Funding News – 29 April 2024

Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.

Funding News

NEW -  Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI): Service provider for ‘Through the Gate’ programme

The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) is seeking to appoint a single service provider to deliver the ‘Through the Gate’ programme on its behalf. The programme aims to help reduce offending, improve community safety and – at an individual level – to improve resettlement and reduce the potential for return to custody for those transitioning from custody back into their community. Furthermore, it is intended to improve life management, motivational skills, health/lifestyle, and employment prospects for participants as well as support in reducing factors linked to re-offending.

Two of the plan's key themes have particular relevance: reducing re-offending and reducing crime. Operationally the programme will evolve the from the outgoing Transitions programme.The maximum budget available for full delivery of the programme is £120,000 for an initial 2-year period.

Applications are to be submitted to the PBNI Procurement and Grants Manager at [email protected] by no later than 12 noon on Thursday 16 May 2024. Late applications will not be accepted.

B & Q Foundation reopening next round

The B&Q Foundation’s next funding round opens 26 April 2024. They help registered charities who are supporting people in need in the UK – those experiencing homelessness, in financial hardship, impacted by health, disability, or other disadvantage or distress. They award grants of up to £10,000 for building or indoor projects, and up to £5,000 for garden projects. Please note that they will prioritise grants where funding is secured for over 25% of the project.

Tree Council: Branching Out Fund to reopen

The Tree Council has funds available to assist schools, community groups and member Tree Warden Networks proposing to undertake well-planned tree planting projects over winter annually, preferably during National Tree Week. Branching Out supports applications ranging in value from £250 up to £2,500. The Branching Out Fund is set to reopen late July 2024.

Material Focus: Electricals Recycling Fund

The Electricals Recycling Fund aims to grow existing methods or test new creative and practical ones for recycling small household electricals. They fund two types of projects – those seeking to grow or develop existing household collection services for small household electricals, and those seeking to innovate new collection methods. Funding of up to £50,000 or £100, 000 is available. Funding applications are currently open on a rolling basis, which means there is no deadline for applications.

Woodward Charitable Trust: General Grants

The Woodward Charitable Trust only makes grants for core costs rather than specific projects as they hope this will have a more direct impact on the organisations that they choose to fund. Trustees only fund organisations supporting at least one of these areas: Children and Young People (up to 25 years), Disadvantaged Families, and Prisoners and Ex-Offenders. The next General Grant opens mid May 2024 and closes  at the end of July 2024.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council: Policing and Community Safety Partnership Project Support Programme 2024-25

The PCSP supports community projects addressing anti-social behaviour, crime, domestic abuse, confidence in policing, fear of crime, road safety, burglaries, business and retail crime. Grants from £500 to £5,000 will be awarded to successful groups for projects that continue up to the 28 February 2025. Deadline 31 May 2024 (1pm).

Community Foundation for NI: The Fibrus Community Fund

The Fibrus Community Fund, established by Fibrus Broadband in 2021, addresses digital poverty and exists to support the work of communities across Northern Ireland (NI) to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable. Grants up to £2,000 available. Deadline 17 May 2024 (1pm).

Upcoming Deadlines

National Churches Trust: Small Grants (formerly called Foundation Grants)

This programme offers their Small grants of between £500 and £5,000 (with capacity to award up to £10,000 where the case for investment and need are demonstrated to be very high, and funds are available to award) towards urgent maintenance works and small repairs identified as high priority within a recent Quinquennial Inspection, Building Survey or Condition Report. Project costs should be up to £20,000 incl. VAT and awards will never exceed 50% of the costs. Next deadline 30 April 2024 (midnight). Join NICVA to hear from the National Churches Trust’s Support Officer Nina McNeary at our upcoming Meet the Funder event.

Community Relations Council: Asylum Seekers Fund 2024

Call for proposals to support the integration and inclusion of Asylum Seekers accommodated in Belfast. Submissions must not exceed £15,000, please note that this is a limited pot of funding and only a small number of projects will be supported. All submissions must be returned by Noon on the 30 April 2024 by email to [email protected] quoting AS Support Proposal in the subject matter of the email.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council: Community Investment Fund (CIF)

Community and voluntary organisations in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area can apply for a grant of up to £350,000 from a capital funding stream.  Support from their Community Investment Fund (CIF) is available to eligible community, sporting and interest groups for capital projects that meet community needs and align with key council objectives. Deadline 1 May 2024 (5pm).

Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation

Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation aims to improve the wellbeing, welfare and education of children and adults in communities throughout the UK by making donations of up to £6,000 to registered charities. Focus includes areas of deprivation, developing core skills, supporting wellbeing and mental health, reducing poverty and homelessness, and reducing isolation for the elderly and offering services for those suffering from illnesses including palliative care. Deadline 1 May 2024.

The Ireland Funds: Heart of the Community Grants

The Heart of the Community Fund is an open grant round designed to meet the needs of not-for-profit organisations delivering vital services and supports to people across the island of Ireland. The Heart of the Community Fund 2024 will provide grants between €5,000-25,000 to not-for-profit organisations with an annual turnover of less than €/£3,000,000. Funding priorities for 2024 are Community Integration and Inclusion and Youth and Family Supports. Deadline 3 May 2024.

Fundraising Support

Events

Meet the Funder: The National Churches Trust – Treasure Ireland Funding programme

  • 20 May 2024  
  • 11:00am to 12:00pm

Treasure Island has been set up to help places of worship from all denominations in Northern Ireland to stay open and in good repair. Whether you need help applying for a grant, advice on how to protect the heritage of your church and to attract visitors or support for the ongoing maintenance of your building we are here to help.  Register now to find out more from the Trust’s Northern Ireland-based Support Officer Nina McNeary.

Fundraising Clinics

NICVA Members can access a free one-hour fundraising clinic to address their specific needs. These will now be offered at the end of June 2024. Contact [email protected] to arrange.

Fundraising Hub

Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:

The National Lottery Community Fund to close two Northern Ireland programmes

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced that two Northern Ireland programmes, People and Communities and Empowering Young People, will close for new applications at 5pm on Monday 13 May 2024.

Guest Blog: The Chartered Institute of Fundraising in Northern Ireland

Revisit our blog from Paul Montgomery, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland and find out more about their upcoming Northern Ireland Fundraising Awards 2024 and how you can get involved.

Supporting the Planet and Your Organisation

Earth Day is celebrated annually on 22 April. But did you know you can encourage donors to support your work while taking environmental action? Find out more in our latest resource.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion in your grant applications

This resource outlines some reasons behind funders wanting organisations to address EDI in the applications alongside advice on broaching the topic in writing, getting started on your journey and where you can find further information on this topic.

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