Shedding some initial light on the current state of EU funding uncertainty.
It is fair to say that Brexit may have brought with it "the absolute certainty of uncertainty", particularly with regard to these first few weeks. For some NI charities, one of the most worrisome issues is just how EU funding will be affected. Access Europe NI, set up in 2013 to build the capacity of Irish organisations to access EU funding today issued the following statement, which goes some way to clarifying the current state of play.
Laurent Aldenhoff, Project Manager for Access Europe NI tells us -
"The results of the EU referendum has led to some uncertainty regarding the availability of EU funding for Northern Irish organisations and on the sustainability of current and planned cooperation between the UK and other European organisations.
What is happening now?
At this stage, the UK is still a member of the EU, and there is thus no immediate change in the UK’s participation in EU funding programmes.
In order to start the “exit procedure”, to formally leave the EU, the UK has to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Once this is done, there is a two-year time limit for reaching a withdrawal agreement (which can be extended if all Member States agree). Current EU grant holders should therefore not be affected, at least until autumn 2018.
UK based organisations are also still allowed to apply for EU funding. At this stage, the EU (and mandated bodies) are still inviting calls for projects running more than two years past the triggering of Article 50. It is however, too early to indicate what impact Brexit will have on funding applications submitted by UK based organisations in the next couple of years.
What will happen after Brexit?
The EU Treaties will cease to apply to the UK on the entry into force of a withdrawal agreement. What happens to EU funding after the UK withdraws from the EU will depend on the agreement reached.
It is worth mentioning that many non-EU Member States have secured some participation to EU funding programmes (such as Norway and Switzerland). It is thus possible that the UK and the EU agree on the continued participation of the UK to some EU funding programmes.
We would thus advise UK based organisations to still consider EU funding as a potential source of funding for their activities. It may also be time to remind those who campaigned for a Brexit to honour their pledge that those affected would get the same funding if the UK votes to leave.
Will Brexit affect Irish organisations?
Irish organisations will still be fully eligible to take part to EU funding programmes. Brexit might have an impact on some cross-border programmes with the UK (e.g.: Interreg, Peace IV etc.), and on the participation of UK partners in joint EU-funded projects. Again, this is too early to say, and we would still encourage partnerships with UK-based organisations.
Access Europe will monitor closely the negotiations following the Brexit referendum, and will keep you informed of any key developments. Access Europe will keep assisting organisations based in Northern Ireland access EU funds. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions."
More information: see also the following statement of EU funding bodies: SEUPB, Interreg NPA, Erasmus +, Interreg Atlantic Area, SEUPB Briefing to NI Finance Committee
New or Updated Funding Initiatives
Arts Council NI: Rosy James Memorial Trust Award
The Rosy James Memorial Trust Award is an annual craft bursary worth £15,000. Administered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, this unique bursary aims to assist craft makers to develop their careers by creating a new body of work which would otherwise have been unattainable without the funding award. The fund will award one bursary of £15,000 per year. This award is directed at makers steeped in practice using materials singly or in combination. Such materials might include fired clay or glass; fine or base metals; textiles using any kinds of applications; wood; plastics; paper or other materials not included in this list, where the emphasis is based upon the transformation of materials through the use of sustained practice towards a series of critical outcomes.
Find out more on GrantTracker or on the website
The Space
The Space is a Community Interest Company (CIC) which commissions and supports work which delivers greater access to the arts using digital. They are interested in projects which capture great live performances, extend existing arts experiences using technology or are built with digital at the heart. The Space want to get great arts experiences to more people. The Space is able to 100% finance projects or partner with other funders and will typically provide up to £70,000 of finance. In exceptional circumstances they may agree finance over £100,000. In addition to financial investment The Space will provide advice and support including for project planning, production, online publication and audience development. To be eligible to apply you must be a UK-based arts/cultural organisation or artist aged 18 or over. Organisations can include museums and libraries if the proposal is primarily arts focused. They encourage individual artists to partner with a UK-based arts or cultural organisation.
