Community Grants

There are a range of grant programmes to support voluntary and community groups that open for applications at various times throughout the year.

Community Facilities Fund

We have opened the fourth round of our Community Facilities Fund. It provides funding for projects focused on community facility upgrades, event infrastructure and sports pitch maintenance/development. 

Organisations can apply for no more than two strands of the overall fund. 

Read the guidance notes and apply online 

Good Relations Grants

This grant supports community relations and cultural diversity projects. It:

• is open to community/voluntary groups who are engaged in the delivery of programmes/initiatives which focus on promoting mutual understanding and community cohesion. 
• aims to promote good relations between people of different religious and political beliefs and different racial groups. 

Read the guidance notes and apply online

Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance

The Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance is open to groups based in and/or operating within Lisburn and Castlereagh with applications assessed against the scheme criteria.

Organisations must clearly demonstrate on their application form how they meet the following:

• the delivery of emergency response efforts as a result of Storm Éowyn
• provide evidence of expenditure incurred

Community Bursary Scheme

Our new Community Bursary Scheme is a fund designed to support individuals who live in our area and/or are members of formally governed community and voluntary organisations.  It is to help them access routes to community development/education, sports, music, language and/or culture opportunities.

Grants through our Arts Service

Our Arts Service throughout the year offers funding opportunities to support the arts sector in the Lisburn Castlereagh community.  

Young Artist of the Year

Our Young Artist of the Year Award is designed to support the development of young local artists aged 16-25 working in any art form.  A financial award of up to £1,000 will be made, to one individual artist, to support arts projects, residencies or approved study over and above full-time second or third level education.  

Community Festivals Fund

Administered and managed by our Arts Service, the Community Festivals Fund (CFF) was established in recognition of the potential contribution that festivals can make to communities, the local economy and wider government priorities.

It:

• aims to support the development and capacity of locally run festivals by providing support and training to make them less reliant on public funding in addition to offering funding towards the costs of events
• enable community organisations to celebrate their cultural identity and strengthen community relations while promoting equality and targeting poverty and social inclusion

Arts Organisations

Our Arts Grants Scheme for Arts Organisations has been designed to support both the amateur and professional arts sector in the delivery of arts events, projects or activities, which take place in the council area through the provision of direct grants.

Individual artists

Our Individual Artist Arts Grants Scheme has been designed to support the amateur and professional arts sector in the delivery of arts events, projects or activities through the provision of direct grants.

Making Arts in the Community

Our Making Art in Communities (MAC) Arts Grants Scheme has been designed to support community groups in the delivery of arts events, projects or activities, which take place in our area through the provision of direct grants. 

Arts Bursaries

Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary

This is a one-week residency for practitioners in all art forms who are based in our area. The aim of the bursary is to assist and encourage both established and emerging practitioners.

John Hewitt International Summer School Residency Award

The John Hewitt Society provides opportunities for individuals across Northern Ireland to explore issues of difference and identity through literature and creative writing. 

Community Support Grant

This grant is designed to support the local community and voluntary sector. It:

• opens in November/December each year and offers grants between £2,500 - £5,500 to successful applicants
• helps build capacity and develop skills within local organisations to deliver services based on need in local communities

DIY & Technical Assistance Community Fund

The DIY & Technical Assistance Community Fund enables local groups to refresh, refurbish or make general improvements to existing community facilities and/or commission professional/technical assistance to explore the potential of expansion and/or upgrades to facilities.

Community Investment Fund

The capital fund forms part of the Connect – Invest – Transform Investment Plan. It aims to support community, sporting and interest groups to progress a capital project that meets community needs whilst aligning with the principles in the our plans.

Community and voluntary organisations in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area can apply for a grant of up to £350,000 from this capital funding stream. 

An application can be submitted for an amount between £150,000 and £350,000 although match funding of no less than 50% must also be secured for the capital project in question. 

Seeding Grants

Seeding Grants of £200 are available for newly formed community / voluntary groups or groups operating for less than 1 year.

• applicants can apply for a Seeding Grant to assist with their set up, programme and running costs
• applicants must meet the criteria of the grant scheme, which mirrors the criteria for the Community Support Grant

Christmas Switch On Grants

We recognise importance of locally organised community events to help develop strong, united and connected communities. This grant helps support local groups to develop and deliver celebratory ‘switch on’ events to mark the beginning of the Christmas season.

It is:

• part of a programme delivered through a three year funding agreement (2022-2024)
• we partner with a community partner(s), for each of the 20 sites we identify as key to helping friends, families and neighbours come together and share the excitement, fun and joy associated with the festive season