Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
National Lottery Heritage Grants £250,000 to £10million
Funding projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK, the programme is for all types of heritage projects in the UK. Heritage can mean different things to different people. It can be anything from the past that you value and want to pass on to future generations. This could include nature and habitats, historic buildings and environments, or cultures, traditions and people’s memories. Applicants for grants from £250,000 to £10m first submit an Expression of Interest addressing all four investment principles: saving heritage, protecting the environment, inclusion, access and participation, and organisational sustainability. For grants under £1m, you must contribute at least 5% of your project costs. For grants over £1m, you must contribute at least 10% of your project costs.
The Southall Trust (also known as the WF Southall Trust) is a Quaker-based grant-making family trust, established in 1937 by Wilfred Francis Southall. They award grants to charitable organisations in the UK that are focussed upon at least one of the following four areas: Quaker Work & Witness, Peace & Reconciliation, Environmental Action & Sustainability, and Social Action. The majority of their grants are for one year, and for up to £5,000. They will consider multi-year funding (up to three years), but this is typically reserved for charities that they have supported in the past. They will consider appeals for an organisation's core and capital costs. No deadlines; apply at any time. They aim to respond to applications for up to £5,000 within four months. Applications for more than £5,000 usually take longer to process (sometimes up to 10 months).
Clarion Futures: Making a Difference Fund
Clarion Futures, part of Clarion Housing Group, will be investing £150 million over the next 10 years to deliver one of the biggest social investment programmes in the country. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for constituted community groups, registered charities, and other not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects and activities in communities across the UK where Clarion operates. They are specifically interested in projects which meet the following priority areas: Celebrates the uniqueness of your neighbourhood, Brings people together from across different groups in your community, Creates a sense of belonging for current and future members of the community, and Increases pride in your local area. Deadline midday on 25 June 2025.
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) is a responsive grant-making trust who are open to funding a range of different organisations and approaches. They believe that you must tackle the roots of a problem to achieve any lasting benefit, so focus on funding work that addresses the root causes of problems rather than delivering services or alleviating immediate needs. They welcome applications for funds under each of these headings: Peace and Security, Power and Accountability, Rights and Justice, Sustainable Future, Northern Ireland, and Grassroots Movements. Registered, excepted or exempt charity are encouraged to apply for unrestricted or core support, although you may apply for programme or project funding if you prefer. All other organisations or individual applicants may apply for a specific project or defined programme of work. Current open schemes and deadlines available here.
The 2025/26 Co-Ownership Community Fund is a Northern Ireland grants programme with a budget of £20,000 per annum. This is to be allocated across a range of short term (up to 12 months duration), and medium term projects (12-36 months duration). The fund seeks to fund a project or projects which will: Help regenerate, rebuild, and revitalise neighbourhoods and communities, or Support elderly or disabled people, or Provide advice and educational services to promote either financial capability, inclusion, energy efficiency or biodiversity in the community. The Co-Ownership Community Fund is open to consider all or any project ideas which fall under these headings but would particularly like to see applications for projects which would work with social housing tenants, or which would develop new partnerships to maximise impact. Deadline 27 June 2025 at 5.00pm.
Belfast City Council: Artist Studios and Maker Spaces Organisational Grants 2025-2026
The Grants are part of the Council’s commitment to cultural recovery and their ongoing A City Imagining cultural investment programme for Belfast. These awards are aimed at those organisations which have struggled to secure funding from Belfast City Council through existing programmes and need some assistance to help stabilise and develop. Organisations or groups operating artist studios or artist led Co-Director learning models can apply for up to £10,000 to use towards specified developmental needs within a 12-month period. Exceptional cases can be made for the award of grants up to £20,000 by organisations that accommodate at least 25 active members, and which meet additional eligibility criteria and supply a suitable business case. To receive an application pack, please contact [email protected]. Deadline midday on 2 July 2025.
Upcoming Deadlines
The Hospital Saturday Fund is a registered charity whose aims are to provide assistance for registered health charities, hospices, medical organisations and individuals with a medical condition or disability. They can provide grants for medical projects, care, research or support of medical training within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. They have two grant categories: Standard grants of up to £2,000 or €3,000 and Large grants to up to £10,000 or €13,500 (please note this is the maximum sum that HSF will grant). Large grant applications should be towards specific projects, research or equipment rather than running costs. Next Large Grant deadline 11 June 2025 at 5pm.
