New Ideas - Commonweal Housing

Capital Grants Fund

The Capital Grants Fund is available to local sports and community organisations for support towards the development of new or the enhancement of existing facilities to meet unmet need. 

The Capital Grants Programme will only fund properly constituted not for profit community and voluntary sector organisations. 

 Key Dates:

- Expressions of Interests – 8th October 2024 to 29th October 2024 (12 noon)
- Pre-application workshop on 12th November 2024
- Full Application call – 11th November 2024 – 17th January 2025 (12 noon)

Key Notes:

- A total capital grant pot of £600,000 per annum is available
- Not for profit sporting or community organisations can apply for awards of up to 80% of total project costs. (Max amount per application is £120,000).
- Max allocation per sporting code is 20% of the annual pot.
- Capital grants must be fully drawn down within a 5-year time frame from grant award date.
- Organisations/projects that have received a capital grant from Council in the last 3 years will not be   eligible for an award.

For detailed guidance notes and to complete an Expression of Interest form please go to:-  https://grants.ccgbcapps.com/

Funding Available for Historic Building Repairs in Northern Ireland

Owners of historic, listed buildings in Northern Ireland can access financial support to carry out essential repair work, with a focus on keeping buildings watertight. This funding is part of the Department for Communities' Historic Environment Fund initiative, aimed at preserving architectural heritage.

The Repair Stream of the Historic Environment Fund offers up to £8,000 per property, and up to £15,000 for thatched buildings, for vital roof and window repairs in the 2025/26 financial year. The aim is to spread the available support widely and to help owners tackle the impact of more extreme weather resulting from climate change.

Eligible works include repairs to slated roofs, leadwork, chimney repairs, thatch roofs and windows. Some professional fees may also be covered, but the programme does not support alterations, improvements or work on unlisted historic buildings. Churches are also excluded from funding.

The deadline for applications is 27 November 2024 (17:00 GMT).

For more information, please visit Historic Environment Fund Repair stream | Department for Communities (communities-ni.gov.uk)

National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland Launches New Strengthening Communities Programme

The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) for Northern Ireland has announced the launch of its new community-led funding programme: Strengthening Communities.

The new fund is available to voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland and will invest £20 million each year in support of NLCF’s 2030 strategy  ‘It starts with community'. Grants of between £20,001 and £500,000 for up to five years.

The Fund has a targeted approach distinct from previous programmes, as it is intended for projects focused on early intervention with a particular focus on people who experience poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.

The Fund will start by targeting two of the NLCF's mission areas:

• Help children and young people thrive.

• Enable people to live healthier lives.

Projects must align with at least one of the following outcomes:

• Communities help to reduce health inequalities.

• Communities support people’s physical health, mental health and wellbeing.

• People have positive relationships and connections.

• Communities help young people to reach their potential and thrive as adults.

• Children and young people develop good social and emotional skills.

Organisations are encouraged to consider how to make their projects accessible to vulnerable and excluded communities.

Project costs and overheads are eligible for funding.

NLCF will be hosting online information sessions on the following dates:

• 16 October 2024 (11:00 – 12:00).

• 16 October 2024 (18:30 – 19:30).

• 24 October 2024 (14:00 – 15:00).

Organisations can register for the sessions on the National Lottery Community Fund website.

The Fund will open to applications on 21 October 2024. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

For more information, please visit Strengthening Communities | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

Northern Ireland Community Relations Core Funding Programme Accepting Applications

An annual programme providing support to not-for-profit organisations with an interest in promoting community relations and cultural diversity in Northern Ireland is accepting applications.

The programme has an annual budget of around £1.2 million with approximately 30 groups normally receiving funding. For 2025/26, it is estimated that around £700,000 is available for new applications. While there is no minimum or maximum grant value, grants typically range between £20,000 and £80,000.

The Core Funding Programme provided by the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council seeks to support not-for-profit organisations deemed strategically important in promoting community relations.

To be eligible for support, projects must meet the following criteria:

• The work must be intentional - programmes must have a clear good relations purpose from the outset with deliberate and planned activities which directly address sectarianism.

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

Proposed projects must contribute towards one or more of the Together: Building a United Community strategic priorities, with funding intended to contribute towards salary and organisational running costs.

The deadline for applications is 15 November 2024 (16:00).

For more information, please visit Core Funding Scheme | Community Relations Council (community-relations.org.uk)

Community Benefit Funds available for local projects that educate, raise awareness and demonstrate community involvement in work that promotes environmental issues and healthier lifestyles

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is administering funds that will provide support local projects to educate, raise awareness and demonstrate community involvement in work that promotes environmental issues and healthier lifestyles.

Applications are now open for community organisations located within a designated distance of the windfarms listed below;

• Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund - Corby Knowe wind farm is located off the Parkgate Road, Kells, County Antrim.

• Cloonty Community Benefit Fund - The Cloonty Community Benefit Fund is available to local community projects within 6km of the Cloonty Wind Farm site which is located in an area bounded by the B17 Straid Road to the north, the B62 Ballybogey Road to the west and B147 Kirk Road / Ballintea Road to the south and east.

