Please see below links and list of funding opportunities that your club may be able to apply to
Northern Ireland Sports Forum
New emergency funds
UK Government Scheme
Description: Small businesses will benefit from a new fast-track finance scheme providing loans with a 100% government-backed guarantee for lenders. Businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days. Loans will be interest free for the first 12 months, and businesses can apply online through a short and simple form.
Application deadline: none specified
£25,000 Business Grant Scheme – Retail, Hospitality, Tourism
NI Government
Description: NI Executive is providing a one-off grant of £25,000 to eligible businesses that have a Net Annual Value (NAV) of between £15,001 and £51,000 within the retail, hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors, subject to some exclusions. INCLUDES SPORTS CLUBS (businesses must operate out of a premises)
Application deadline: 20/05/2020
New Business Hardship Fund (more details to come)
NI Government
Description: The Department for the Economy has announced a new business Hardship Fund. The scheme will aim to assist businesses in Northern Ireland with less than ten employees that require financial support due to the impact of COVID-19. The funding will be available to businesses which have not qualified for the £10,000 small business grant and the £25,000 Retail, Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure scheme. These grants close to applications on Wednesday 20 May. Social enterprises and charities will be able to access the Hardship Fund if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Application deadline: [details to come on 11 May]
Enkalon Foundation NI – Antrim Borough Council area
Description: 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. Small grants, but includes ‘advancement of amateur sports’.
Application deadline: rolling
Description: Unrestricted grants to support small charities and social enterprises in the UK who are adversely affected by the coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. Applications will be accepted from UK registered charities, community interest companies, charitable incorporated organisations and community benefit societies with annual incomes below £500,000.
Application deadline: none specified
Big Society Capital – Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund
Description: Emergency loans are available to support UK-based social enterprises and charities that are experiencing disruption to their normal business model as a result of coronavirus/COVID-19 (minimum grant: £100,000)
Application deadline: rolling
£5million Enterprise Relief Fund – The Prince’s Trust
Description: The £5million Enterprise Relief Fund will offer grants to 18 to 30-year olds across the UK who are self-employed and/or running their own business. In conjunction with cash grants, the initiative will offer one-to-one support and guidance to anyone who needs it and who may be worried about their future. Grants can be used to maintain core business operations during the crisis, as well as meet any existing financial commitments, such as paying for essential equipment or settling invoices from suppliers.
Application deadline: rolling
Comic Relief Northern Ireland – No Child Goes Hungry Fund
Description: Grants are available for community-based third sector organisations in Northern Ireland that support families with children under the age of 10 who may face food poverty as a result of the order to close schools and/or loss of household income as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Application deadline: rolling
Alpkit Foundation – Grassroots Support Now
Description: Grants are available for organisations serving those affected by the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak. Examples of eligible projects include:
• Being active in local communities to help elderly or vulnerable people.
• Minimising the impact of self-isolation for those in quarantine and need access to food, medicines or social care.
• Supporting foodbanks and increasing the number of meals on wheels deliveries to support the elderly.
• Supporting those who are homeless or in temporary accommodation.
• Bringing adventure indoors and overcoming the obstacles that prevent people benefiting from going outdoors.
Application deadline: rolling
Community Cashback Grant – Henderson Group
Description: Applications will be welcomed from a wide range of organisations including: voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, health bodies, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies. Other not-for-profit organisations might also be eligible.
Application deadline: 20/05/2020
Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme
Description: Grants are available from £500 to £5,000 and are open to volunteer and community groups, all school and third level education organisations, youth groups and sports clubs undertaking civic pride projects throughout Northern Ireland. In light of COVID-19, the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme will make available funding to community groups enabling them to support the needs of local people impacted through reduced contact with society.
• A range of much needed community help that could be supported includes, but not limited to:
• Emerging issues in the community as a result of the continuing threat of COVID-19.
• Grow Your Own projects and materials.
• Applications welcome from newly formed COVID-19 action groups to act as a community hub and to distribute growing kits to families/individuals in the wider community.
Application deadline: 18/05/2020 @ 12 noon
Description:
The Community Foundation of Northern Ireland is offering grants to constituted community organisations throughout Northern Ireland. Partnership approach encouraged.
The current focus is to support groups and organisations working with the following communities and issues and that are affected by coronavirus
Application deadline: none specified
CAF Coronavirus Emergency Fund
Description:
This Fund is to help smaller charitable organisations in the UK affected by the impact of Covid-19. Grants of up to £10,000 are available.
Application deadline: none specified
Invest NI COVID Small Business Grant
Description:
A grant of £10,000 will be paid to small businesses that already pay reduced business rates because of Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR). SBRR is automatically applied to business properties with a rateable value below £15,000, though some exclusions apply.
- Find out more about Small Business Rate Relief
- Search the Valuation List to find the rateable value of a business property, also known as the Net Annual Value (NAV)
Application deadline: none specified
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan
Description:
The temporary Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme supports SMEs with access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million and for up to 6 years.
The government will also make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees, so smaller businesses will benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments.
Application deadline: none specified
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Description:
Facebook is offering $100m in cash grants and advertising credits for up to 30,000 small businesses that are facing disruptions due ot the virus.
