Big Deal Small Grants

Overview

The Big Deal is for children and young people in Northern Ireland aged 0-10, 11-16 and 17-25.

The aim of The Big Deal is to encourage children and young people to become involved in participatory activities which enhance their personal and social development and to have the skills, knowledge and opportunities to make informed choices about their lives and demonstrate their positive contribution to family and community life.

Individuals or informal groups of children and young people aged 0 to 25 (a group applying should be made up of no less than 3 people). An informal group can be a friendship group or a group who share a common interest. They can also be members of a club or centre but they cannot fund the club or centre they belong to.

• An individual can apply for a grant of £500.
• An informal group can apply for a grant of between £500 and £2,500.

The Small Grants programme has £1 million to support projects across Northern Ireland and by the end of the 4 years of the programme in December 2010, 732 projects had been funded, with a total of 1.5 million awards.

The Big Deal small grants programme is all about increasing children and young people's participation as decision makers through projects in which children and young people plan and decide what it is they want to do, when, where and how!

Funding is aimed at projects that help make a difference in life and the lives of others in your peer group, family, youth group, school, community or area. So as well as increasing participation as a decision maker, your project idea should also lead to outcomes such as:

a) Increased health and well-being, and/or
b) Increased achievement and learning.

A sample of the aplicant that have been funded in 2010

-Young womans group Belfast - £2500

-Off the street football Strabane - £2365

-Health action programme Craigavon - £2200

- Your life your choice lisburn - £2500

How to apply

They have a two step application process. Step one is an outline proposal form and step two is a full application. You can contact Big Deal for an application pack or download from the website.

applicantsexpresstion on the application process as seen below

Application forms – Expression of Interest + Full Application Form ʻFine. Straightforward
enough.ʼ ʻGrand.ʼ - Applicants

They are open for application all year round.