Funding News – 22 January 2024

Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.

Funding News

Benefact Group: Movement for Good Awards

The Movement for Good Awards is an annual programme of giving, set up by all the businesses that make up the Benefact Group. Each year starts with a clean slate - 2023 nominations are not carried over, so please nominate your favourite charity to get them in the running for 2024. This year, they have six £1,000 draws where they are giving away 370 donations. They also operate £5,000 special draws.

The Hargreaves Foundation: Transforming young lives through sport and education

Applications are open for organisations seeking funding to support those under the age of 18, and living with a mental health problem, physical disability or growing up in poverty through the mediums of sport and education. It is the intention of the Trustees to distribute the annual income available to The Foundation, likely to be in the region of £2,000,000 per annum.

Fletchers Foundation

Grants are available to charities and organisations in the UK working to support individuals or families who have suffered life changing circumstances as a result of severe personal injury, accident or clinical negligence. Grants of up to £10,000.  Local community groups, registered charities or schools working with individuals and families living with the long-term effects of serious personal injury, medical negligence, or illness are eligible.

Boots Charitable Trust

Boots Charitable Trust is an independent registered charity wholly funded by Boots UK Limited. They want to be there to care for people, customers and communities everywhere, and that’s why in 2023 they expanded the Trust’s reach to support projects across the UK, as well as in their home county of Nottinghamshire. The Trust funds charities and voluntary organisations working in the areas of health, lifelong learning, community development and social care and encourages applications from organisations where their grants of up to £10,000 can make the biggest impact. Next round opens 1 February 2024.

Community Foundation of Northern Ireland open grant programmes

  • Openreach Community Fund (previously the Telecommunity Fund) – grants of £500-£2,000 to Constituted grass roots community and voluntary groups Projects must aim to directly support one of the following specific groups: Young people, Older people, and People with disabilities.
  • Cregganconroe Community Benefit Fund – Grants of up to £2,000  available for local community projects within a 6-mile radius of the wind farm located just off the Loughmallon Road, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone. Fund aims to address marginalisation and tackle rural isolation with particular emphasis on maximising and improving community spaces and supporting services/activities for children, young people, and older people.
  • Inishative Community Benefit Fund – Grants up to £2,000 available for local community projects within a 6-mile radius of the wind farm. Priority is given to applicant organisations based within the Carrickmore (3.5 miles), Galbally/Cappagh (4-5 miles) and Sixmilecross (6 miles) areas. Funding supports stronger more inclusive communities through co-design and co-delivery, utilising existing facilities, partnership working, skill development, and reducing isolation.

Upcoming Deadlines

NI Policing Board: Police Property Fund Grants Scheme

The Police Property Fund is made up of assets recovered by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) as a result of criminal investigations. The total available funds in the third call for applications within the Small Grants Scheme will be £200,000. Small Grant applications can be for any value between £1,000 and £10,000. Deadline 24 January 2024 (noon).

Belfast City Council - Festival of Learning

Belfast’s Festival of Learning returns this year between 22 and 27 April 2024.Funding up to a maximum of £500 is available to assist organisations and groups to deliver an event during festival week. For an application and guidance notes, email [email protected]. Deadline 29 January 2024 (noon).

The Brian Conlon Foundation Up to £3,500 available to support the provision of projects based in Newry City – view boundary map here; focusing on Advancement of Education, Advancement of Amateur sport, Opportunities for young people from the local area, and Assistance for communities in disadvantaged areas. The fund is distributed via the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland.  Deadline 9 February 2024 (1pm).

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council: Grand Choice

Local residents or groups within the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council have the opportunity to take part in their ‘Grand Choice’ participatory budgeting initiative which offers £1000. The scheme operates throughout the year with varying District Electoral Areas chosen to participate. Your project should take place between March 2024 and June 2024 and must be within Castlereagh East District Electoral Area. This includes Ballyhanwood, Carrowreagh, Dundonald, Enler, Graham’s Bridge and Moneyreagh. Deadline 11 February 2024.

Hays Travel Foundation

The Foundation works with organisations that support young people, who for one reason or another, need a bit of help to achieve their potential. Focus is on helping young people (up to 25 years of age) in the areas where Hays Travel operates, in at least one of the following areas: Education, Prevention of poverty, Health, Arts, Culture, and Sports. Registered charities operating in a location with a Hays Travel branch should apply by 14 February 2024.

Fundraising Events

NICVA’s Funding Fayre 2024

28 February 2024 - 10am to 3pm

NICVA is hosting a Funding Fayre 28 February 2024 from 10am to 3pm. A wide range of funders have confirmed their attendance. We will also have a number of seminar speakers, advice and support service exhibitors and drop-in discussions on fundraising and impact with NICVA staff. The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland is supporting the event to ensure that it is free to all VCSE across Northern Ireland. Register today and secure your spot!

Fundraising Support

Training

Developing a Case for Support - In Person

21 March 2024 - 10:00am to 1:00pm

This 3-hour session in NICVA aims to support those responsible for fundraising within voluntary and community and who are unfamiliar with the use of Cases for Support in their work.

Clinics

These popular, free fundraising advice clinics provide members with an hour-long chance to discuss and address specific fundraising needs.  The sessions can be delivered online, in-person or over the telephone. If you wish to secure a Fundraising Clinic please contact the Fundraising Advice Officer directly for availability. considered.

Fundraising Hub

Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:

Foyle Foundation set to make £23m-worth of grants as it closes after 25 years

The Foyle Foundation will complete its grant giving programme in 2025, marking 25 years of giving to the fields of the Arts, Learning, Community Small Grants, State School Libraries and Health. 

Better Together - Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland launches new Strategy and funding programmes

After listening to their applicants and grant holders, the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland are delighted to launch Better Together - their Strategy for 2024-2028 and its accompanying suite of funding programmes. 

New hub for UK Grantmaking announced

360Giving announce UK Grantmaking, a new hub for grantmaking data and insights set to launch in 2024. Find out more and learn how you can be involved.

#TicktheBox for Gift Aid – why it’s important

Every year, charities miss out on £560m in unclaimed Gift Aid. As we face a tough funding climate with increasing costs, encouraging your supporters to #TicktheBox means we can make an even bigger difference in these tough times.

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