Funding News – 13 June 2022

Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.

Funding News

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council: Covid Recovery Small Settlements Regeneration Programme:

  • Village & Rural Enhancement
    • Capital grants between £50,000 and £100,000 at a grant rate of 100% for community groups/associations to support the regeneration and development of villages in ways which support their important social and economic roles. Expression of Interest deadline 12 noon 30 June 2022.
  • Vacant to Occupied
    • Capital funding up to £40,000 at a grant rate of 80% is available to encourage owners of vacant commercial premises to invest in their buildings, enhance the aesthetics of the village/rural settlement, attract tenants, reduce long term vacancy and create local employment. Application deadline 12 noon 30 June 2022.
  • Strategic Capital Grants
    • Capital funding of grants between £100k and up to £200k are available with organisations required to match fund from other sources to a minimum value of 10% of the grant awarded. This scheme is open from 15 June 2022 and closes at 12 noon on 8 July 2022.  (Link to application will be added to webpage when scheme opens.)

Rural Community Network: Ours to Share Grant Programme

The ‘Ours to Share’ grant programme is for rural community groups/organisations who are interested in developing heritage projects in rural areas. Grants for up to £1,000 and £5,000 are available. This grant programme has been created to help support rural communities in developing and delivering heritage projects that will bring people together to celebrate our diverse heritage. Application deadline 5pm, 30 June 2022.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland funding for organisations

  • Rural Engagement Arts Programme
    • The purpose of the Rural Engagement Arts Programme (REAP) is to provide an integrated, cohesive approach to the needs of local rural communities as they emerge from the global Covid pandemic, recognising the specific issues they face as a result. The overarching theme is combatting isolation and loneliness and promoting social inclusion. Deadline 12 noon 28 July 2022.
  • Arts and Older People Programme
    • The Arts & Older People Programme aims to strengthen the voice of older people and promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing through the arts. In conjunction with the delivery partners the priority areas for this next round of funding are projects being delivered within care homes, carers and people living with dementia. The proposed projects should reflect the partnership approach with the care homes and have the support from them in the delivery. Deadline 12 noon 17 June 2022.
  • Small Grants Programme
    • The aim of this programme is to assist organisations to deliver arts projects which contribute to the growth of arts in the community for new and existing audiences and which reflect the diversity of Northern Ireland’s society and culture. Deadline 12 noon 31 March 2023.

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland: Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund – Cushendun

This funding is for a renewed coastal village project, funded by the UK Prosperity Fund. The project aims to work with the people, businesses and community/voluntary groups using Cushendun to renew the economic heartbeat of the village, fulfilling the hopes and ambitions expressed by local people through successive Village plans over ten years. Only projects which take place within the Glendun District Electoral area, are eligible to apply. Organisations that are not based in the outlined area of benefit are welcome to apply, providing that the project will take place in the village scheme area and benefit the local people.

Upcoming Deadlines

Derry City & Strabane District Council: Community Centre Venue Fund

There will be one round of funding in this financial year, for a one-year period. The Community Centre Venue Fund Online Application Form is used to apply for financial support from £4,001 up to a maximum of £12,000 for both Tiers from Derry City and Strabane District Council. You must make a choice to apply for either Tier One or Tier Two funding depending on the location of your centre i.e., Rural or Urban.

Application deadline 3pm, 17 June 2022. 

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

  • Community Foundation for NI: Social Justice Small Grants Programme
    • The Programme supports 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. Deadline 1pm, 17 June 2022.
  • Community Foundation for NI: The Fibrus Community Fund
    • The fund is aimed at addressing digital poverty by awarding grants of up to £2,000 to enable local groups and organisations in particular areas, to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable in that community, with a particular focus on older people and young people aged 18 and under. Deadline 1pm, 20 June 2022.
  • Community Foundation for NI: Carers’ Support Fund
    • The Community Foundation NI on behalf of the Department of Health is is providing support for organisations working for and with carers, over the next three years. Grant values of between £2k and £75k will be distributed to properly constituted community groups and voluntary organisations. Deadline 1pm, 20 June 2022.

ROSA: Stand With Us Fund

The Stand With Us fund has been set up to support the many organisations run by and for women who stand up and take action every single day to address violence against women and girls (VAWG). The Stand With Us fund aims to empower and strengthen frontline VAWG organisations to build safer futures for women and girls. Through this fund, one-year grants of up to £25,000 will be offered to fund organisational development work. Organisations based in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are prioritised.

New extended deadline 4pm, 24 June 2022.

UK Government: The Community Ownership Fund

The Community Ownership Fund is a £150 million, UK wide Fund helping community groups to protect, through community ownership, assets in their local area which are at risk of being lost. An updated prospectus for the Community Ownership Fund was launched on 27 May 2022.

Expression of Interest to applicants is now open.

Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank owned by and committed to supporting the social sector. They are offering loans for matched funding towards applications to the Community Ownership Fund. Visit their website for more information and to download the flyer.

Articles and Resources

Guest Blogs for the voluntary and community sector

Our goal is to help the voluntary and community sector to innovate, develop and improve to meet the needs of the communities it serves. To do this, NICVA works with a diverse range of organisations to provide information, guidance, and resources. Click link to view a few of the recent Guest Blogs from local, regional and national organisations including Friends of the Earth, Fundraising Regulator, Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and many more.

Other articles & resources

Upcoming Fundraising Training

Develop your fundraising skills and support your organisations long-term stability with our training:

22 June 2022 - 10:30am to 12:30pm

This two-hour webinar will help you evaluate your current funding position and plan for the future. Using a range of planning tools, we’ll explore the key components of a fundraising strategy and the steps needed to create one.

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