Funding News – 15 September 2025

Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.

Funding News

Motability Foundation: Organisation grants

They support organisations which help disabled people to make journeys. Their grants will fund organisations to provide services for disabled people or work to make transport more accessible. Currently eight schemes are open with grants ranging from minimum of £50,000 up to £1million (in some cases) over a period of three years. Various deadlines in December 2025 and January 2026.

Cash4Clubs

Cash4Clubs, funded by Flutter UKI, in partnership with Sported offers small grants of £/€2,000 unrestricted funding to clubs and organisations in Ireland and the UK. Funding is available to groups that support over 18s only. Cash4Clubs prioritises groups working in areas of high deprivation and engaging adults from specific under-represented groups such as racially diverse communities, people with disabilities and people from the LGBTQ+ community. Applicant organisations must be clubs with a structured governance and constitution, registered charities, or companies without share capital and demonstrate that they are using sport for social purpose. Closes 8 December 2025.

Blood Cancer UK

Blood Cancer UK’s Innovative Pilot Grant scheme for 2025-2026 is now open for applications. The scheme supports researchers with novel research ideas in areas related to blood cancer develop the pilot data needed to secure further investment from their other grant schemes, other medical research funders or industry. Pilot grants are awarded for up to £30,000 for a duration of up to 12 months. Deadline 3pm on 27 November 2025. Project Grants support world class research proposals that aim to address vital questions in the field of blood cancer in line with their strategic aims and the priorities of people affected by blood cancer. Project grants are awarded for up to £300,000, for up to 36 months. Next call opens November 2025.

Arts & Business NI: Investment Programme

Arts & Business NI has opened their Investment Programme which helps organisations ignite long-term partnerships, reach new audiences, connect with communities, support business solutions, and deliver world-class arts and culture. The initiative provides a maximum of £15,000 to an artist or arts partner in any one financial year (April to March) or for any one project; a partnership can receive investment a maximum of two times. Five rounds are opened annually: next deadline 7 November 2025.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: Community Development Grant Aid Programme

Grant aid is available to constituted community or voluntary groups in the Council area to help cover the running costs of their community facility and/or to deliver a community development programme in the Council area: Community Facilities and Programmes Grant (up to £10k for a one year), Community Facilities Grant (up to £5,000), and Community Programmes and Activities Grant (up to £5,000 (including up to £1,000 for insurance)). Open from 1 October to 1 December 2025. Good Relations Grants (up to £2000 per application) is available to constituted groups for activities which aim to promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion and racial group. Applications Close: Week commencing 31 December 2025.

£1.8million Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2025/2026 opens for applications

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA has announced that a new £1.8million Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) will open for applications on Monday 15 September 2025. Capital grants between £500 and £2,000 will be available to rural voluntary and community organisations and Social Economy Enterprises to fund projects tackling locally identified issues of poverty and/or social isolation. 

Upcoming Deadlines

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants of up to £15,000 are available for original, innovative projects that promote a healthy heart and help reduce the risk of developing heart disease in your area and across the country. They award up to £15,000 in each region of the UK. The funding can support salaries, overhead expenses/on costs and equipment that is necessary for the successful delivery of the project which should be for at least three months but no more than 12 months. Deadline 17 September 2025 at 5pm.

SSE Renewables Community Funding

SSE Renewables, Northern Ireland’s largest generator of wind power, provide voluntary community funding to community groups near each of their wind farms across the country. Schemes operate from Bessy Bell 2, Slieve Kirk, and Tievenameenta. Through their Bessy Bell 2 Wind Farm, near Newtownstewart Co. Tyrone, they make over £16,000 per year available for local projects promoting energy efficiency and social sustainability through their community fund programme. This biennial fund closes at 5pm on Friday, 19 September 2025.

John Lewis Partnership Foundation Building Happier Futures Fund

Building Happier Futures funds UK and channel Island projects for care-experienced people and make a difference to vulnerable children and young people who don’t have the safety net of family support. Funding is in the range of £5,000 to £20,000. Applications are open to registered charities, Community Interest Companies, or organisations that can demonstrate that their project is a charitable activity that provide education, connection, experience and fun for care experienced people. Deadline 25 September 2025 at 5pm.

Hugo Burge Foundation Grants

Established in 2024, the Hugo Burge Foundation is dedicated to supporting the arts, crafts and creative industries across the United Kingdom. Three categories open for restricted or unrestricted funding. Creative Individuals - individual artists, musicians, performers, writers, etc over 18 years can apply for up to £5,000. Creative Communities - Organisations, community groups, festivals, and fairs can apply for up to £15,000. Creative Education - Creative or arts led programmes designed for young people in education (0 to 29 years) can apply for up to £15,000. Deadline 30 September 2025.

Fundraising Support, Events & Training 

**NEW** Fundraising Workshop Series

Starting in September, our new Fundraising Workshop Series aims to support you and your fundraising knowledge, capability, and capacity to successfully navigate the competitive fundraising landscape. This workshop series covers the fundamentals of fundraising and a fundraiser’s role, fundraising readiness, using tools to maximise your time for fundraising and how to effectively select funders and complete funding applications. 

Latest Articles 

NICVA response to 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.  NICVA has submitted its response on the initial closing date of 31 July.  The closing date has been extended to Fri 5 September 2025. Find out more.

Add an extra £500 in unrestricted funding this autumn | NICVA

eBay and easyfundraising have teamed up to help you make an even bigger difference in your community this autumn, with the £5,000 Big Give. Together, they’re donating £500 to ten community organisations this month when their supporters’ shop.

Virgin Media O2 creates new £1 million apprenticeship talent fund

Virgin Media O2 is unlocking up to £1 million in funding to help small businesses, charities, social enterprises, and local authorities recruit and train the next wave of apprentices — creating real career opportunities that power long-term growth.

Guest Blog: The Chartered Institute of Fundraising in Northern Ireland 

Claire Hogarth, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland gives an overview of the work they do and how you can get involved. 

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