• Dunbeg Community Benefit Fund - The Dunbeg Community Benefit Fund is available to local community projects within 6 miles of the Dunbeg Wind Farm site which is located between Limavady and Coleraine.

• Carn Hill Community Benefit Fund - The Carn Hill Community Benefit Fund is available to local community projects within the Monkstown, Grange, Woodburn, Greenisland and Ballynure areas.

• Monnaboy Community Benefit Fund - The Monnaboy Community Benefit Fund is available to local community projects within 7km of the Monnaboy Wind Farm site which is located off the Monnaboy Road, Greysteel.

• Dunmore Community Benefit Fund - Funding is available to local community projects that are planned and run for the benefit of the local population and are within 10 miles of the windfarm. 

• Brockaghboy Community Benefit Fund - The fund’s aim is to provide financial support towards the development of locally-beneficial community-based projects and initiatives within a 6km radius of Brockaghboy wind farm, Swatragh, County L/derry.

• Long Mountain Community Benefit Fund - This local community fund has been set up by Energia Renewables, working in close partnership with local groups from the areas surrounding the Long Mountain Wind Farm, Glenbuck Road, Dunloy.

• Rathsherry Community Benefit Fund - Energia Renewables has pledged to deliver a Community Benefit Fund for a 21.15 MW Wind Farm located at 115 Longmore Road, Broughshane, Ballymena, BT43 7HR.

• Thornog Community Benefit Fund - This local community fund has been set up by Energia Renewables, working in close partnership with local groups from the areas surrounding the Thornog Wind Farm, which is located between Drumquin, Co Tyrone and Kesh, Co Fermanagh.

For more information on each of these funds, please visit Available Grants - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

The Ann McGeeney Trust Fund for women – looking back, reaching forward

the Ann McGeeney Trust Fund and the Women’s Fund for Northern Ireland have partnered to offer funding opportunities for individual women who require a small amount of financial aid to support them towards fulfilling their potential. The fund will provide bursaries to individuals to help build resilience, remove barriers to employment and training, and/or build on opportunities they may have to achieve a positive future.

Who can apply:

• Individual women aged 18 and over, living in Northern Ireland (and Republic of Ireland), who are striving to get into, or back into employment.

• Applicants will preferably be affiliated to a constituted community/women’s group and have the support of that organisation, however, if you are not, you will still be eligible to apply.

While not exclusive, the Fund welcomes applications for Bursaries that address the following:

•  Personal development and confidence building

• Overcoming barriers to employment, education or training

• Making the first steps towards re-entering the workplace

*In exceptional circumstances the panel may offer support for education fees, providing they are for short term courses only, and that there are further barriers for the applicant around accessing such a course.

Examples of the types of activities that may be supported:

• Basic training support materials – books or equipment for example

• Interview training

• Mentoring

• Travel costs to access relevant training (public transport for up to six months)

• Childcare during employability training (up to six months)

• Access course

Closing Date: Oct 17, 2024 13:00

For more information, visit The Ann McGeeney Trust Fund for women – looking back, reaching forward - Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)

National Garden Scheme launches grant for Community gardens

The 2025 Community Garden Grants scheme is open for applications from Monday 9th September until noon on 28th October 2024.

Eligible community garden projects from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are welcome to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000.

All applications will be assessed on their merits and the successful groups will be notified in March 2025.

Please visit Community Garden Grants - National Garden Scheme (ngs.org.uk)

Road Safety Trust’s Autumn Round Opens to UK Applications

The overall aims of the Road Safety Trust are to reduce death and injury on the UK roads through providing independent funding for research and the development of innovative approaches.

There is a different theme each year. The Autumn 2024 theme is ‘Inequalities in Road Safety’.

The aim of the Autumn 2024 grant programme is ‘to bring to light areas of inequality and investigate ways they can be addressed to save lives and prevent injury on UK roads’.

The funding is for projects that address one or more of the following areas: 

• The impact of social determinants such as income and health and other demographic factors on local communities and their exposure to risk related to: 

• Illegal, dangerous and anti-social use of the roads, the effectiveness of current countermeasures and potential new methods for reduction

• Rural areas and different age groups within such communities

• Access to, and use of, technologies that make vehicles and roads safer

• Road safety issues for children with SEN and/or disabilities; and the issues for their carers.

• Improving the availability, quality and strategic use of demographic evidence and information, alongside other safety related evidence and information to support practitioners and policy makers in respect of road safety.

The Autumn round will be for both:

• Small grants (£10,000 to £50,000 over two years) for practical projects or local pilots or trials.

• Large grants (£50,001 to £300,000 for up to two or three years) for research-based projects, and the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative interventions.

Match funding is required, either cash or in-kind.

Eligible costs include staffing, consumables, travel, and some equipment costs.

UK-based organisations (both public and professional associations), registered charities and university departments may apply.

Applications will be accepted from 26 September to 1 November 2024. 

For more information, please visit Road Safety Trust

Small Grants to Reduce Social Isolation for Over 55s in UK

Founded by Home Instead, the UK’s leading provider of home care, Home Instead Charities’ mission is to end loneliness for ageing adults. The organisation exists to bring happiness and joy into the lives of Britain’s ageing population so that ageing adults are thriving, not just surviving.

