Small Grants Scheme

*The Small Grants Scheme is now closed for applications and will open again in April 2021*

Launched by Local Councils, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, McDonald's UK and Ireland and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the Small Grants Scheme provides support to volunteer projects that:

• Improve the health and well being of communities whilst helping to improve and/or maintain public spaces
• Use innovative ways to reduce littering and dog fouling where you live
• Improve the way your local environment is looked after, whether urban, rural or coastal
• Contribute to the development of civic pride within a community with a focus on environmental improvement.

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.

Something a bit different: Our Response to Covid-19

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. Additional criteria has been added to the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme this year:

 - Support environmental actions that help care for those in need as a result of COVID-19.

A range of much needed community help that could be supported includes, but not limited to:

- Grow Your Own projects and materials (supplemented by online webinars/classes for e.g. on seed collection, seasonal food growing and maintenance, cookery, foraging etc.) to encourage new skills development, extend virtual environmental education opportunities to the wider community and to provide positive interventions to tackle loneliness and isolation in response to COVID-19.

- 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.

This is certainly a different year but we will be here as support throughout the application process as always and will be as flexible as possible!