Funding News – 07 October 2024
Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
The National Lottery Community Fund: Strengthening Communities to open in October
Strengthening Communities is their funding for community led projects. It will help them deliver their strategy, ‘It starts with community.’ They offer funding from £20,001 to £500,000. Any size of organisation can apply for £200,000 to £500,000. Smaller organisations, those with an annual income under £500,000, can apply for less than £200,000. You can apply from Monday 21 October 2024.
National Lottery Heritage Fund: Heritage 2033 - Strategic Initiative; Nature Cities and Towns
As part of its Heritage 2033 strategy, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has launched three strategic initiatives offering targeted funding to address long-standing heritage issues across the UK. Nature Cities and Towns supports nature recovery in our cities and towns to help nature thrive, increase people’s connection to wildlife and make places better to live and work in. There will be one round of funding with grants available from £250,000 up to £1m. Accepting EOIs from 1 October until 12noon on 12 November 2024.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council: DIY and Technical Assistance Community Fund
The DIY & Technical Assistance Community Fund is open to eligible community/voluntary organisations based in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area. The fund is designed to assist the improvement or future development of a community facility. Applicants will need to evidence that the facility to be enhanced is of strategic importance in the local community. Funding supports the 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 or scope out the feasibility and sustainability of developing new capital projects. The Fund has £50,000 available and organisations will be able to apply for grants up to a maximum of £1,500. There is no minimum amount requirement.
The Fermanagh Trust open schemes
Several schemes are currently open to applications with October and November deadlines. Callagheen Wind Farm Grant groups/projects must be resident within 7km of Callagheen Wind Farm to apply for grants of up to £3,000. The Oisin McGrath Foundation, open to individuals and groups, provides financial support to young people who demonstrate exceptional commitment and/or ability to the world of sport but may be held back by their financial situation from pursing their goals. Cornavarrow and Slieveglass Wind Farms Community Benefit Fund is available to community projects located within 5km of Cornavarrow Wind Farm. Revenue small grants programme offers grants up to a maximum of £4,000 and the Strategic Projects programme offers £3,000 - £5,000 pa over a 3 – 5 year period. Community groups in the Brookeborough, Knocks, and Cooneen areas are encouraged to apply for financial support as the Teiges Mountain Wind Farm Fund reopens for applications. Local groups can apply for small one-off grants up to a maximum of £2000 or up to a maximum of £5,000 pa over 1-3 year period.
British Science Week: Community Grants
With support from UK Research and Innovation, this scheme offers £500 to £1,000 grants for community groups that work directly with audiences who are traditionally under-represented and currently not engaged in science activity during British Science Week (annually in March). British Science Week 2025 will take place on 7th - 16th March. Apply by 5 November 2024 (16:59).
Hafner's of Dublin, a manufacturer of sausages, have launched their sports grant for local amateur sports club or teams in Northern Ireland. They have 5 x £1000 grants to award to help your team achieve its goals. Deadline 11 November 2024 (23:59).
Upcoming Deadlines
Biochemical Society: Scientific Outreach Grants - Funding for smaller projects
The Biochemical Society supports public engagement and outreach activities that communicate the excitement of molecular bioscience to young people and the community. Grants up to £1000. This grant is open to all – you do not need to be a Biochemical Society member to apply. This grant is open to applicants from any country. Deadline 9 October 2024.
The Steel Charitable Trust make discretionary grants where they believe that their contribution will make a real difference. Applications are taken all year round. Trustees meet quarterly to assess the applications and make awards. Charities, including CIOs, registered in any part of the United Kingdom can apply but applicants must have an annual turnover of over £50,000 (defined as 100% of charitable income plus proceeds from any trading income). Applications must be for charitable purposes that fall into one of the five core categories: Arts and Heritage, Education, Environment, Health, or Social or Economic Disadvantage. Next deadline 11 October 2024.
Funded opportunities with NI Museums Council
The NI Museums Council are exploring funding possibilities for two projects for 2024-2025. To be involved with either project, submit an expression of interest via email to Catherine Doran. Project 1 - Our Museum is a pilot project to design and print a children’s book inspired by a museum and its collection. The book will be aimed at Early Years and can be used in outreach, loan boxes, family events etc. and local library Storytime sessions. EOI deadline 18 October 2024. Project 2 - 3D Printing Project where creating 3D printed objects can be used for sensory activities, school and early years audiences, outreach and loan boxes. The purpose will be to bring museum objects to new audiences, to open up collections that cannot be handled, loaned or moved and to allow learning to happen outside of the museum environment. EOI deadline 12 October 2024.
Alzheimer’s Research UK: Inspire Fund
Inspire Fund provides funding for projects that engage the public with the topic of dementia and the life-changing research going on into the condition. The seed funding call is open to new applicants to the Inspire Fund. Inspire Fund projects must meet both core criteria: 1) Projects must engage with underserved audiences on the topic of dementia, such as minority ethnic communities, marginalised or socioeconomically disadvantaged people. And 2) Build knowledge and understanding about brain health (in the context of dementia risk reduction) and explore ways to encourage behaviour change. Seed funding up to £5,000 per project. Follow on grants for past recipients of up to £20,000 per project. Deadline 14 October 2024 (5pm).
Fight for Sight: The social change 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. They’ve funded projects tackling issues including loneliness and isolation, employment, and domestic violence and abuse. Funding is open to organisations from across the UK and will provide grants of up to £30,000. Deadline 14 October 2024 (23:59).
Fundraising Support
Training & Events
19 November 2024, 10am to 1pm; In-person at NICVA
Cost: £55 (NICVA Members) or £70 (non-NICVA members)
Described as your written argument as to why you deserve to be funded, a compelling Case for Support can be a powerful tool to secure funding. This 3-hour session in NICVA aims to support those responsible for fundraising within voluntary and community organisations and who are unfamiliar with the use of Cases for Support in their work.
Fundraising Clinics
These popular clinics offer NICVA a free, one-hour tailored session addressing your fundraising needs. Clinics can be arranged by contacting Jocelyn Horton, Fundraising Advice Officer at [email protected].
Fundraising Hub
Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:
Fundraising Regulator: Changes to the Fundraising Levy and registration fees
Celia Currie, Fundraising Regulator, provides an update on changes to the Fundraising Levy and registration fees.
Every year charities in the UK lose out on £564 million as in Gift Aid goes unclaimed. Find out how you can make Gift Aid work better for you.
Passive income and Micro donations
If you're looking to raise income for your organisation with little effort and make the most of very small donations, we've rounded up some of the options available to you.
Supporting the Planet and Your Organisation
Earth Day is celebrated annually on 22 April. But did you know you can encourage donors to support your work while taking environmental action? There are a few options out there to generate additional income for your work or save you the expense by encouraging your supporters and donors to take action on your behalf.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion in your grant applications
This resource outlines some reasons behind funders wanting organisations to address EDI in the applications alongside advice on broaching the topic in writing, getting started on your journey and where you can find further information on this topic.
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