We know this is an incredibly difficult time and the impact on our sporting partners has been immeasurable, Sport NI continues to work with the Department for Communities and with you, our partners, to get a fuller picture about the impact coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on sport, and respond with a phased approach to interventions and remedies.
Please continue to keep us informed on your issues and impacts of COVID19 at: coronavirus@sportni.net
It is highly likely some targets set for this year will not be achieved under the current circumstances. Sport NI recognises this and will not have unreasonable expectations considering what sports can achieve this year.
Sport NI is working hard on a range of ways to flexibly support your organisation through this crisis and beyond, and commits to having a single point of contact within the organisation for such situations. Please discuss any issues with your point of contact within Sport Northern Ireland.
There are also other sources of funding and support that we would draw you attention to below:
The Community Ownership Fund
The UK government has launched a new £150 million Community Ownership Fund to help ensure that communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can support and continue benefiting from the local facilities, community assets and amenities most important to them.
The Community Ownership Fund intends to launch the updated prospectus and assessment criteria guidance in the week commencing 23 May 2022 with a view to open the first bidding window in the week commencing 6 June 2022. Some changes have been made to the eligibility requirements and application process for the fund following lessons learnt from the review of the first bidding round. These changes will be explained in the updated Community Ownership Fund prospectus. Further supporting documents and the assessment criteria guidance will be published soon after prospectus is launched.
In order to promote the fund and to explain to any prospective applicants what is required in order to submit a strong bid, officials at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will be hosting webinars on Wednesday 8th June and Thursday 16th June. If you are interested in attending one of these events, please complete the following form expressing your interest. Do not worry if you are unable to attend a webinar, we will also be making a recording of the event, which can be sent on request using the same form.
Marine Litter Capital Grants
Please note the Marine Litter Capital Grants will reopen for applications in May 2022.
The Live Here, Love Here, Marine Litter Capital Grants are being provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs through the Live Here Love Here collaborative partnership, involving DAERA, ten Local Councils, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
For more information, please see the Marine Litter Capital Grants section.
Levelling Up Fund Round 2
A technical note setting out further guidance on eligibility, the role of Members of Parliament (MPs), and the application and assessment process for the second round of the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) for Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI) is available atLevelling Up Fund Round 2: technical note – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). It is designed to support applicants to prepare their LUF application.
The LUF is a capital only fund, administered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Department for Transport (DfT) and HM Treasury (HMT). References to the ‘Secretary of State’ are to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Secretary of State for Transport, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Applicants should prepare their application in line with the information and guidance provided in this technical note. The application window opens on Tuesday 31 May 2022, after which applicants will be able to proceed with submitting their application via the online application portal by the deadline of 12:00 noon on Wednesday 6 July 2022. Applications received after the deadline will not be assessed and will not be eligible to be considered for funding. The guidance in this technical note should be read alongside the Levelling Up Fund prospectus, which sets out the objectives of the fund and how it will be delivered and the application guidance. A user guide providing support on using the online application portal will be made available prior to the application window opening on Tuesday 31 May 2022.
Northern Ireland Policing Board – Police Property Fund
Have you got a project that needs funding?
The Police Property Fund Small Grants Scheme will be opened on Thursday 18 March 2021 and will offer eligible projects grants of between £1000 and £10,000.
What is the Fund?
The Police Property Fund is made up of assets recovered by the PSNI as a result of criminal investigations, and administered by the Board in line with the Police (Property) Regulations NI 1997.
Funding available will be administered in both Small Grants and Large Grants calls. The first call will administer £100,000 total in funding for Small Grants.
Is my project eligible?
Applications for funding will need to demonstrate that the project:
How do I apply?
Full details of how to apply and all application documentation will be published at the same time as the Scheme’s launch.
If you’d like to find out more about the Scheme, make sure you register for the launch webinar on Thursday 18 March by emailing rsvp@nipolicingboard.org.uk
National Lottery Community Fund
The National Lottery Awards for All programme, is looking to support projects that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by:
Although we are supporting responses to the pandemic, your project does not have to be related to COVID-19 to be funded.
If you are applying for something that is not related to Covid-19, then your project must meet at least one of our usual funding priorities, which are:
Dormont Accounts Fund NI
Dormant Accounts Fund NI will support the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland to be more resilient and prepared for the future by funding activity that increases capacity and sustainability. The programme aims to support organisations to adapt to future challenges and be more financially resilient.
Given that this is a rolling fund, a phased and long-term approach to support the sector is being taken, based on learning. Potential applicants are encouraged to take their time in developing an idea which will best fit their needs for the future.
The programme is open for applications from 12 January 2020. There is currently no deadline to apply. Apply Here
The National Lottery Community Fund are keen to speak to you about your application, so contact us if you would like to talk through your idea first.
