Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Department of Health: Core Grant Funding Scheme
The Health Minister has 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 a greater number of 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. Organisations have until 12pm on Friday 28 November 2025 to apply for funding from the scheme.
Change Maker Funding Programme announces temporary pause
The SEUPB is pausing all calls for applications to the Change Maker Funding Programme to allow for improvements and simplification following stakeholder feedback. This affects all calls under 1.2 and 6.2 within PEACEPLUS. This short-term measure will support the development of a more accessible funding programme moving forward. They intend to reopen for applications mid-November. Further updates will be shared via the SEUPB, Pobal and support partners’ websites for organisations and partnerships who have already submitted a bid. Organisations and partnerships currently working on bids will retain access to their drafts and can adapt them to align with the more accessible Change Maker Funding Programme. They thank everyone who provided feedback which will help improve how these funds are delivered over the coming years.
Fight for Sight new Digital Inclusion Fund
The social change fund exists to ignite and accelerate projects that will change the lives of blind and vision impaired people in the UK. Their latest funding round, which opens 3 November 2025, focuses on Digital Inclusion. The Fund’s purpose is 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 is £30,000 over 12-36 months. Closes 6 January 2026 at midday.
The Sir Halley Stewart Trust is a grant-giving charity that supports innovative and pioneering Social, Medical and Religious projects. The Trust has two grant programmes. Main grants programme offers large multi-year grants, where the Trust will be a sole or major funder at between £5,001 and £60,000 across one, two or three years, with a £30,000 maximum per annum. Normally given as a salary contribution or to fund an entire project. Applications accepted in June, October and February. Next deadline 10 March 2026. The Small grants programme are one-off grants for small projects up to £5,000 to cover the entire project or be the major funding contribution. Usually aimed at small scoping or pilot projects. Applications considered all year round, no application deadlines.
The Big Give match funding schemes
Their Arts for Impact is a seven-day online match funding campaign supporting registered arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK. Charities can seek to raise matched funding with pledges of at least £1000 and up to £7,500 in public donations through the 1:1 model or up to £30,000 in public donations through the pledge model. Applications close 17 December 2025, 5pm. Timetable for other matched funding schemes: Earth Rise (formerly the Green Match Fund) opens 3 November 2025, the Small Charity Week scheme opens 5 January 2026, Woman and Girls Fund 2026 dates to be announced (usually February), and the Christmas Challenge opens 11 May 2026. Following a review, their Anchor Match has been paused until further notice.
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council's financial assistance
Applications for financial assistance for eligible groups in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (for the period 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027) will open on Monday 3 November at 9am and close on Friday 28 November at 12 noon. Grant programmes include Arts Projects Grant, Community Development Grants, Community Events (including Christmas tree switch-on events), Good Relations Grants, International Linkages Grant, International Tourism Grant, and Large Events Grant.
Upcoming Deadlines
National Churches Trust: Wolfson Fabric Repair Grants
Grants will be awarded towards essential fabric repairs at churches in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These grants are usually up to £10,000 and are offered in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation. Historic places of worship can apply for a Wolfson grant via the National Churches Trust’s Medium and Large grant programmes (depending on the size of the project). Large grant deadline midnight on 4 December 2025.
Public Health Agency: Sports Group Grants
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 and receive up to £500 worth of relevant sports equipment for their club. Deadline 5 November 2025 at 3pm.
STFC Public Engagement Spark Awards 2025B
Apply for funding to engage the public with Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) supported science. Applicant organisations must: be UK-based and produce annual accounts certified by an accountant Proposals must include an appropriate STFC subject matter expert. The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £20,000. STFC will fund 100% of the FEC. Projects are expected to be between 12 and 36 months in duration. Deadline 4pm on 6 November 2025.
Community Foundation NI deadlines for six Community Benefit Funds:
Six Community Benefit Funds offering a range of funding for community projects based in locations around Long Mountain Community Benefit Fund, Thornog Community Benefit Fund, Brockaghboy Community Benefit Fund, and Rathsherry Community Benefit Fund close 6 November 2025 at 1pm. The Equity in Action Fund addressing anti-racism work and countering misinformation and disinformation closes 12 November 2025 at 1pm..
Fundraising Support, Events & Training
***Save the Date – Funding Fayre 2026
Taking place on Thursday 26 February 2026, our annual Funding Fayre is the celebratory end to a month-long theme of funding webinars, how-to guides, articles and more. Listening to your feedback, the Fayre will return to registered attendees dropping in in two cohorts, so it won’t be as crowded and noisy as 2025!
In 2026, we revisit Digital Fundraising, last featured by NICVA in 2021, with a range of sessions and resources designed to support online giving and communications. Stay tuned for more details.
Latest Articles
Fundraising news and opportunities
Jocelyn Horton, Fundraising Advice Officer, rounds up some of the key news you may have missed in October. Included is a chance to add your voice to the Department for Economy NI’s latest consultation, opportunities to enhance your fundraising, receive pro bono support worth thousands, become a Charity of the Year, and more.
BBC Children in Need update to pause in grantmaking
BBC Children in Need announced they were to pause applications to their grants programmes while they transitioned to a new grantmaking system. Initially planned to launch their new system by the end of September, it will now launch by the end of October 2025 along with changes to policies affecting who can apply to BBC Children in Need.
Rosa, the UK Fund for Women and Girls, launches new strategy
Rosa’s bold new three-year strategy, Creating lasting change for women and girls, aims to help them continue their mission to fund and champion the UK’s women and girls sector.
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