Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council Capital Grants Programme
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council invites interested applicants to attend a workshop on the Capital Grants Programme. Supporting local sports and community organisations with the development of new or the enhancement of existing facilities to meet unmet needs, the workshops will provide information on the expression of interest process, full application process and criteria for application. Expressions of Interest open 8 to 22 October 2025. Capital Grants Workshops take place on either 1 October (online) at 7.00pm or 2 October at 3.00pm in: Bann Gallery, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Cloonavin, 66 Portstewart Road, Coleraine, BT52 1EY. To register for a workshop please email [email protected] and specify date attending.
The Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) is inviting applications for a second 2025 round of its Museum Collections Capital Grant Programme, funded through the Department for Communities. Eligible museums can apply for £500 – £5,000 per funding application for any equipment and/or minor works to help adapt your venue or working practice. Deadline 12 noon on 10 October 2025.
Forte is a grant making foundation giving grants to small and medium sized local organisations in the UK with a demonstrable track record of success working to address local issues in communities of extreme urban deprivation and deprived rural districts. Their Small Grants funding supports projects focusing on community support for organisations with an annual income not exceeding £250,000. These are single year grants between £2,000 and £10,000 for core costs, salaries, running and project costs. Their Major grants of £10,000 and £50,000 for core costs, salaries, running and project costs or multi-year grants for a maximum of 3 years, not to exceed £100,000 in total over this period, for core costs, salaries, running or project costs. Organisations with a turnover up to £500,000 should have a focus on Family Support. This may further include Early intervention, Families coping with addiction, and Prisoners' families. No deadlines.
The Foundation offers grants to UK registered or exempt charities and community interest groups which provide support to people with a learning disability, principally to people with mild to moderate needs. Support should focus on the provision of services for Employment and Training, Financial and Inclusion, Support Networks, and Accommodation. Organisations with a turnover between £1m and £20m can apply to their Main Support annual grants of up to £30k; can be awarded for up to 3 years. Their Townsend Discretionary Fund offers small grants of up to £5000. Next deadline 30 September.
The Olympic Legacy Fund is a £1million pound investment programme, delivered by Sport NI in partnership with Crowdfunder UK. The fund aims to improve the quality of offering at club/community sports facilities, encouraging people to engage in sport and physical activity. Supported projects will leave a lasting community legacy from the success of Northern Ireland athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic/Paralympic Games. Sports clubs and community groups can propose a project between £1,000 (minimum) and £50,000 (maximum) in value. Deadline 20 February 2026.
Upcoming Deadlines
The goal of Scops Arts Trust is to help people to understand, participate in and enjoy the arts, particularly the performing arts. They are keen to find projects which widen access and have a lasting cultural impact on the community. They support registered charities, but will consider applications from social enterprises, community groups, etc, if they are formally constituted and have clear charitable purposes. Round 3 is open for applications addressing Children’s and young people’s instrumental music education (choirs are excluded). They have previously awarded multi-year grants of up to £30,000 per annum, but applicants should be aware that the majority of grants are considerably less than this. Deadline 23 September 2025, 5pm.
Music for All Community Projects
Music for All provides grants for both individuals and groups based within the UK to enable more people to access musical instruments and lessons and music programmes for the community. 2025 Funding round 4 supports Physical mobility or accessibility needs, Mental health and loneliness/isolation, Choral groups, and Working with early years aged children with grants of up to £2000 as well as Descant recorder pack and music pack where you can apply for up to 60 recorder packs in this category. Next deadline 24 September 2025 at 12pm(noon).
Arts Council NI: Rural Engagement Arts Programme
The primary theme of REAP is combatting isolation and loneliness, promoting social inclusion and to improve equality of access and opportunity to arts provision across all Section 75 groups, encouraging greater participation in the arts within all communities. A wide range of organisation types and partnerships can apply to for a maximum award of £10,000. Deadline 25 September 2025, at 12pm(noon).
John Lewis Partnership Foundation: Building Happier Futures
Building Happier Futures is how they fund UK 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. Applications are invited for funding in the range of £5,000 to £20,000. open to registered charities, Community Interest Companies, or organisations that can demonstrate that their project is a charitable activity and not for profit. They will fund UK projects to provide education, connection, experience and fun for care experienced people. Deadline 25 September 2025, 5pm. Webpage states closed, but see Application Pack.
The Sasha Foundation was set up to support charities that work with mental health issues in memory of Sasha Love. Established charitable organisations with priority given to grassroots community groups working with young people suffering from depression and mental health issues or who are confronting drug abuse issues can apply for grants up to £10,000 Education and healthcare programs in developing nations is also funded. Funding can be used for running costs (including salaries), projects, equipment, or capital developments for new, continuing, or one-off initiatives. Next deadline 1 October.
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.
Chartered Institute of Fundraising in Northern Ireland Autumn Forum
Tuesday, 4 November from 09:00 – 12:30 at NICVA, Belfast
This Forum will focus on two key areas of fundraising for the year ahead: Navigating the New Fundraising Code - Gain insights into the updated Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice which will come into effect on 1 November. Learn practical guidance to ensure your fundraising is ethical, compliant, and effective. This session will give you the tools and confidence to build long-term supporter trust and maximise income growth. Keeping Volunteers Inspired - Fundraisers and volunteers from PIPS, Cancer Fund for Children, and Mary’s Meals will share their best practices in recruiting, managing, and retaining volunteers. This session will provide practical tips and real-world insights to keep your volunteer teams engaged, motivated, and valued, strengthening your organisation’s impact. Tickets: Members £14 / Non-members £20.
National Lottery Awards for All - Northern Ireland briefing session
Online - Wednesday 15th October 2025 - Monday 8th December 2025
This session is for voluntary or community organisations based in Northern Ireland who are seeking funding between £300 to £20,000, for projects lasting up to two years, to deliver activity in their community. The session is open to everyone but is aimed primarily at groups who have not applied to National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland before or who would like a refresher on the programme aims and application criteria.
Latest Articles
£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.
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.
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.
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