Tourism NI/Discover NI
Tourism Recovery
Tourism NI has launched a tourism recovery marketing campaign based around Staycations. Holiday at home; Support local businesses in NI; Re-connect with family and friends; Enjoy the Outdoors & Coastal adventures. With this promotion of outdoors activities by Tourism NI, what Experiences, Destinations, Accommodation, and Food and Drink would you like to discover. Discover more at Discover NI. For more information on Outdoor Recreation Activities visit Discover NI things to do/activities
NI Business Info
Invest NI
Mitigate the impact of COVID-19
This page is an online resource for our customers and Northern Ireland businesses affected by the global coronavirus pandemic.
You can access the latest support from the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive here, as well as existing financial, capability development and advisory support available from Invest Northern Ireland.
Collectively, these programmes will mitigate the immediate impact of COVID-19 on your business, help you to adapt and survive this unprecedented crisis, and prepare for recovery. We are also working with the Department for the Economy and our stakeholders to develop tailored support that will ensure businesses build their operational and financial resilience.
Underpinning this support is our business information website, nibusinessinfo.co.uk, with a dedicated section offering coronavirus updates on the latest government support and official guidance including details of financial support schemes, policy information and comprehensive advice on key business areas to help manage the current challenges.
Department for Communities
Sport Northern Ireland Project Re-Boot: Activate
Crowdfunder and Sport Northern Ireland have teamed up to make £650,000 of match funding available to support the sports sector through the ongoing coronavirus crisis and help sport in Northern Ireland Build Back Better. Details on this fund are available at Sport Northern Ireland: Project Re-Boot | Crowdfunder UK
COVID-19 and DfC Services
The latest information about COVID-19 and DfC Services including Jobseekers Allowance, Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment & Support Allowance. It will be updated regularly with the latest information, so you should check this page for advice on Benefits and other public services.
Boost Charitable Trust
Boost Charitable Trust builds on over-looked Sporting Talent, to champion the disabled and disadvantaged and to inspire them to overcome their challenges through the power of sport.
Community Relations Council
The Community Relations / Cultural Diversity Small Grants Scheme is now open. Closing date: Friday 16 December 2022.
If you are planning events for the forthcoming year, please feel free to contact a member of our team to discuss your proposals prior to submitting your application. We can give you advice on how to plan your work and to source additional funding, if required.
The scheme will continue to support a wide range of work and offer support and assistance whether you are a first-time applicant or have been supported in the past.
While we will be supporting projects through to 31 March 2023, the closing date for all applications is 16 December 2022. For more information please go to https://www.community-relations.org.uk/community-relations-cultural-diversity
Potential applicants that have any questions or would like to discuss a proposal prior to submitting an application please contact a member of the Funding & Development Programme.
Cash 4 Clubs
Cash 4 Clubs has teamed up with Made by Sport to offer the opportunity for community sports clubs and organisations across the UK to receive £2021 in unrestricted support through the ‘Clubs In Crisis’ fund. The fund open towards the end of March, in line with the unlocking of grassroots sport in the UK. For more information please go to https://cash-4-clubs.com/2021-clubs-in-crisis
Halifax Grant Programmes
Our Community Grants Programme can support day to day activities of a charity and new/existing projects, however we will also support charities to REACT to this pandemic, PREPARE to reopen services or adapt their services accordingly, and to RESTORE/RENEW in order to deliver what may be for many, a new way of life.
Grants are only open to charities operating in Northern Ireland. Please do not apply if you are serving another region of the UK or beyond.
In order for organisations to be eligible, they must have an income of less than £1 million as shown in most recent set of accounts. (For registered charities with a Headquarters based outside Northern Ireland, the income of their Northern Ireland operation will be the figure used to assess eligibility).
Charitable Status
The following groups may apply:
For more information on how to apply please go to https://www.halifaxfoundationni.org/programmes/community-grant-programme
The National Lottery Community Fund
Charities and community organisations across the UK are facing increasing challenges due to COVID-19. We want to support those we fund as far as is possible at this difficult time.
A quick way to apply for smaller amounts of funding between £300 and £10,000 in Northern Ireland for Voluntary or Community Organisations and Public sector organisations.
The Community Foundation Northern Ireland
Coronavirus Community Fund in Northern Ireland. CFNI want to support community groups working together; particularly in smaller geographical communities. CFNI therefore encourage a partnership approach, and one application from one lead organisation, rather than a number of separate applications.
Ulster Rugby
Please find some useful information and guidance for member clubs here. Ulster Rugby is aware of the challenges faced by member clubs due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the situation may place some clubs in a difficult financial situation. This page aims to signpost clubs to potential support during this challenging period, and it will be updated on a regular basis to reflect the latest guidance from the IRFU, government and health authorities.
Rugby clubs requiring further information should contact: clubsupport@ulsterrugby.com
Ulster GAA
Covid-19 Support
The resource available at the following link, https://ulster.gaa.ie/covid-19/ provides key information for our clubs and members during these extraordinary times.
