Ards & North Down Borough Council: Tourism Events Grants

Overview

Introduction

The funding is to be used to deliver events that will increase visitors and spend within the Ards and North Down Borough.

A tourism event is defined as activity over consecutive days/nights i.e. with NO break in the event programme. However individual cases with exceptional programming may be considered as long as the events fall under one theme ie a summer festival over multiple weekends. A tourism event will:

• encourage tourism by attracting visitors and participants, especially from outside the Borough;
• enhance the visitor experience in the Borough;
• have the potential to increase economic benefit to the Borough through bednight generation;
• contribute to a positive image of the Borough among both visitors and residents;
• promote sustainable tourism, for example through building in recycling or other ecofriendly event elements.

Who can apply?

Applications are accepted from organisations that -

• Are constituted community and voluntary organisations or Limited companies
• have a UK Bank or Building Society Account in the name of the organisation, which requires at least two unrelated signatures on each cheque or withdrawal;
• can meet Council requirements for event accounts/financial statements;
• will spend the grant award on related costs within one year;
• have adopted appropriate policies in line with type of organisation;

NB Evidence of the above will be required if successful in securing an offer of grant.

Eligible Events

To be eligible to apply for a tourism grant, an event must:

• be delivered within Ards and North Down Borough between 1 June 2021 and 31 March 2022;
• attract a minimum of 500 visitors (from within and outside the Borough);
• be open to all members of the general public, whether for free or paid-for elements (please note, if an event is not open to the general public, the case for a grant will be considered in light of that event’s potential contribution to tourism, regardless of its more limited audience);
• meet defined tourism event criteria;
• demonstrate best value for money.

For full guidance notes see here