Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
The Shoosmiths Foundation is committed to enabling a sustainable future for the communities we operate in through purposeful giving, pro bono legal services, and hands-on volunteering. Invitations are now open for the next round of the Shoosmiths Foundation funding. They are inviting applications for projects in the UK that advance access to the legal profession, for which the Foundation will distribute grants up to £50,000 to the successful applicants. Grants are available for UK registered charities undertaking work in the UK. The closing date for applications is 16:00 on 30 September 2026 OR sooner once they have received sufficient suitable applications.
Cash4Clubs and Flutter UKI have donated almost £7million to grassroots & community sports clubs across the UK and Ireland. 2026 sees another £500,000 in donations available - launching 1st October. Cash4Clubs is a small grants scheme for community sports clubs and organisations to use as they see fit, whether that's to purchase new equipment, gain coaching qualifications or invest in the sustainability of their club. Not-for-profit organisations, including charities, community groups and traditional sports clubs from across the UK and Ireland can apply for a grant of £2,000 each (€2000 in Ireland). Open to applications: 01 Oct 2026. Application deadline: 01 Jan 2027.
Arts Council NI: National Lottery Arts and Older People
The Arts & Older People Programme aims to strengthen the voice of older people and promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing through the arts. The proposed projects should reflect the partnership approach with the target groups they plan to engage with and have the support from them in the delivery. Applicants should endeavour to build this into their project programme and budget. Grants from £1,000 to £10,000 are available. Application Deadline: 22 October 2026, 12noon.
Henry Smith Foundation: Domestic Abuse Counselling Fund
Through this fund, they want to help sustain access to specialist domestic abuse counselling. They will provide five-year grants to organisations that have a deep understanding of domestic abuse and the needs of victim-survivors, enabling them to continue providing counselling that helps people recover and rebuild their lives. They want to fund specialist domestic abuse organisations with at least three years’ experience delivering counselling to victim-survivors of domestic abuse. Grant amount: £250,000 (£50,000 per year). The fund opens for Expressions of Interest on 23rd September. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The deadline to submit your EOI is Wednesday 21 October at 5pm.
Upcoming Deadlines
BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund
The BFI National Lottery Creative Challenge Fund has allocated £3m of National Lottery over three years to support programmes focusing on project development along with the talent development and growth of creative practice. Applications are sought from UK-based, legally constituted organisations with experience and the capacity to design and run development programmes for UK creatives. Creatives are expected to have narrative, documentary or animation feature film projects or narrative immersive media projects. Applicants can request between £12,000 and £150,000 for a single edition. Round two closes at midday on Wednesday 9 September 2026.
The Philip Henman Trust offers grants to major UK- based charities, who are concerned with overseas development and who require partnership funding for projects lasting between three and five years. These grants are split into annual payments (between £3,000 and £5,000 P.A.) with a maximum total of £25,000. Applications are made annually with the deadline 10th September.
The Finnis Scott Foundation was established under the Will of Lady Montagu Douglas Scott (Valerie Finnis) in 2006. The Trustees can make grants for any charitable purpose, but their present policy is to focus grant-making in the areas of horticulture and plant sciences, as well as art history and the enhancement, conservation and preservation of art. They will consider grants up to £10,000, but because of the high demand, most grants are currently £5,000 or less. For the next Trustees meeting, the last date for receipt of applications is 4pm on 11 September 2026.
Belfast Harbour Community Impact Fund
The Community Impact Fund is a strategic investment programme developed by Belfast Harbour to support projects that deliver meaningful, measurable, and long-term social impact across the Greater Belfast area. They want to work with high-performing organisations that share their ambition to create positive, lasting change. In 2027, up to £200,000 is available through the Community Impact Fund to support impactful community projects with four grants of up to £50,000 for projects running for up to 3 years. Submit applications by 11 September 2026.
Fundraising Events & Training 2026/27
Meet the Funder: easyfundraising
16 September 2026 - 6:00 to 7:00pm
FREE
If your community organisation needs additional funds, come along to this online session to find out how you can receive free unrestricted funding via funding platform easyfundraising. This session will be facilitated by Becky Coleman, Senior Community Manager at easyfundraising.
Supercharge Your Grant Applications: AI as a Time-Saving Tool for Funding Bids
22 September 2026 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Are you juggling multiple guidelines and spending more time translating funder language into something that supports your work? Following the success of the "Intro to AI" sessions, NICVA is partnering with CiviCode again to deliver a highly practical workshop designed for bid writers and fundraisers in the Northern Ireland voluntary and community sector.
6 October 2026 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Across the UK, £564 million is lost to missed Gift Aid opportunities every year — donations that could have gone further but didn’t. In a funding climate where costs are rising and demand is growing, encouraging your supporters to #TickTheBox can ensure their generosity reaches its full potential. Join Tony Clarke and Jocelyn Horton to find out more.
Strengthening your Funding Applications
10 February 2027 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Securing funds through funding applications can be crucial to an organisation’s ability to deliver. But who are the funders, where can you find them, which ones should you select, and what do you need to consider before submitting your application?
Join Jocelyn Horton to find out how to strengthen your fundraising approach and applications to Trusts and Foundations.
Funding Fayre 2027 – Save the Date | NICVA
25 February 2027 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
NICVA’s ever-popular Funding Fayre is set to return in 2027. It’s a chance for voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland to gain the support you need.
Articles and Resources
Our Future Health, the UK's largest ever health research programme, is coming to Northern Ireland
Our Future Health is the UK's largest ever health research programme, recruiting up to 5 million people to take part. Our Future Health aims to help people live longer, healthier lives by supporting researchers to detect, treat and prevent diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and stroke. Learn about how you can get involved and receive funding.
Latest news from The National Lottery Community Fund (Northern Ireland)
The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest community funder in the UK. Each year they distribute millions of pounds of #NationalLottery good causes money to community groups and charitable projects around the country. We detail their series of virtual information sessions taking place through to December.
NICVA Conversation Zones Are Back for the Autumn Party Conference Season
We're delighted to announce that NICVA's Conversation Zones will return for this year's Autumn Party Conference season. The Conversation Zones are a chance for voluntary and community representatives to connect with elected representatives and raise the issues that are important to your organisation and the people and communities you work with and on behalf of.
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