Community Foundation for NI: Social Justice Small Grants Programme
The Social Justice Fund is part of, and supported by, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund (NIHRF). This collaborative Fund will work to advance a fairer and more equal society where the human rights of all are protected. Supporting locally based community groups and locally based ‘communities of interest’ with an interest in promoting or embedding human rights and social justice in their day-to-day work for and with their chosen communities can apply for grants up to £5,000. In some instances, the panel may decide to award grants up to £15,000. Deadline 13 June at 1pm.
The Women's Health Community Fund is designed to support small grassroots organisations and community groups to deliver important health information and support to women, girls and people from underrepresented communities. Applicants are invited to apply for up to £5,000 to spend in a 12 month period. Funds will be distributed in two tranches, 50% at the beginning of the project and 50% upon receipt of a 6 month report. Activities must focus on women’s health in one of the following areas: periods, menstrual health, perimenopause and menopause. Activities should aim to improve health outcomes through promoting positive and healthy conversations, knowledge sharing, education and/or training. Application deadline 15 June 2025.
Help The Homeless' main funding remit is the regular allocation of grants (generally up to £5,000) for capital costs to small and medium-sized registered charities only (those with a turnover of under £500,000 per annum). All applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to mainstream society, rather than simply offer shelter or other forms of sustenance. Next deadline 15 June 2025 at 5pm.
Co-op Foundation: Future Communities Fund
The second round of the Future Communities Fund is focusing on supporting organisations that are helping young people with experience of the youth justice system to re-build their lives and settle back into their communities. In this £1.75 million programme round, they’re looking to fund approximately ten organisations. Grants will be awarded on an unrestricted basis and to a maximum value of £150,000 over five years. Deadline 16 June 2025 at midday.
Events
25 June 2025 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
NICVA is hosting an engagement session on the Lotteries for Communities Private Members Bill being taking forward by Sian Mulholland, MLA - also currently Vice Chair of the All Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector.
The Bill aims to introduce legislation that allows large society lotteries to operate in Northern Ireland. The Lotteries for Communities Bill consultation will run from Friday 9th May 2025 until 23.59 on 31st July 2025.
The session, which outlines the bills proposals, will provide an opportunity to hear and take sector views regarding the matter. Open to all voluntary and community sector organisations and groups, the event takes place in NICVA offices, Belfast.
Please also see NICVA briefing paper on The Lotteries for Communities Bill consultation | NICVA
12 June 2025 - 12:00 to 1:00pm; FREE
Online information session about the new Code of Fundraising Practice delivered by The Fundraising Regulator (FR). The Fundraising Regulator will soon publish its new Code of Fundraising Practice. The new code, which has been shaped by extensive public consultation, represents a clearer, more flexible, and modern approach to fundraising regulation. This session will provide an opportunity for charities, fundraisers, volunteers and Trustees to find out more about the new code and the support available ahead of its implementation later this year.
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland Awards recognises the incredible work of local fundraisers, volunteers and businesses who make a huge difference to people living in Northern Ireland. Tickets to join the celebrations are now available.
Latest Articles
Funding for projects, activities and programmes for the island of Ireland
We summarise a few of the recent funding announcements for projects, activities and programmes supporting work across the island of Ireland.
NICVA briefing paper on The Lotteries for Communities Bill consultation
Sian Mulholland MLA’s private member’s bill, The Lotteries for Communities Bill was launched for consultation on 9 May 2025 and will close on 31 July 2025. NICVA has produced a briefing paper in response.
Volunteers’ Week 2025: A time to celebrate and say thank you
Volunteers’ Week 2025 – a UK-wide celebration running from 2–8 June, recognises the invaluable contribution volunteers make to our communities. We shine a light on the time, skills and dedication given by thousands of volunteers across Northern Ireland and the wider UK.
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland updates guidance for use of AI in applications
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has updated their Grant FAQs to include information on the use of AI for funding applications, as well as how they will use AI in their own processes.
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