A roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker
Funding News
Music for All 2025 Round 1 open
Music for All provides grants for both individuals and groups within the UK to enable more people to access musical instruments and lessons and music programmes for the community. Awards are either a grant of up to £2,000 or equipment purchased and supplied to successful applicants. Themes supported this round are community-based groups providing opportunities to make music with children and young-people aged between 4-11, for those working with diverse communities from the global majority, groups making music to those with learning and cognitive challenges, and groups using electric guitars and amplifiers. Deadline 23:59, 27 March 2025.
Sea-Changers: Coastal Fountain Fund
The purpose of the fund is to reduce the impact of single-use plastic water bottles on coastal habitats by funding communities to purchase water drinking fountains and install them for use by the public in busy or environmentally important areas. Grants of up to £2,500 are available, per applicant, towards the cost of a fountain. The closing date for applications is Friday 25th April 2025.
The Trust specialises in creating opportunities and supporting disabled people who want to play tennis. They provide specialist wheelchairs for individuals, clubs, special schools and centres running disability programmes and also provide equipment/coaching kitbags for coaches, clubs, special schools, disability groups and associations. The Trustees meet four times a year for funding decisions. Meeting 2is on 13 May 2025 – applications for this meeting will close on 13 April 2025.
Registered charities operating in areas in which Hays Travel operates can apply for grants from the Hays Travel Foundation. The Foundation offers funding between £2,000 and £15,000. Last year, the average grant was around £3,500. Funding aims to support projects helping disadvantaged young people up to 25 years old in the areas of: Education, Prevention of poverty, Health, Arts, Culture, and Sports. Charities not located in Hays Travel areas must provide evidence of how their project impacts a community with a Hays Travel branch. The Foundation encourages applicants to demonstrate match funding, as this increases the likelihood of securing a grant. Applications are currently open until 7th March.
The Elephant Trust was set up in 1975 to make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when frustrated by lack of funds. Priority is given to artists in the fine arts and small organisations and galleries who should submit well argued, imaginative proposals for making or producing new work or exhibitions. Given The Elephant Trust’s modest resources, grants have usually been limited to £2,000, but with the recent addition of the Shelagh Wakely Bequest some larger grants of up to £5,000 may be awarded. Deadline midnight, 20 April 2025.
Upcoming Deadlines
The National Lottery Community Fund: Sustainable Community Buildings
This funding is part of their new strategy where they aim to support communities to be environmentally sustainable and learn more about reducing their carbon footprint. Voluntary or community organisations with an annual income of less than £500,000 can apply for funding up to £50,000 (capital funding only). The scheme operates in different council areas at different times during 2024 and 2025. Applicants in Belfast City Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council areas must apply by 19 February 2025.
NI Housing Executive’s Rural Community Awards
Aims to improve community spirit within rural neighbourhoods and encourage rural communities to protect the physical asset of the rural landscape and to celebrate their communities. There will be a £1,000 prize for the winners of the northern and southern Community Spirit and Cleaner & Greener awards, and £500 will be donated to the community groups nominating the highly commended winning applicants. Deadline 4pm, 21 February 2025.
Naturewatch Foundation: Pet Rescue Grant
Naturewatch Foundation’s Pet Rescue Grant supports UK animal rescue charities working with dogs, cats and/or rabbits who have been affected by the illegal pet trade. A main grant of £10,000 is available annually to UK-registered charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) with an annual income of up to £5 million. A mini grant of £1,000 is available to unincorporated non-profits, including unregistered charities and community groups. Deadline 21 February 2025.
Belfast City Council: Summer Community Diversionary Programme
The Summer Community Diversionary Programme provides support for the delivery of community-based diversionary programmes. The programme is now being delivered as a multi-annual funding model between 2025-2027. Grants between £25,000 and £100,000 are available to eligible groups. The programme aims to make a significant contribution to the reduction of anti-social behaviour linked to key areas, bonfires and dates during the summer, specifically 11 July and 8 August. Deadline 10am, 28 February 2025.
Developing Women in the Community Programme Phase Three 2025 - 2027
Administered by the Department for Communities (DfC) as part of the Fresh Start strategy, the programme is open to community/voluntary/women's groups, charities (registered as a charity with HMRC), other ‘not for profit’ organisations, companies limited by guarantee (registered with Companies House), and public sector/bodies/agencies. The programme will provide women with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to become influencers and take on roles such as leadership and decision making in their communities for women of all ages and will be delivered within the community, in areas which have been identified as areas of most need. The total cost required from DfC should not exceed £75,000 (subject to budget). This funding is for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027. Deadline 4pm, 3 March 2025.
Fundraising Support
Events: Funding February
The last in our series of Funding February webinars is Sport NI’s Creating Opportunities with Crowdfunder | NICVA, 19 February 2025 - 6:00 to 7:00pm. Registration remains open until 2pm 18 February 2025.
Registration for our Funding Fayre is now closed with over 180 people registered.
We outline what to expect on the day, who will be exhibiting on the day and give tips to make the most of your time here: Funding Fayre 2025 – what to expect | NICVANICVA focuses on Funding in February | NICVA
Fundraising Hub
Our Fundraising Hub has a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. Below are a few from this month’s Funding February focus:
Funding February: Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund opening soon
The Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund will open on Wednesday, 12th February 2025 at 11am. You can find out more by visiting their stand at our Funding Fayre 2025.
Looking for inspiration to apply to the Planned Interventions Programme? Take a look at this brilliant case study of Oxford United Stars FC’s Planned Interventions project that brings young people together from across the Derry City and Strabane District Council areas to play football. Deadline for applications is 4pm on Friday 14 February 2025.
Funding February: The King Charles III Charitable Fund now open
The King Charles III Charitable Fund small grants programme opens 10 February 2025. They anticipate a high volume of applications for this round. To help your project stand out, review what they’ve previously supported along with the guidance notes.
Funding February: The Importance of Networking in the VCSE Sector | NICVA
This week we are highlighting the importance of networking in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector, with a spotlight on Social Enterprise Northern Ireland (SENI). We spoke to the newest member of the SENI Team, Audrey Keogan, Member Relationship Manager.
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