Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
The National Lottery Community Fund (UK wide): Climate Action Fund - Food Systems
Their Climate Action Fund is now open, supporting ambitious, long-term projects that strengthen food systems, tackle the root causes of food insecurity and work with nature to create lasting change. They are looking for partnerships and organisations that already have the skills, relationships and infrastructure to work at scale to lead transition to food systems that are fairer, more resilient and better for people, climate and nature. Grant minimum of £2.5m over 3 years.
Ann Rylands Small Donations Programme
The Ann Rylands Small Donations programme is designed to help smaller charities that work exclusively to provide health and care services. The programme offers unrestricted funding to charities providing practical and emotional support to people with physical or mental ill health, people living with a disability, and their families and carers. They prioritise medium-sized registered charities with an income between £100,000 and £2m. The maximum award is £5,000.
Belfast City Council: Bank of Ideas
The Bank of Ideas supports individuals and groups to bring their ideas for their local area to life with up to £2,500 per project. This year ideas can be part of the celebrations for the Fleadh Cheoilas the world’s biggest celebration of Irish music and culture, which comes to Belfast from Sunday 2 August to Sunday 9 August 2026. Open to neighbours, friends, schools, clubs or one individual with an idea – the theme for ideas is ‘Celebrating Together’. The scheme is launching on Monday 26th January 2026, with information online at belfastcity.gov.uk/culturefunding. Go along to their coffee morning launch in 2 Royal Avenue on Thursday 29th January 10.30am-12.30pm to hear more about how it works. There’ll also be information from Volunteer Now on the volunteering opportunities for the Fleadh. Please RSVP to [email protected] by Tuesday 27th January to let them know if you can make it.
Money Saving Expert Charity Winter round opens
The MSE Charity is funded by Money Saving Expert and gives grants to not for profit organisations that deliver activities which make a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money. Project grants will be available up to £10,000. While they do not fund core costs directly, they do support Full Cost Recovery. The Winter grant round opens Monday 19 January and closes 26 January.
The Big Give: Small Charity Week
Big Give, Global’s Make Some Noise and NCVO are championing small charities across the UK, through a seven-day online match funded campaign. Up to £10,000 match funding. The scheme utilises their ‘1:1’ model of match funding. Successful charities are awarded a sum of match funding which is ring-fenced for their organisation. This match funding is unlocked by public donations given through Big Give’s online fundraising platform during the week of the campaign. Charities with an annual income of at least £5,000 and a maximum income of £1m need to apply by 11 February 2026 at 5pm.
Upcoming Deadlines
Mid & East Antrim Borough Council
Revamp and Refresh is a small grant to fund Internal Improvements, Fixtures and Branding. This Pilot scheme will accept applications from Town Centre businesses in either Ballymena, Carrickfergus or Larne who are currently trading. Grants will be awarded on a first come first serve basis. The scheme opened on Council’s Grant Portal for a period of 2 weeks, closing on Tuesday 20 January 2025 at 5:00pm subject to availability of funds.
Asda Foundation: Young Futures Fund
The Healthy Teen Minds programme will provide support to community and grassroots groups across the UK to help them deliver activities for teenagers which improve mental health and wellbeing and create positive life opportunities. Grants ranging from £500 to £1,000 available to Not-for-profit groups helping improve mental health and wellbeing of teens aged 13-18. Applications open until 10am 20 January 2026 (may close earlier).
As a small charity the Trust focuses on small projects based within the UK. They offer grants up to £5,000 under varying themes. The current theme is marine conservation – they are inviting grant applications from charities, community groups and organisations working to protect and restore marine environments. Next deadline is 12 noon on 26th February 2026.
Local Authority Grant Aid schemes
Check your local Council for schemes supporting community organisations – many will have open rounds before the end of the financial year including Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Grand Choice has £15,000 available for local projects across Lisburn South, including Knockmore, Lagan Valley, Lisnagarvey, Old Warren, Ballymacash and Ballymacross. Deadline 8 February 2026. Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon’s Small Capital Project Fund and Events Equipment Grants are open until 12noon on Friday 6 February 2026. See link for other schemes. Mid & East Antrim Brough Council’s Community Grants Scheme 2025/26 (Groups & Events) is open until 5pm on 31 March 2026. Mid Ulster District Council Grant Aid is open until 20 February 2026 at 12pm(noon) for Community Development Grant, Irish Language Activity Grant, Community Infrastructure Grant, Pitches and recreational Spaces Strategy Feasibility Development Grant, and Pitches and recreational Spaces Strategy Infrastructure Development Grant, and Fermanagh & Omagh District Council’s Grant Aid & Bursary Funding – 2026/27 closing date has been extended to 18 February 2026 at 5.00pm.
The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds UK registered charities operating in the UK in the fields of the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and the environment. The Trust supports a diverse range of charities seeking in some way to enhance and improve people’s lives. Grants usually in the range of £500 - £6,000 with three grant-making meetings held annually in March, July, and November. Next deadline 23:59 on 21 January 2026.
Events & Training
FREE: Enthuse's Digital Fundraising Labs series
NICVA is delighted to offer this series of free Digital Fundraising Labs in partnership with Enthuse, Europe’s number one charity first fundraising platform. Each session is designed to guide, inspire, energise, and empower your online fundraising approach.
FREE: Creating a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
11 February 2026 - 6:30 to 8:00pm
Join Sport NI and Crowdfunder UK for an engaging free webinar designed to help you unlock the power of crowdfunding. Learn practical steps to create campaigns that inspire support and raise funds for your cause.
Using AI to create Social Media Content
£75 NICVA members; £110 non members
25 February 2026 - 9:30am to 1:00pm
This session has been designed for anyone who needs to understand how AI can support their social media efforts. It is a practical session in which you will learn how to use AI tools to brainstorm ideas, create content, and improve efficiency. It will be important also for feeling confident in incorporating AI into your social media strategy while maintaining a human touch.
FREE: Funding Fayre 2026
We're pleased to announce NICVA’s Funding Fayre returns in 2026, and we’re inviting voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland to register their interest in joining us. Kindly supported by the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, this event is an ideal opportunity for anyone connected with raising funds for your cause. Register now for this popular event!
Latest Articles
Guest Blog: Funding Opportunities for Churches and Christian Organisations in Ireland
Heather Pope, the new Grants Officer for Ireland with Benefact Trust, gives an overview of the support available for churches and Christian organisations across the island of Ireland.
Foyle Foundation completes spend down in December
The Foundation’s long planned spend down and closure takes place in December 2025 by when it will have distributed over £185M in total to over 7,000 charities and state schools across the UK.
**UPDATED** AI a powerful force for good?
The growing role of AI in our lives and workplace and the opportunities it presents in improving both accessibility and efficiency for organisations is apparent to many including funders. We highlight the position of some local funders and provide a list of useful resources.
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