Funding for community-based winter festivals and events

Funding programme for local festivities

Our funding is open to organisations delivering winter festivities in local communities in each part of Belfast between 26 November and 24 December 2025.

The maximum award available for this programme is £17,000 in each quadrant of the city: north, south, east and west. 

Due to the limited amount of funding available, only one organisation or programme will be supported in each quadrant.

Collaborative bids, with one lead partner in a particular area, are welcome to apply. 

Funding information sessions

We're organising sessions where you can get more information about this funding programme.

There are sessions on:

• Thursday 13 November from 10am to 11am in Girdwood Community Hub 
• Thursday 13 November from 1pm to 2pm in Divis Community Centre 
• Friday 14 November from 11am to 12 noon in Shaftesbury Recreation Centre 
• Friday 14 November from 12.30pm to 1.30pm in EastSide Visitor Centre

You don't need to book to attend, just drop in.

Eligibility criteria for Winter Festivities 2025 funding

Your application must demonstrate:

• it provides resources to communities to deliver a winter festival in your quadrant of Belfast
• it has support from a minimum of four neighbourhoods within one quadrant of Belfast
• funding will cover either one large or a range of small winter programmes within one quadrant of Belfast
• there will be a minimum of 2,000 participants across all events within one quadrant of Belfast
• activities are inclusive for the entire community.

How to apply for Winter Festivities 2025 funding

To apply, you need to request an expression of interest (EOI) form before applications close on Wednesday 19 November 2025 at 4pm.

Email [email protected] and include EOI Winter Festivities 2025 as your subject line.