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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. Until available funding is fully allocated.
  • Grants and funding closed to applications

    These grants are closed or suspended. 

    Grant Funding information Closed or suspended
    Tackling Hate and Supporting Engagement – open call 

    Belfast PCSP is looking for submissions for new proposals which tackle hate crime and support engagement between new and existing communities in Belfast.

    Grants of up to £2,500 are available for projects across north, south and east Belfast which:

    • support victims of hate crime or hate-related incidents
    • increase reporting of hate crime and hate-related incidents
    • improve confidence in the PSNI and other organisations with a role in tackling hate and supporting victims
    • build relationships between new and existing communities
    For more information on eligibility criteria, and to request an application form, email [email protected].
    Friday 20 September at 12 noon
    Discretionary Payments Scheme

    This support is open to organisations that meet the objectives of the Belfast Agenda, the city’s community plan, but are not eligible for any of our other council funding programmes.

    The maximum amount available per organisation is £20,000. Groups that have previously received funding through this scheme are not eligible to apply again. 

    For full criteria and to apply, email [email protected].

    Friday 2 August at 4pm
    Summer Community Diversionary Festival Funding

    This funding programme was open to applications from eligible community-based groups working to support young people and communities during July and August 2024.

    Closed
    Funding for Belfast Festival of Learning The fund was open to help organisations and groups deliver an event at Belfast Festival of Learning. Closed
    Discretionary Payments Scheme The scheme was open to organisations that met the Belfast Agenda's objectives but weren't eligible for other council funding programmes.  Closed
    Social Supermarket Support Fund

    The fund was open to applications from voluntary, not-for-profit community and social enterprise organisations.

    Closed
    Small Grants
    • Community Festival Fund
    • Arts and Heritage
    • Good Relations
    • Park events
    • Support for Sport: 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 Summer Scheme

    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
    Access and Inclusion Programme 2023-2024 The Department for Communities' Access and Inclusion Programme was open to applications from cultural organisations in Belfast. Closed
    Pipeline Investment Fund for grassroots music venues The fund was open to grassroots music venues in Belfast. 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.

    Funding between £25,000 and £100,000 was available.

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

    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
    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 per cent 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
  • 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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