Community Foundation for NI: The Acorn Giving Circle

Overview

The Acorn Giving Circle (AGC) is made up of a group of women who aim to make a positive contribution to improving the lives of people living in Derry ~ Londonderry and Strabane, in a small but meaningful way through pooled personal donations.

When the pooled donations reach a target amount, the funds are made available in the form of small grants. These grants aim to support local charitable or community groups and organisations located within Derry~Londonderry and Strabane Town.

The Giving Circle formed in 2012 as a response to the establishment of the Acorn Fund (AF) in 2012 and is managed by the Community Foundation (CFNI). The Acorn Fund is a legacy of the City of Culture 2013 and works in partnership with donors and funders to encourage local giving which supports local people and causes.

The Acorn Giving Circle aims to prioritise its support to where the need is greatest and where it can make a small but important difference.

Grants Available:

Up to £1,000

Who Can Apply?

• Constituted community and voluntary groups
• Individuals can be supported through an organisation – please contact us for clarification
• Applicant organisations must be located in Derry~Londonderry City and Strabane Town.

The fund wishes to support projects that will improve the lives of children, young people and older people through social, cultural, sporting or educational activities who live in Derry~Londonderry city and its environs, including Strabane Town.

What is supported?

While not exclusive, the Fund welcomes applications for projects that address the following:

• Children/young people who live in the Derry~Londonderry City and environs and Strabane Town.
• Projects that are a new initiative within your organisation/group and not your normal business.
• Projects that allow older people to stay connected within their communities and can also have an intergenerational element.
• Projects and activities which are concerned with raising awareness about local impacts of climate change on vulnerable people in our community e.g. older people and children around extreme weather events including heat waves, extreme cold, flooding.
• Projects connected to the current cost of living crisis.
• Projects which support the impact of COVID e.g. mental health.

Priorities

• Children and Young People
• Older People
• Impacts of Climate change

Examples of the types of activities that may be supported:

• Supporting children through bereavement; play and learning projects; health and well-being projects; fun and play projects; social awareness projects.
• Projects that bring older people together in a safe environment which adheres to current COVID restrictions.
• Could be a project that you have developed through learning from previous work you’ve done.
• Your organisation which supports vulnerable people may need to adapt to climate change e.g. air conditioning units, energy efficiency costs