Application deadline: none specified
COVID-19 Community Support Grant Scheme – Mid & East Antrim Borough Council
Description:
Council has identified a budget to support projects which aid those most vulnerable in society and are at risk or have been directly affected by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and the self isolation measures introduced to combat the spread of the infection. Groups are permitted to apply for 100% funding up to a maximum of £1,000 per application towards eligible items.
Application deadline: 31/03/2021
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland – Small and Medium Grants Programmes
Description:
Halifax Foundation has explictly recommended groups to apply for small and medium grants during this time. Any Covid related applications designed to support the community at this time of crisis will be prioritised and turned around as quickly as possible. Includes funding for core costs.
- Small Community Grants (Up to £2,500/12 month grant/rolling programme)
- Medium Community Grants (£2,500 – £10,000/12 month grant/rolling programme)
Application deadline: rolling
Neighbourly Covid-19 Community Fund
Description:
Micro grants are available for charities and community groups that are existing members of the “Neighbourly” CSR platform, to support good causes that are helping communities affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. The funding is for activities that support members of the community who are suffering economically, socially or from ill health as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. (max. £400)
Application deadline: none specified
National Lottery Awards for All Northern Ireland (New COVID-19 restriction)
Description:
A quick way to apply for smaller amounts of funding between £300 and £10,000. Suitable for voluntary or community organisations. In a statement, CEO Dawn Austwick stated 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. This is restricted to:
- Activities specifically geared to supporting communities through this crisis
- Helping organisations overcome any liquidity issues caused by COVID-19.
Application deadline: rolling
Upcoming Emergency Funds
Self-employment Income Support Scheme
Description:
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The scheme will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month.
Application deadline: none specified
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Description:
Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers with a PAYE scheme will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.
This applies to employees who have been asked to stop working, but who are being kept on the pay roll, otherwise described as ‘furloughed workers’. HMRC will reimburse 80% of their wages, up to £2,500 per month. This is to safeguard workers from being made redundant.
Application deadline: none specified (expected to open end of April 2020)
Additional Funds
The Les Mills Fund for Children
Description:
We award the funds we raise to registered charities and accountable non-profit organisations who we believe will do their most to improve the education and physical and emotional wellbeing of children aged 0-16. Your work may focus on one or more of these areas: living in poverty, physical and mental health problems, health and wellbeing and living with disability.
Application deadline: 28/04/2020
Crowdfunder UK – Pay it Forward Scheme
Description:
Crowdfunder UK is offering 100% free fundraising for your business during the coronavirus crisis. Their partners Enterprsie Nation will also be providing access to free training and support for business with online sale, marketing and finance.
Application deadline: rolling
Causeway Coast & Glens Council – Building a United Community Fund
Description:
Grants are available to support Good Relations community projects in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area (max. £1,500). Guidance included.
Application deadline: 30/11/2020 @ 12noon
Causeway Coast & Glens Council – Building a United Community Fund
Description:
Grants are available to support Good Relations community projects in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area (max. £1,500). Guidance included.
Application deadline: 30/11/2020 @ 12noon
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council Grants
Description:
Grants are available for qualifying residents and groups throughout the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area and can be accessed and applied for through our Online Funding Hub. Open grants include:
- Community Small Grants 20-21
- Leisure Grants Programme
Application deadline: rolling
Mid & East Antrim Borough Council Grants
Grants are available for qualifying groups throughout the Mid and East Antrim Council area.
- Equipment grant – 75% funding Max £2K (Items excluded PCs, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and items of personal or team kit, clothing and uniforms)
- Seeding/New Group Grants – funding up to a maximum of £300
- Public Liability Grants (to obtain Public Liability Insurance) – funding up to a maximum of £300
- Coaching course and First Aid Training – funding up to £250 per person
- Development Projects and Training – 75% funding Max £2K
- Good Relations
- Everybody Active 2020
- COVID Community Support Grant (details above)
Application deadline: rolling
Lisburn & Castlereagh Council – Seeding Grant
Description:
For new and emerging Groups for set-up costs – to apply contact Community Services, Bridge Community Centre, community.services@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk .
Application deadline: none specified
Belfast City Council – Policing Committee Funding Grants
Description:
Applications are now open for Policing Committee Grants of up to £2,000 are available for groups who meet the criteria outlined within our guidance notes. Up to two grants can be provided per group, per year, however the projects must be different from each other.
Application deadline: rolling
Mid Ulster Borough Council Grants
Description:
Grants are available for qualifying groups throughout the Mid Ulster Borough Council area.
- Sports Representative (Individuals)
- Sports Representative (Teams)
- Good Relations
Application deadline: rolling
Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council – Enterprise Fund
Description:
The Enterprise Fund is about developing those recent start-up businesses that need assistance in taking the next step in their growth plan. This may be funding towards a new piece of equipment, developing I.T. infrastructure, implementing a significant marketing campaign, product and design development and so forth. This fund is aimed at supporting businesses, with a track record of two years or less, to address barriers to growth using innovative approaches.
Application deadline: opens 6 April 2020 @ 9am