New & Updated Funds
OPENED TODAY! National Lottery Heritage Fund: Community Heritage Fund Northern Ireland (Closing Noon, 18th December)
As part of the £29million Covid-19 Culture, Languages, Arts and Heritage Support Programme 2020/2021, this £200,000 fund will be distributed By the National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of the Department for Communities. It provides grants of between £3,000 - £10,000 for small-scale projects based in NI which help and encourage communities to connect to the heritage in their local area.
Public Health Agency (Via The Clear Project): FREE Equipment and Training for Sports Clubs (Closing 3pm, 11th December)
The Clear Project, in conjunction with the Public Health Agency, are offering constituted, voluntary sector sports clubs in the Western Trust area the opportunity to avail of training which will help them support their members and get £300 worth of relevant sports equipment for the club.
Department for Communities (DfC) via Cooperation Ireland: VCSE Covid Recovery Fund (Closing 4pm, 11th December)
On behalf of the Department for Communities (DfC), Co-operation Ireland (in partnership with Rural Community Network) is managing the VCSE Covid Recovery Fund. This £3 million fund offers additional funding to VCSE organisations to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other items to enable the re-opening and continued delivery of vital community services.
HMRC funding (Application Closing Date 27th November)
HMRC has approx. £1.66 million per year, to allocate to VCS organisations to help them provide advice and support to customers who need extra help understanding and complying with their tax obligations and claiming their entitlements, including those who are digitally excluded. They are inviting bids for funding of between £20,000 and £750,000 per year, with a maximum threshold set at 50% of your organisation’s turnover.
The COVID-19 Charities Fund (Now awaiting details of re-opening before Christmas)
£8.8m of this DfC fund was distributed through the National Lottery Community Fund before it closed. On 9th November NICVA, along with CO3 and RCN, met with Minister Carál Ní Chuilín to discuss it’s reopening to help organisations face extreme financial challenges both this year and in the first half of the next financial year. The Minister is fully committed to a 2nd phase and will allocate £6.2m, with the Fund hopefully reopen for applications before Christmas. Further information will be provided by NICVA when available.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Rural Social Economy Investment Scheme (Closing 5pm, 11th December)
The Rural Social Economy Investment Scheme will provide grants between £25,000 and £50,000 to emerging and established rural social enterprises in Northern Ireland to enable them to increase their capacity, potential profitability and sustainability whilst supporting those who live in rural areas.
Ecclesiastical Insurance: 12 Days of Giving (Opening 6th December & Closing 22nd December)
An online nomination scheme from Ecclesiastical Insurance offering a £1,000 donation to 120 charities from 6th to 21st December, i.e. £120,000 to 120 charities in 12 days! The closing date and time for submitting an application for each draw is 12.00 midnight the day before each draw, with draws taking place each weekday from Monday 6th December until Friday 21st December.
Gamesys Foundation
The Gamesys Foundation aims to preserve and protect the wellbeing of individuals suffering from mental health issues through providing grants and funding to organisations who care for these individuals directly, as well as those who focus on research in the mental health field.
Arts Council NI: Musical Instruments for Professional and non-Professional Performing Groups (Closing 4pm, 26th November)
Grants of up to £30,000 to provide support for the purchase of musical instruments by groups . Open to schools and to professional and non-professional performing groups in any genre of music, including amateur / youth orchestras and ensembles, choirs, community music groups, musical societies and pop and rock ensembles. Primary and post primary schools are also encouraged to apply for funding for non-core curriculum activities.