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Grants and funding

  • Funding support for groups

    We give grants and funding to various groups, clubs and societies in Belfast. Groups must be eligible to apply. Our grants can help voluntary, community, sporting, faith and cultural groups to organise and run events or activities. 

  • Grants and funding open for application

    Grant Funding information Closing date
    Vacant to Vibrant Capital Grant This pilot capital grant scheme aims to incentivise property owners and potential occupiers to bring vacant Belfast city centre spaces back into use and support the city centre’s revitalisation. July 2024
  • Grants and funding closed to applications

    These grants are closed or suspended.

    The scheme is open to applications from practitioners in all areas of cultural and creative expression.

    Grant Funding information Closed or suspended
    Summer Community Festival Funding Programme The funding programme was open to applications from eligible community-based groups. Closed
    Creative Bursary Scheme The scheme was open to applications from practitioners in all areas of cultural and creative expression. Closed
    Business cluster and community grant scheme The scheme was open to eligible Belfast-based community groups, charities, social enterprises and business collaborations. Closed
    Grey to Green City Centre Fund We invited proposals for projects which will make the city centre greener. Closed
    Access and Inclusion Fund The fund aims to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and increase their participation in arts, culture and recreation activities. Closed

    Support for Artist Studios and Maker Spaces

    Grants of up to £15,000 were available if you run a space where groups of artists and makers come together to work and develop their practice. Closed
    Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund The Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund (NRF) aims to help groups deliver physical development projects that will make a real, long term difference in their communities. Closed
    Summer Community Diversionary Festival funding programme 2022

    This programme supports local organisations to:

    • engage with issues relating to positive cultural expression in the lead up to and around 11 July and 8 August through the provision of summer community diversionary festival activity;
    • divert young people at risk of becoming involved in at risk behaviour in the lead up to and over the two periods; and
    • develop community capacity to deliver summer community diversionary festival activities at specific locations where there are negative issues associated with bonfires.

    Available funding between £25,000 and £100,000.

    Applicants must have attended one of the information sessions, which took place in March 2022.

    Closed
    Small Grants
    • Good Relations
    • Parks Events
    • Sports Events
    • Support for Sport Large Development Grant
    • Support for Sport Small Development Grant
    • Support for Sport Hospitality Grant 
    • Support for Sport Sporting Individual Grant
    • Community Activity Medium Grant
    • Community Activity Micro Grant
    • Arts and Heritage

    To access information on these grants and previous Small Grants including guidance notes and monitoring forms, go to Online funding (link opens in new window).

    Closed
    Kitchen Equipment Grant scheme - tranche 3 This funding supports groups working to prevent food waste and food poverty in their community. A group can apply for up to £2,000. Closed
    Gradam Ceoil Bursary Scheme The bursary scheme is only open to young people aged between 16 and 25 years old involved in Irish traditional music and song Closed
    The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Fund for Belfast The fund is open to applications from community groups in Belfast that want to organise an event over The Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend (2 to 5 June 2022) Closed
    COVID-19 Community Recovery Support Fund Medium grant Funding to support community response to the impact of COVID-19 in Belfast Closed
    COVID-19 Community Recovery Support Fund Microgrant Funding to support community response to the impact of COVID-19 in Belfast Closed
    Policing Committee funding grants Applications for District Policing and Community Safety Partnership (DPCSP) Policing Committee grants for north and east Belfast are suspended Suspended
    COVID-19 Recovery Revitalisation Grant Belfast-based businesses, social enterprises and charities can apply for a grant. The scheme can provide funding up to 100% of costs for capital items to a maximum of £2,500. The minimum application amount is £500.

    Grants can be used for costs associated with COVID-19 adaptations, such as:
    • changes to internal and external layouts to help with social distancing
    • sanitisation stations
    • signage, awnings or canopies
    • collection and delivery points
    • outdoor seating or heating and barriers
    Certain costs are not eligible such as:
    • consumable items for example hand sanitiser, masks, gloves, visors or alcohol
    •  costs that are not auditable for example cash payments
    • mortgage payments, rent, rates, salaries insurance costs or utility costs
    • debt, retrospective costs or second hand equipment
    • fees for professional services or statutory applications
    • websites
    • warranty or training costs
    • vehicle or transportation costs
    • buying stock for general trading
    Closed
    Capacity Building Grant

    Capacity Building Grants are designed to support community-development organisations that:

    • support other lower capacity or smaller organisations to ensure good practice in governance, application of appropriate policies and financial management
    • advocate the interests of the communities they serve.
    • ensure communities can be engaged to influence or take decisions or action about issues that matter to them and affect their lives
    Closed
    Revenue Grant for a Community Building

    Revenue grants for community buildings are are aimed at community development organisations which address the needs of their community by delivering a broad-based programme from their building. The building may be used by a geographic based community, or the community may be a community of interest with members from across the whole city.

    These grants contribute to the running costs of community buildings in recognition that the community development activity inside allows communities to be engaged to:

    • influence or take decisions about issues that matter to them and affect their lives
    • define needs, issues and solutions for their community
    • take action to help themselves and make a difference
    Closed
    Tranche 2 Small Grants
    • Arts and Heritage Project Grant
    • Support for Sport: Small Development Grant
    • Support for Sport: Hospitality Grant
    • Support for Sport: Sporting Individual's Grant
    • Parks Event Grant
    Closed
  • Road closures

    If you are organising an event that will prohibit or restrict traffic with your grant or funding, you should read road closures information to find out what you need to do to apply for a road closure.

Central Grants Unit

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