**Last updated on Monday 8th March 2021**
A number of organisations have launched funding programmes to assist local groups in responding to the challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Below you will find a list of organisations and the types of funding they have made available. This list will be updated on a regular basis as and when information becomes available.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council: COVID-19 Community Support Grants Scheme (Call 2)
This scheme aims to offer Community and Voluntary Organisations funding to aid them in rebuilding, reconnecting or returning to operation during the recovery phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Constituted groups are permitted to apply for 100% funding up to a maximum of £1000 towards eligible items. Groups who have received funding under Phase 1 of the Recovery Grant Scheme (October 2020 – December 2020) can apply to this scheme for different items/projects. The scheme will operate on a rolling basis from 9am on Friday 29 January 2021 until the budget has been fully allocated, at which point the scheme will close for applications.
For more information please visit: https://www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/covid-19/grant
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has received further funding from the Department for Communities to target citizens who are most in need of urgent support as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect local communities.
The following Covid-19 Grant Stream will open on Friday 22nd January 2021.
Applications are invited from Voluntary Community sector organisations based in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area and the funding must be spent by 31st March 2021.
Financial need* – Projects must clearly demonstrate how they will identify those at risk due to financial stress and provide details on how they plan to address these needs.*This element will only be open to organisations with experience of assessing financial need.
Food need- Projects must demonstrate how they intend to target those most in need of food and how they plan to meet this need.
Connectivity need – Project must identify target groups such as those living alone, those living in rural / border areas and those with no access to the internet/laptops and can provide cost effective ways of meeting these needs.
Applications for this grant aid stream will open on a rolling basis from Friday 22nd January 2021.
Moy Park Community Support Fund
Moy Park Community Support Fund opened for applications from 1st July 2020 for a period of 24 months.
Moy Park is mindful of the constant financial pressures on voluntary and community groups and charities, particularly on their voluntary and total income, their capacity to start or continue with important projects and on their sustainability generally. Moy Park is pledging £1 million to its Community Support Fund to support on-the-ground projects of voluntary and community groups and charities in those local communities where their sites are based across Europe.
They invite project-based funding applications from not for profit local voluntary and community groups and charities with community-based objectives. Projects and funding applications must be relevant to the particular location and community. This means that funding applications can only be accepted for funding in the country in which both the applicant organisation is based and also where the local community project funding support is required.
Applicants must also provide a brief breakdown of project costs, and an outline of how the funding support will be spent. Any funding awarded must be applied to the project within the timeframes stipulated in the application or as stated in the funding award letter.
For more details and to apply see the website: https://moypark.com/community-support
Halifax Foundation NI
HFNI are focusing on their SMALL and MEDIUM grants over the coming months, with Large and Special Initiatives grants on hold for now due to the activity-based nature of these programmes. They are inviting applications from charities and constituted groups that focus on supporting the community at this time and moving from quarterly to monthly (or even weekly) grant making to decrease turnaround time.
NB – Due to the COVID19 crisis, HFNI have broadened their criteria temporarily. They will now consider applications from constituted groups not yet registered as a charity with the Charity Commission or HMRC. Maximum grant award £1,000. If your group falls into this category, please complete this grant application form.
For more details and to apply see the website: https://www.halifaxfoundationni.org/programmes/community-grant-programme
National Lottery Awards for All
A quick way to apply for smaller amounts of funding between £300 and £10,000. Suitable for voluntary or community organisations. All the funding decisions they make for the next six months (up to £300m of National Lottery funding) will be devoted to addressing the current crisis.
The National Lottery are prioritising applications that are COVID-19 related from:
- Organisations supporting people who are at high risk from COVID-19
- Organisations supporting communities most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a direct result of measures to prevent the result of COVID-19
- Organisations with high potential to support communities with the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19.
If an organisation want to put in an application that is not related to COVID-19, they can. However, may take TNL longer to respond than usual.
For more details and to apply see the website: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/awards-for-all-northern-ireland
Enkalon Foundation Coronavirus Community Support Fund
The Enkalon Foundation will move the focus of their modest funding pot to charities and community organisations helping people who are isolated and vulnerable in their local communities at this difficult time. As a small funder they focus their funding based on their core objectives in the former Antrim Borough Council area.
For more details and to apply see the website: https://www.enkalonfoundation.org/
For more information please contact Fionntán O’Dowd (fionntan.odowd.ulster@gaa.ie)