Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council: Christmas Festive Fund

Overview

This fund is for outdoor light switch on events only

Projects/events must take place between Saturday 29th November and Thursday 18th December 2025. Activities must provide an opportunity for everyone in the community to participate

Funding Size

Levels of Grant Award are as follows:-

FUND A – Up to £2,500

Applications for settlements with a population of 1,000 and above can apply for a range of costs relating to festive entertainment. Priority will be given to projects that promote wide community involvement for outdoor events celebrating this festive period.

FUND B – Up to £750

Applications for settlements with a population between 100 -999 can apply for a range of costs relating to festive entertainment. Priority will be given to projects that promote wide community involvement for outdoor events celebrating this festive period.

General Principles

In line with Council’s Grant Funding Policy the overarching principle for all Council grant funding is that of meeting local needs which have been identified and prioritised by Council or by others but acknowledged by Council. Any activity that cannot be shown to meet the following basic requirements will not be provided with funding:

• Have a clearly identified need.
• Can deliver outcomes which meet this need.
• Deliver cost effective and quality service provision, fitting with the purpose and remit of the funding.
• Be delivered by a credible organisation with the capacity to deliver the project as stated.
• Reflect the statutory remit of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, aligning with Council’s Corporate Plan, the relevant Service plan and that they can meet the specific criteria of the fund, in this instance the Community Festivals Fund criteria.
• Applicants must demonstrate their commitment to promoting Good Relations and Equality of Opportunity.
• In the interests of transparency, equality and accountability all applicants will have a right of appeal should their application be rejected.

Who can apply?

Organisations must be from within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. Towns, villages, settlements with a population of over 100 residents may apply or towns, villages, settlements who have been allocated a Christmas tree from Causeway Coast and Glens borough Council may apply.

Please note if your community organisation is situated within Ballycastle, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Limavady and receives a Council Christmas Event, then your group is, unfortunately, unable to apply. If you’re unsure please contact one of the Events Officers.

To be eligible for grant-aid, you will have to show that your organisation is a bona fide organisation that is well run and that it:

• Has a properly adopted “Governing Document” such as a constitution or memorandum and articles of association which clearly show that it is non-profit making and taking. Evidence that a constitution has been formally adopted must be supplied.

Only one grant per settlement will be awarded. Should Council receive more than one application per settlement the application which is the most inclusive and has the most far reaching community involvement will be selected. Council may also request that applicants work together to produce one all-inclusive event.

Eligible costs

Applications may be made for financial assistance towards events which may include:

• Appropriate events that celebrate the festive season within the community in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area.
• Costs associated directly with staging and promoting the event – e.g., entertainment, venue hire and promotional literature. Other options below.
  • Performing Arts
  • Visual Arts
  • Cultural, recreational and sporting activities
  • Workshops
  • Displays
  • Exhibitions
  • Lectures
  • Performances

Eligible items of expenditure may include:

• Event insurance
• Venue hire
• Performance fees
• Transport within the community area the festival is taking place in
• Equipment hire
• Signage
• Advertising, marketing and media costs
• Printing
• Administration (stationery, postage etc.)
• Costs of Online activities