Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker
Funding News
Department of Health: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme 2025/2026
The purpose of the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme is to provide meaningful, community-based support to individuals while they await treatment on Health and Social Care (HSC) waiting lists. Funding supports helping maintain or improve people’s health and wellbeing and will also contribute to building capacity within the voluntary and community sector to deliver high-quality support programmes to ease pressure on statutory HSC services. Voluntary and community sector organisations will be eligible to apply for grants between £5,000 and £30,000 to deliver programmes that support individuals on HSC waiting lists. The Department is now accepting applications for funding until 12pm(noon) on 30 January 2026.
7Stars Foundation: Spring 2026 funding round open
Registered charities and organisations across the UK working with young people can apply for funding for work that supports young people aged 18 years and under across the priority themes of abuse, addiction, child carers, and homelessness. Northern Ireland applicants can apply for unrestricted grants of £60,000 over two years (£30,000 per year) in their Shine Bright Long Term Funding or Social Impact Funding; the latter’s themes are Child Exploitation and Child Mental Health. Deadline is 1 February 2026. New for 2026 is Child Poverty program which opens 1 March 2026.
Alliance for Youth Organising: Anchor Grants
The Alliance for Youth Organising is an intergenerational group of organisers and campaigners from across the UK. Their aim is to shift power and money to young people so they can work together to create change and organise towards social, economic, racial, disability, gender, and environmental justice. The Anchor Grants programme offers unrestricted multi-year funding to empower organisations involved in youth organising across the UK. Successful applicants will receive grants of up to £40,000 per year for two years, plus an additional £5,000 to support learning and provide strategic insight to the Alliance to shape its future strategy. Accepting applications until 26 January 2026.
Creative Ireland announces €4.6million in new funding opportunities
The Creative Ireland Programme is delighted to announce three new funding calls to a combined value of €4.6 million supporting creativity, connection and wellbeing across the island of Ireland. Funding is available through Creative Health & Wellbeing in Communities - local authority partnerships with creative and community organisations grant call (with a Shared Island dimension), Creative Communities on a Shared Island - local authority partnerships with creative and community organisations grant call, and Creative Youth Nurture Fund grant call (with a Shared Island dimension). Two in-person Grant information sessions will take place, one in Belfast and one in Dublin; booking is required (see link) and an online information session for the Creative Youth grant call will take place on December 15 (Register Here).
Ufi VocTech Activate encourages NI applications
Grants of £30,000 to £60,000 are available for projects lasting between 3 to 12 months, providing a test bed where new ideas can be scoped and tested in a supportive environment. The fund supports projects that are at a relatively early stage, helping to trial truly novel ideas, prove their potential and support the journey from innovative idea to market-ready, scalable solution. Try the online eligibility checker, then book a pre-application workshop. Full details are available at www.ufi.co.uk/activate. Applications open on 6 January and close on 3 February 2026.
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland opens two new schemes
The Randal Foundation works to deliver the vision of its Founders - saving and significantly improving the lives of 1 million people, across the UK and globally. In partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland they will offer grants to support grassroots activity that directly save or significantly improve lives. Grants of up to £3,000 available. The Inspiring Growth Fund set up in recognition of the community sector facing many challenges from the pandemic to rising costs while simultaneously supporting increasing demands for their services from communities. The aim of the Inspiring Growth Fund is to help organisations in the community sector take the time and space needed to focus on their digital capacity including opportunities that AI (Artificial Intelligence) may bring. Grants of between £5,000 to £10,000 for up to two years available.
Upcoming Deadlines
The Hedley Foundation is an endowed grant giving charitable foundation which supports small to medium sized UK registered charities operating across the spectrum of social need. Charities with an income of below £1million that are able to demonstrate quantifiable outcomes to beneficiaries can apply for grants of up to £5,000. Next deadline 10 December 2025.
The Finnis Scott Foundation’s 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 one-off grants up to £10,000 for both capital and revenue projects. Registered charities and PTAs of Special Schools should submit applications by 4pm on 11 December 2025.
International Tree Foundation: UK and Ireland community tree planting grants
Every year, ITF supports community groups across the UK and Ireland to bring their tree-planting ambitions to life. Your organisation must be community-based and/or have a social benefit e.g. a school, community group, social enterprise, non-governmental organisation, parish council, etc. The grant funds community woodlands and hedging – projects ranging from 100 – 10,000 trees with a maximum price equivalent to £2.05/tree. Projects also receive two maintenance grants equivalent to £0.10/tree in the first and second summers after planting. They can also provide physical trees and expert consultation and advice. The final application deadline is 12 December 2025.
Petplan Charitable Trust awards grants for the benefit of the health and welfare of dogs, cats, horses and rabbits. This year, they are accepting applications for Welfare Grants only. Registered charities can apply for grants of up to £20,000. Next deadline 12 December 2025.
Matthew Good Foundation: Grants for Good Fund
This programme offers unrestricted funds. Every three months, they will share £15,000 between five shortlisted projects which are then voted on by the employees of the John Good Group. You must be a UK-based local community group, charity, voluntary group or social enterprise with an annual income of less than £50,000 and have a bank account in the organisation’s name. Shortlisted projects will receive 1st place (the most votes) £5,000, 2nd place £3,500, 3rd place £2,500, and 4th & 5th place both receive £2,000. Runs all year round. Next deadline 15 December 2025..
Events & Training
FREE: Enthuse's Digital Fundraising Labs series
NICVA is delighted to offer this series of free Digital Fundraising Labs in partnership with Enthuse, Europe’s number one charity first fundraising platform. Each session is designed to guide, inspire, energise, and empower your online fundraising approach.
Funding February & Funding Fayre return for 2026
NICVA’s delighted to announce the return of Funding February 2026—a month-long focus on funding and fundraising for voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland. For 2026, we shine a light on all things digital, online and tech related and we’ll end the month with our annual Funding Fayre. Register now for this popular FREE event!
Latest Articles
**UPDATED** AI a powerful force for good?
The growing role of AI in our lives and workplace and the opportunities it presents in improving both accessibility and efficiency for organisations is apparent to many including funders. We highlight the position of some local funders and provide a list of useful resources.
A blog from Aaron Johnson, ICO Lead Policy Officer
Struggling with data protection? Our research has shown you’re not alone. Our new Data Protection Fundamentals series is here to make compliance simple, practical and affordable. We’re delighted to undertake this project partnership with NICVA to help the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland with its data protection awareness and confidence.
Bank account availability for voluntary organisations
NICVA has produced an updated comparison table of some of the main current accounts available to voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland in response to issues that some organisations have experienced with opening or maintaining a bank account. Updated 27 November 2025 with new information regarding Ulster Bank, Santander, Bank of Ireland and AIB.
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