THIS WEEK'S NEW FUNDS/CHANGES TO DEADLINES
COVID Social Enterprise Fund (Opening for Applications 28th September)
As a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this fund aims to distribute £7m of grant funds over the coming months and is designed to support social enterprises as they seek to stabilise and manage cashflow during this difficult period. The Fund will be managed by Community Finance Ireland (CFI) and provide grants of up to £75,000.
Bank of Ireland: Begin Together Fund (Administered by Arts & Business NI) (Application Deadline, 4th November)
In partnership with Business to Arts and Arts & Business NI, this fund will distribute €1million between 2020 & 2022 to support artists and arts projects across the island of Ireland. Grants are available from €3,000 – €10,000/c. GBP£2,500 – £8,400. to support or commission artists or groups of artists to work with a partner organisation (e.g. a venue or event, arts organisation, community/voluntary organisation or another funding agency/organisation) in the development of new or existing artwork or projects that have been adapted due to COVID-19 or are inspired by/respond to COVID-19.
National Lottery Community Fund: Leaders with Lived Experience 2020 (Closing Date, 5pm, 13th October)
Grants of £20,000 to £50,000 to support organisations set up or run by people with first-hand experience of a social issue, who are trying to create positive change for communities and people who share those experiences. UK-wide. Will support lived experience leadership, and make sure lived experience plays a key role in shaping how communities move towards recovery and renewal after the impact of COVID-19. They expect to fund between 30 and 40 grants.
Alec Dickson Trust: COVID-19 Funding (Round 2 Closing Date Now 8pm, 27th September)
ADT supports young people who through volunteering or community service, aim to enhance the lives of others, particularly those most marginalised by society. To help young people to volunteer in response to COVID-19 they are now offering larger grants of up to £1000.
COVID-19 Homelessness Response Fund (Deadline Extended to 28th September)
5.5 million for 2nd round of grants distributed by Homeless Link. £4.8 million is provided by The National Lottery Community Fund and £680,000 from Comic Relief, which raises money to support people living incredibly tough lives, and will primarily be allocated to charities based in Scotland, Wales and NI Will provide emergency financial assistance to local homelessness organisations, preventing closure, service cuts or staff redundancies threatened by increased operational costs and a loss of fundraised income due to Coronavirus. It will also support organisations that have needed to expand or adapt their services in light of COVID-19 to support people experiencing homelessness safely and effectively.
Childs Charitable Trust: Emergency Funding (Now Closing 30th September)
The Childs Charitable trust has introduced an Emergency Funding programme to support charities that are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the current pandemic. The trust particularly welcomes applications from Christian based organisations.
Funds Closing This Week
Comic Relief (Metro): LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Fund (Closing 30th September)
Grants of up to £15,000 to support LGBTQ+ organisations and groups across the UK in their vital role in supporting LGBTQ+ communities through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. Funding is through the £585,000 fund from Comic Relief, raised from ‘The Big Night In’ and the grant scheme is managed by Metro Charity, with the delivery partner in NI being The Rainbow Project.
DWF Foundation (Next Deadline 30th September)
The DWF Foundation, founded by DWF LLP provides funds, resources and support to help communities achieve their full potential. The priorities for the Foundation are: Homelessness, Health & Wellbeing, Employability and Education. Between the launch of the DWF Foundation in December 2015 and December 2019, the foundation awarded over 135 grants totalling over £300,000.
Arts Council of NI: Health and Safety Capital Programme (Closing Date, 4pm, 1st October)
Supported by the Department for Communities, the Arts Council of NI has designed this programme to enable organisations to purchase equipment and/or carry out minor works to their premises which will enable them to become functional during the Covid-19 restricted period. NB All purchases and minor works must be completed by Friday 5 March 2021.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (Closing Date 12 Noon, 2nd October)
Funded by DAERA, the key aim of this Programme is to assist in tackling poverty and social isolation within rural communities across NI. Micro Capital grants of between £200 and £1,500 are available to rural community-led, voluntary organisations for projects tackling issues of local poverty and / or social isolation. Includes COVID-19 related projects. Managed by individual rural support networks across NI.
Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust (Round 3 Closing Date, 30th September)
The Austin and Hope Trust gives grants to UK registered charities towards projects carried out in the UK. In light of both COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter. Rounds 3 & 4 for 2020 will therefore focus on older people and BAME. They are still committed to funding projects supporting the Homeless and Refugees and Asylum Seekers in 2021, but expect to support additional priorities.
BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund (Closing Date 30th September)
The BFI FAN Film Exhibition Fund is now open, with National Lottery funding available to exhibitors across the UK. It will support activity to re-engage audiences with collective, big screen film experiences at film festivals, mixed arts venues, and both community and traditional cinemas.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (Closing Date 12 Noon, 2nd October)
Funded by DAERA, the key aim of this Programme is to assist in tackling poverty and social isolation within rural communities across NI. Micro Capital grants of between £200 and £1,500 are available to rural community-led, voluntary organisations for projects tackling issues of local poverty and / or social isolation. Includes COVID-19 related projects. Managed by individual rural support networks across NI.