Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Victims Support Programme 2026-28 Grant Funding Call
The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) funding programme: Victims Support Programme 2026-28 aims to improve the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors of the Troubles/conflict by providing funding to community and voluntary organisations to deliver services including Psychological/Talking Therapies, Complementary Therapies, Social Support, and Welfare Support. Funding applications can be submitted for projects covering a two-year period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028. Open to NI based organisations, applicants can apply for small grants of under £30,000 or larger grants of over £30,000. Submit applications by 6 November 2025, 12noon. Visit website for details of upcoming information sessions.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland: Travel Award for Bands
The Arts Council has designed this programme to provide support to enable established Bands based in Northern Ireland to travel outside of Northern Ireland with the following aims: To develop Bands’ performance skills, networks and audiences via opportunities to showcase outside of Northern Ireland; To contribute to the growth of equality of access to and opportunities in the arts for groups within the Bands’ sector in Northern Ireland; high quality musicianship; a commitment to training and musical education, particularly of young people; and, a commitment to repertoire and technique development in relation to the band’s existing repertoire and technical standards. Grants from £500 to maximum grant of £5,000 available. Deadline 22 September 2025, 12noon.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council: Financial Assistance 2025 - 2026 Call 4
The Council invites applications for financial assistance from the community and voluntary sector (i.e. not-for-profit) to support capital infrastructure projects and minor capital items for Community facilities across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. The Community Capital for Community Facilities offers a matched 75% grant of £10,000 - £75,000. The Community Capital Minor Items grants are from £500 up to a maximum of £5,000. Both schemes close 07 October 2025, 12noon. Information workshops are taking place and can be booked via the TicketSource link here.
Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund
Using museum collections to improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners, the Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections now offers core grants to single museum organisations for strategic development of their inclusive collections work; and partnership project grants for museums and community organisations working equitably with collections to achieve shared aims for inclusion. Grants of up to £100k over a maximum of three years are available and they expect to award around 12 grants per year in two funding rounds. Open to all Museum Association institutional member museums and galleries in the UK. Next deadline 21 January 2026.
Opening 1 September 2025, the Beyond the Bin Fund is a £45,000 innovation grant from the National Cup Recycling Scheme (NCRS), administered by Valpak. The fund supports innovative solutions that increase the recycling or reuse of on-the-go paper cups in the UK. Eligible costs can include Project staff time (including management or delivery roles), Materials and equipment directly related to the project, and more. Open to Businesses and brands (e.g. coffee chains, retailers, venues), Local authorities and councils, Universities and research institutions, Startups and social enterprises, and Collaborations and partnerships (with one lead applicant). Deadline 31 October 2025.
Upcoming Deadlines
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council: Christmas Festive Fund
The Christmas Festive Fund supports Community Associations from the smaller towns, villages and hamlets to help celebrate Christmas. This fund is for outdoor light switch on events only. Projects/events must take place between Saturday 29th November and Thursday 18th December 2025. Activities must provide an opportunity for everyone in the community to participate. Grants £750/£2500. Deadline 2 September 2025, 12noon.
Community Arts Partnership: CEMENT Programme 2025–26
Community Arts Partnership (CAP) is inviting community-based organisations from across Northern Ireland to apply to participate in their CEMENT Programme – Community Engagement, Mentoring, Networking and Training. Successful applicants receive support package including artist mentor, materials budget and agreed project costs covered. They welcome applications from: Community centres, local development groups, cultural organisations, youth projects, residents’ associations, and other grassroots networks, Groups able to commit space, time and staff/volunteer involvement to host and support a project, and Organisations committed to inclusivity, respect, and co-creation with participants. Apply by 4 September 2025 to deliver projects in Autumn 2025 – Spring 2026.
The Grocers’ Charity Open Grants
The Grocers’ Charity awards about £1 million pounds each year to UK-registered charities. Grants typically up to £5,000, occasionally larger grants may be made. The major causes they support are Relief of Hardship, the Elderly, Disability, Arts and Heritage, Health, Military, Environment, and Children and Young People. Next deadline for initial enquiry 5 September 2025.
The AAUK Improving Outcomes Fund
The Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) Improving Outcomes Fund is designed to support air ambulance patients, their loved ones, and the crews who respond to life-threatening emergencies. Air Ambulance charities will be able to apply for grants ranging from £5,000 to £25,000 to fund initiatives that improve patient outcomes and crew wellbeing. Deadline 19 September 2025, 5pm.
Fundraising Support, Events & Training
**NEW** Fundraising Workshop Series
Starting in September, our new Fundraising Workshop Series aims to support you and your fundraising knowledge, capability, and capacity to successfully navigate the competitive fundraising landscape. This workshop series covers the fundamentals of fundraising and a fundraiser’s role, fundraising readiness, using tools to maximise your time for fundraising and how to effectively select funders and complete funding applications.
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Guest Blog: The Chartered Institute of Fundraising in Northern Ireland
Claire Hogarth, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland gives an overview of the work they do and how you can get involved.
John Ellerman Foundation launches new Funding Strategy
The John Ellerman Foundation has launched a new funding strategy for 2025-2030 offering multi-year core costs funding that supports work with a national relevance addressing social justice and the environment. UK charities with an annual income of between £100,000 and £10 million can apply for up to £180,000.
Henry Smith Foundation Announces New 5-Year Strategy
The Henry Smith Foundation, formerly known as the Henry Smith Charity, has published its new strategy, Elevate Your Impact (2025-2030) which ‘reaffirms their commitment to backing people and organisations driving change in communities across the UK.’
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