Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker
Funding News
Leeds Building Society 150th Anniversary Grants
The Leeds Building Society is celebrating their 150th anniversary by inviting charities and community groups to apply for a share of £150,000 of unrestricted funding of up to £30,000. Applications must align with the Society’s aim of supporting vulnerable people to find a place to belong through housing and their community. Organisations must have a strong track record of delivering outcomes, have a governing document, organisational bank account, an annual turnover of £5m or less and be able to provide a full year’s audited or independently examined accounts. Interested organisations must email [email protected] to request a copy of the application guidance. Application deadline 16 May 2025.
The Foundation, set up by John Thaw before his death is continued by his widow Sheila Hancock, alongside fellow Trustees, offers support to disadvantaged and underprivileged young people by funding carefully selected projects, run by a wide range of established organisations, as well as smaller grass roots groups, across the UK. These projects all help young people to fulfil their potential and broaden their horizons and aspirations, despite the many challenges they face. Funding is likely between £1,000 to £3,000. They consider applications usually in January and June/July with expected deadline of mid-May 2025. Email [email protected] to request the latest guidelines.
The Stobart Sustainability fund is aimed at supporting community-led sustainability projects and initiatives lead by non-profit organisations, community groups and educational facilities, such as schools and colleges, to help them transform their local community through projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance the environment. Organisations are invited to specify the level of funding they require in their application. No deadline is given.
The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund - Our Shared Future due to close
The Climate Action Fund is their commitment to help communities tackle climate change. They're supporting communities to be environmentally sustainable. With Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future they want to involve more people in climate action. And they want to inspire bold and exciting change. They’ll only fund projects developed in a formal partnership with other organisations. You do not have to be a climate or environment focused organisation to apply. The minimum you can ask for is £500,000. They expect to fund most projects for between £1 million and £1.5 million over 3 to 5 years. Applications will be accepted until end of May 2025. The final deadline will be announced nearer the time.
- Thriving Futures Fund - The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is delighted to work with the Henry Smith Charity to launch the new Northern Ireland Thriving Futures Fund. The fund aims to support refugees and people seeking asylum, people experiencing domestic abuse, and people leaving the criminal justice system. Applications are welcome from organisations providing support in one or more of these three areas. The maximum available for a three-year grant will be £150,000. Deadline 12 May 2025 at 1pm.
- The Fibrus Community Fund - Established by Fibrus Broadband in 2021, the Fund is aimed at addressing digital poverty and exists to support the work of communities across Northern Ireland (NI) to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable. Grants of up to £2,000 for constituted community and voluntary organisations with an annual income below £50,000, based in areas of listed eligible postcodes (see website). Deadline 9 May 2025 at 1pm.
Upcoming Deadlines
Steel Charitable Trust: United Kingdom Under 26 Fund
The Steel Charitable Trust runs the UNITED KINGDOM Under-26 Fund, a rolling programme to which applications are welcome all year with four cut-off dates. Open to UK-registered charity or an Exempt Charity, organisations must be seeking funding towards work that will be delivered in any part of the United Kingdom, except Luton, have a minimum income of £50k in the previous financial year, be able to produce at least one full year of accounts, that confirms the required income threshold, and be seeking a grant of a minimum of £10k. Awards are unrestricted funding and given to all sorts of work so long as the beneficiaries are in the UK and are wholly, or mainly, under the age of 26. Next deadline 15 April 2025.
Resuscitation Council UK: Community Grant Scheme
As part of their Restart a Heart 2025 campaign, they have reopened their popular Community Grant Scheme following its success last year. Grants of up to £1,500 are available for small charities and community groups to help educate people about CPR and defib use. Open to small charities with an annual income of less than £500,000 and community and faith groups. Priority given to organisations working in underserved areas where cardiac arrest survival rates are lower than the UK average and organisations working in areas that are most affected by the 'inequalities present in resuscitation across the United Kingdom'. Application deadline i17 April 2025 at 5pm.
LandAid: StreetSmart Youth Homelessness Support Fund 2025
LandAid and StreetSmart are inviting charities across the country to apply to their StreetSmart Youth Homelessness Support Fund 2025. Open to a Charity, CICs, CIOs, and other forms of not-for-profit organisations, your charity must work with young people aged 16-25 who are at risk of, or who have experienced homelessness. They are looking for projects that will be able to demonstrate tangible impact in either/both of the following areas: Housing – your project supports young people (aged 16-25) into accommodation (i.e. emergency, supported or move-on accommodation) or Employability – your project supports young people (aged 16-25) out of homelessness into education, employment, and training. With a view to enabling their transition to sustainable, independent living. Grants of up to £2,000 for Northern Ireland applicants. Deadline 17 April 2025 at 5pm.
The Souter Charitable Trust assists projects engaged in the relief of human suffering in the UK and overseas – particularly, but not exclusively, those promoting spiritual welfare. Grants are restricted to UK registered charities only. Whilst there are no minimum or maximum amounts given an average grant would be a small one off in the region of £1,000 - £3,000. No application forms are required. Apply in writing by close of business 21 April 2025.
STFC Public Engagement Spark Awards 2025A
Apply for funding to engage the public with Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) supported science, people, technology or facilities. You must work for an organisation that: is based in the UK Proposals must include a subject matter expert in an STFC funded area. The cost of your project can be up to £20,000. STFC will fund 100% of the project cost. Projects are expected to be between 12 and 36 months in duration. Deadline 24 April 2025 at 4pm.
Latest Articles of Interest
Celia Currie, Stakeholder & Policy Manager-Northern Ireland for the Fundraising Regulator shares a few key takeaways from this year’s report.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a £1500 support payment for Voluntary and Community organisations funded through his department’s Voluntary & Community Division and Community Empowerment Division.
As we approach the new financial year, it's crucial for employers and employees in Northern Ireland to be aware of the forthcoming adjustments to statutory rates effective from 1 April 2025. These changes will impact various statutory payments, including sick pay, maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay.
Are you a social entrepreneur based in Northern Ireland? Are you looking to scale-up your work? Do you focus on financial inclusion? UnLtd are keen to hear from young people (aged 16-30) wanting to make their communities fairer places to live.
Funding February - thanks to our many contributors for helping us to curate this collection of articles and resources.
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