Community Foundation making over £200,000 in grants available in May

Older people facing isolation, women trying to get into employment, and communities experiencing economic disadvantage, are amongst some of those who could benefit as the grant maker urges local communities not to miss out on grants currently available through seven funds opened on its brand new website. 

The Older People’s Fund, the Women’s Fund for NI, the Telecommunity Fund, the Thomas Devlin Fund, and the Ulster People’s College Fund are all open for applications, with the Mike Moloney Fund set to open as well.  

The funds will see grants being made to support a range of activities in towns and rural areas throughout Northern Ireland. There is also a unique new funding programme designed to enable the Community Foundation to provide more innovative and responsive grants to voluntary groups. The Micro Grants Programme offers a simpler application process to access smaller amounts of funding of up to £1000.

Applying for a grant from any of the Community Foundation’s currently open funds has also been streamlined with the launch of a brand new website with enhanced features enabling easy access to application portals.

Speaking about the current pot of money available for grants, Andrew McCracken Chief Executive of the Community Foundation said: “It is fantastic to be able to make such a large amount of money available to local communities through these different funds. Each fund provides opportunities for funding for a whole range of people, groups and projects across Northern Ireland.

“There really is something for everyone at the moment. Our hope is that the money currently available will make a real impact in our community and we would really encourage individuals and groups to get in touch with us soon to find out more about the funds or visit our website: www.communityfoundationni.org to see if they are eligible to apply.

Andrew continued; “It’s going to be a busy few months for the Community Foundation as we also make grants from funds which have recently closed including our New Beginning’s Refugee Fund and Sport Relief Community Cash.”

Currently open funds include:

Micro Grant Programme - Grants of up to £1000 are available for projects in areas of low community infrastructure. The application deadline is 27 May 2016 at 4pm.

The Telecommunity Fund exists to support small, locally based grass roots community projects which work with young people, older people and people with disabilities. Grants of £500-£1500 are available and the fund opens year round for applications with grants made at various times throughout the year.

The Older People's Fund - The Older People’s Fund was established in recognition and celebration of the contribution of older people to our society.  It offers funding for locally based community projects that are planned and run by and for older people. Grants of up to £3000 are available and the closing date is 27 May 2016

The Women’s Fund – This fund is intended for women aged 18 and over, living in Northern Ireland, who are striving to get into, or back into employment. Grants of up to £500 are available and the closing date is 20 May 2016.

Thomas Devlin Bursaries - The Fund provides a bursary scheme that aims to provide gifted young people with exciting and unique opportunities to develop their skills and talent in creative and performing arts or music. Grants of up to £1750 are available and the closing date is 13 May 2016.

Ulster People's College Fund - Grants of up to £10,000 will be made to community groups and organisations to enable them to address some of the ways in which disadvantage can be positively addressed, in particular through education and community capacity building. The closing date is 27 May 2016 at 4pm.