Find out more on GrantTracker or on the website
NICHI Small Grants Scheme: Health & Social Well being
The Networks Involving Communities in Health Improvement (NICHI) Project provides grants of up to £1000 for innovative projects that aim to improve health and social wellbeing. The NICHI Small Grants Scheme is supported by funding from the Public Health Agency and is open to community and voluntary groups that operate within the ten Council areas of the Northern Trust Locality - Antrim, Carrickfergus, Newtownabbey, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Moyle, Larne, Cookstown, Magherafelt & Coleraine. Promoting health literacy to encourage local communities to take a pro-active role in making better health choices must be the primary goal of all proposed projects.
Find out more on GrantTracker or on the website
Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
The Austin and Hope Trust gives grants to UK registered charities towards projects carried out in the UK. Every year, they focus on particular areas to support. These categories are usually repeated on a three-year cycle. The categories for 2016 are Children and Youth. Priority will be given to projects focussing on homelessness, domestic abuse, prisoners/offenders, training and education, counselling and support, and activities for those with limited access or opportunities. To ensure that as many charities get help as possible, they award grants of either £3,000 or £1,000 (except when the focus of the year is on Medical Research where grants can be up to £10,000). Most charities apply for £3,000 but the majority of grants they award are for £1,000.
Find out more on GrantTracker or on the website
Upcoming Dates
Open Data Institute: Showcase
The ODI's summer call will result in the award of four projects with £7,000 grant funding, to help deliver and tell the stories of innovative uses of data that demonstrate longstanding value to others. ODI is particularly interested in projects using or producing open data within the finance, agriculture and nutrition, global development, open cities, transport and environmental sectors. In addition to funding, they will provide support to help maximise the impact of your project with remote expert ODI mentoring on conducting research and communicating your story to help you develop your project for maximum impact. a platform to tell your story through the ODI network and mainstream media channels and the opportunity to promote your work at ODI events, including at an ODI Friday lunchtime lecture.
Initial Application Closing Date (Midnight) 5 Jul 2016
Shortlist Proposal Closing Date (Midnight) 10 Jul 2016
Find out more on GrantTracker or on the website
Comic Relief: Girls in Gangs
This scheme aims to provide funding for multi-partner, collaborative approaches to support young women and girls effectively in reducing their likelihood of joining gangs, reducing the harm they face within gangs and supporting them to leave gangs. This initiative will be partly funded by HM Treasury’s “Tampon Tax” to support women’s and girls’ issues.Proposals are welcome for up to £150,000 for 18 months of activity, with the potential for a further £150,000 for a subsequent 18 months period.
Closing Date for Stage 1 Proposals (12pm) 13 Jul 2016
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Belfast City Council Small Grants Support for Sport: Sport Event Grant
The Belfast City Council Support for Sport: Event Grant is aimed at attracting major sporting events to Belfast and assist organisations in the delivery of these events. The scheme is intended to increase the number of sporting events in Belfast’s sporting calendar. Grants are availabe from £1000 to £10,000.
Closing date (12 Noon) 08 Jul 2016
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West Belfast Partnership: Aisling Bursaries
Now in its sixteen the year, the Aisling Bursaries are a community and private sector partnership which highlight the value our businesses and community place on education and training. Through the scheme, business, community enterprise, families and individuals contribute to the Aisling Bursary Fund, making a firm commitment to developing the skills of the local community and enhancing the capacity of young people in West Belfast to achieve their full potential through either vocational training or academic studies. The Aisling Bursaries was launched in March 2000 and over the past fourteen years £483,000 has been distributed to 548 aspiring learners from the west of the city.
Closing Date 4 Jul 2016 (12pm)
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Belfast City Council: Arts and Heritage Project Grant
The purpose of this grant is to assist arts or heritage organisations in Belfast to avail of opportunities arising throughout the year to the benefit of their organisation and the people of Belfast, in particular opportunities that present themselves after the closing date for Belfast City Council’s Culture and Arts Annual Funding or Multi-Annual Funding applications. Heritage projects may also be carried out by community organisations. The maximum award is £10,000 for each organisation in each financial year.
Closing date (12 Noon) 08 Jul 2016
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For a full list of upcoming dates see GrantTracker
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