To this end, they offer funding to support local community events that enhance and enrich the lives of people over the age of 55 to combat loneliness and sometimes isolation ensuring they stay fit, active, healthy and connected and contributing to their local communities.

There are two levels of funding:

• Grants of up to £500 for small grass roots organisations.

• Grants of up to £1,500 for small local registered charities. Larger grants can be considered for exceptional projects.

The funder will only fully fund a grant request where the applicant holds no more than three months operating costs in reserve. For organisations that have more than this, up to 50% of the project costs will be funded.

The grants can be used for:

• 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 the group such as a local historian.

There are four application windows per year.

The final application round for 2024 opens 1 October and closes 31 October 2024.

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

DIY & Technical Assistance Community Fund

LCCC are delighted to announce the launch of the DIY & Technical Assistance Community Fund.

This grant scheme enables local groups to refresh, refurbish or make general improvements to existing community facilities and/or commission professional/technical assistance to explore the potential of expansion and/or upgrades to facilities.

Up to £1,500 is available for applicants.

The scheme will close on Thursday 17th October 2024 at 12 noon

For more information and to apply, please click here https://www.lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk/web/guest/w/diy-technical-assistance-community-fund#introduction

For any queries, please contact Community Services at community.services@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk or 028 9244 7713

Triangle Trust’s Autumn Funding Round Opens for UK Applications

This rounds offers grants of up to £80,000 over two years (up £40,000 can be requested per year) for proposals focused on targeted work with high-risk young women and girls ages 11 and 30 who are on the edge of the criminal justice system.

Registered charities, not-for-profit social enterprises and community interest companies that are working within the UK and have a UK office can apply as long as they can clearly show that women and girls make up at least 80% of their total beneficiaries across their whole organisation. They need to have a proven track record of running projects with vulnerable and challenging young women and girls between the ages of 11 and 30 years, and their work is both gender and trauma informed.

There is particular interest in funding projects working with young women and girls who are care experienced, come from Black or minoritized/racialised communities and work that is led by people with lived experience.

The Trust particularly welcomes applications from organisations working in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Autumn 2024 application window opens on 16 September and closes on 30 October 2024. For more information, please visit The Triangle Trust

Supporting homeless charities throughout the UK

We are a small charity with limited funds available. Please check carefully that both your organisation and your project meet our criteria before making an application.

Criteria

• Your organisation must be registered with the Charity Commission in England, Wales or Northern Ireland or a registered Scottish Charity.

• We are able to help only small charities with an annual turnover of less than £500,000.

• We can only accept applications towards the funding of capital projects. We are unable to accept applications towards running/core costs. Note: we are also unable to consider requests for computers and IT equipment.

• We provide small grants of up to £5,000. We do not consider multi-year requests.

• There should be a minimum period of two years between the receipt of a decision or grant from us and making a further application.

APPLICATION FORM

All applicants must complete our online application form. Please note we no longer accept applications by post or email.

Deadlines for applications

The quarterly deadlines for applications for funding each year are: 5pm on 15th March/15th June/15th September/15th December.
You will be informed of the Trustees’ decision within eight weeks of each deadline.

EXAMPLE GRANTS

Examples of recent grants made can be found here.

For more information, please visit Applying for Funding — Help the Homeless (help-the-homeless.org.uk)

British Science Week 2025 Community Grants open now

Is your community group keen to run an activity during British Science Week? Can you reach people who currently don’t engage with science? If so, we might be able to help!

The Community Grants scheme is all about helping you to engage your audiences with science in ways that are tailor-made for them. Supported by UK Research and Innovation, we’re thrilled to offer grants each year to help community groups to run their own events and activities for British Science Week, expanding the number of people who enjoy and take part in science. 

About the Community Grants

There are two levels of Community Grants available for community groups:

1. £500 to run one or more events during British Science Week
2. £1000 to run one or more events during British Science Week, as well as either preparatory or follow-up activities that will lead to continued engagement beyond British Science Week

Eligibility

We offer funding to community groups that work directly with audiences traditionally underrepresented in science, including:

• people from ethnic minority backgrounds

• people living in communities which face deprivation, including people disadvantaged in terms of education and income

• people with a disability or long-term health condition

• people living in a remote and rural location, defined as settlements of less than 10,000 people

• girls and women*.

* For community groups that work with girls and women, we prioritise those who work with at least one other underrepresented group.

Please note, if you are a school or a college, you can only apply to our Kick Start Grants. See the Community Grants guidelines for details on special education needs schools and other educational groups who can apply to the Community Grants scheme.

How can I apply?

To help you prepare for 2025 applications, please make sure you read the detailed Community Grants guidelines before you apply.

Community Grants 2025 guidelines

Looking for inspiration?

Check out our case studies!

Community Grants case studies and example activities

Discover how other community groups used the funding to support activities and events during previous British Science Week, and pick up plenty of ideas for your own projects in 2024 and beyond.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at communities@britishscienceassociation.org

For more information, please visit Community Grants - British Science Week