Funding News – 16 September 2024
Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
BBC Children in Need Pudsey Next Steps opens September 2024
The Pudsey Next Steps funding programme will help achieve greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in their grant-making. The first round opens 16 September 2024 and focuses on new applicants working in under-served geographic areas across the UK. Organisations can apply for grants for up to three years for between £1,000 and £15,000 per year. Funding will be distributed across the UK based on local priorities. In Northern Ireland, the Pudsey Next Steps programme welcomes applications from organisations which are either: Situated in Strabane and Rural County Fermanagh that target marginalised children and young people impacted by poverty Or Reaching racially minoritised children and young people impacted by poverty, outside of the Belfast area. The deadline for Expressions of Interest for the first round of Pudsey Next Steps funding is 11:59am on Wednesday 16th October 2024. You’ll be able to apply from their webpage, which contains further details, from 16th September 2024.
Laughology: THE HAPPINESS FUND
Funding grassroots, neighbourhood-based community projects throughout the UK. The Happiness Fund is available to enable and support projects which improve mental health and wellbeing, inclusion, learning and skills development in local communities. Ultimately creating happier people and neighbourhoods. They are specifically looking for grassroots organisations that are set up for and by the local community. Apply by 4 October 2024 for funding of £5,000 per project.
Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation
Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation small grants programme makes donations of up to £1,000 to UK registered charities with a turnover of less than £1m. Your project must meet their purpose through one or more of the following criteria themes: Financial stress, Security and refuge, Quality and suitability of housing, and Health and wellbeing support for those experiencing homelessness. Closes 11 November 2024.
Sported is delighted to team up with Cash4Clubs to deliver another round of funding in 2024. Grants of £2000 (€2000 in Ireland) are available for community organisations working with adults from under-represented communities, delivering sport or physical activity for social purpose. The 2024 programme is exclusively focused on supporting adult clubs. They want to offer funding to groups that deliver activities to over 18s only, with an emphasis on 18–25 year olds. The funding will be unrestricted but with an outcome of increasing participation, meaning clubs are able to decide how best to use the grant to engage more adults from their local communities. The fund is currently open from Thursday 12 September until Tuesday 12 November 2024. Please be aware that the programme may close early if they receive a large volume of applications.
National Churches Trust: Treasure Ireland
The Treasure Ireland Grants Programme can offer between £500 and £10,000 to Places of Worship in Northern Ireland for urgent and essential maintenance and repair projects costing up to £100,000 (incl. VAT). They will consider applications from listed and unlisted Christian places of worship, of any denomination, that are located in Northern Ireland. You must have 50% of the funds required at the point of application. Upcoming deadlines January and May 2025.
The National Garden Scheme: Community Gardens Grants
Eligible community garden projects from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are welcome to apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000. Each application must itemise the details of the costs they are planning to cover. Applicants must be a fully set up community group, registered charity or Community Interest Company (CIC) with a functioning non-personal bank account. The following list of eligible costs is not exhaustive: Plants and containers, Materials for flower or vegetable beds and other hard landscaping, Greenhouses, polytunnels and sheds, Seating, Hand tools and certain garden power tools (e.g. strimmers), and Materials for providing refreshments. Deadline 28 October 2024 (noon).
Upcoming Deadlines
Art Fund: Student opportunities
The programme enables students to explore an interest in the arts alongside future career options, while providing organisations with extra capacity which is skilled and accountable. The aim of this funding is to help museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries, archives, agencies, and other visual arts organisations provide paid opportunities for full-time university students. They’ll consider applications for grants up to £10,000. Next deadline 18 September.
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. Open to registered charities and community interest companies (CICs) in the UK with an annual income of less than £1 million. Deadline for Northern Ireland 18 September 2024 (5pm).
Belfast Policing and Community Safety Small Grants
Belfast PCSP is seeking submissions for new proposals that tackle hate crime and support engagement between new and existing communities. Proposals for up to £2,500 are sought for projects across North, South and East Belfast that: support victims of hate crime/hate related incidents, increase reports of hate crime and hate related incidents, improve confidence in the PSNI and other organisations with a role in tackling hate and/or supporting victims, and/or build relationships between new and existing communities. For further information on how to apply, eligibility criteria, and to request an application form, please email [email protected]. Deadline 20 September 2024.
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council: Good Relations Grant 2024
The Good Relations Grant Programme is for community relations and cultural diversity projects and is open to community / voluntary groups who are engaged in the delivery of programmes / initiatives which focus on reconciliation and cultural diversity. A maximum grant of up to £2,000 is available for any one organisation to promote good relations between people of different religious and political beliefs and different racial groups. Deadline 23 September 2024 (noon).
Ards and North Down Borough Council: Winter Hardship Fund
Ards and North Down Borough Council is launching a fund to support those most vulnerable to address hardship caused by the current cost of living crisis, particularly the increase in energy and food costs. Funding has been provided to the Council from the Department for Communities. Winter Hardship Fund applicants can apply for up to a maximum of £3,000. Open to Strategic Community Planning Partners (if not delivering statutory functions), Community & Voluntary Sector Organisations (application must show additionality), and Registered charities (application should bring additionality to a charitable purpose) operating within Council area. Deadline 24 September 2024 (noon)
Imperial Community Impact Fund
Imperial Polythene is proud to announce the launch of the Imperial Community Impact Fund; a new initiative designed to support local community groups and charities committed to making a positive difference. With an annual fund of £10,000, this grant scheme offers up to £1,000 per project to encourage and empower local organisations working in the fields of environment, sustainability, creativity, and addressing local problems. By fostering innovation and collaboration, we aim to enhance the well-being of our community and promote sustainable development. They invite community groups and charitable organisations to apply for funding to bring their impactful projects to life. Deadline 26 September2024 (5pm).
Fundraising Support
Events
25 September 2024, 10am to 11:30am, In-person at NICVA
Ahead of the #TicktheBox campaign, 3 October 2024, join NICVA and our experienced panellists in a free event discussing Gift Aid aimed at supporting registered charities to raise awareness of Gift Aid with your supporters.
28 November 2024, 10am to 1pm; In-person at NICVA
Cost: £55 (NICVA Members) or £70 (non-NICVA members)
Described as your written argument as to why you deserve to be funded, a compelling Case for Support can be a powerful tool to secure funding. This 3-hour session in NICVA aims to support those responsible for fundraising within voluntary and community organisations and who are unfamiliar with the use of Cases for Support in their work.
Fundraising Clinics
These popular clinics offer NICVA a free, one-hour tailored session addressing your fundraising needs. Clinics can be arranged by contacting Jocelyn Horton, Fundraising Advice Officer at [email protected].
Fundraising Hub
Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:
Fundraising Regulator: Changes to the Fundraising Levy and registration fees - Celia Currie, Fundraising Regulator, provides an update on changes to the Fundraising Levy and registration fees.
Making Gift Aid Count - Every year charities in the UK lose out on £564 million as in Gift Aid goes unclaimed. Find out how you can make Gift Aid work better for you.
Passive income and Micro donations - If you're looking to raise income for your organisation with little effort and make the most of very small donations, we've rounded up some of the options available to you.
Supporting the Planet and Your Organisation - Earth Day is celebrated annually on 22 April. But did you know you can encourage donors to support your work while taking environmental action? There are a few options out there to generate additional income for your work or save you the expense by encouraging your supporters and donors to take action on your behalf.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion in your grant applications - This resource outlines some reasons behind funders wanting organisations to address EDI in the applications alongside advice on broaching the topic in writing, getting started on your journey and where you can find further information on this topic.
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