Community Foundation for NI: New Beginnings Fund

Overview

The New Beginnings Fund is part of a wider £525,000 fund launched by UK Community Foundations which is being administered by community foundations in seven areas across the UK.

The fund is aimed at small, local groups working with refugees with priority being given to groups with an income of less than £250,000. Applications for up to £10,000 will be considered but, in exceptional circumstances, grants for up to £20,000 will be awarded for collaborative bids involving multiple local partners.

The initial £75,000 fund is intended to be used for new or existing activities that involve local communities in welcoming and supporting new arrivals. However it is expected that the fund will evolve beyond the initial round as the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland builds a longer term strategy which expands on the current available fund.

With regards to the current round, applications will be welcomed from projects which emphasise the value of integration and work with communities to become stronger and more connected.

•Funding available of up to £10,000 for individual organisations
•Funding available of up to £20,000 for partner organisations

The scheme will seek to support those organisations that offer guidance, counselling, community integration and welcoming activities to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers and can demonstrate there has been an increase in the demand for their services.

Scheme Key Guidelines

• The scheme will prioritise local groups, with turnovers of less than £250,000 which can explain the need for additional short to medium term support and how this will add capacity to their current work with local refugees and asylum seekers.
• Groups must be able to evidence an increase in demand for services and explain how they plan to respond using this funding (larger organisations with turnovers of up to £1million are not excluded from applying for funding, however, priority will be given to smaller locally based organisations).
• Faith groups are welcome to apply but activities which evangelise or proselytise religious beliefs will not be eligible.
• The applicant organisation should be working to support refugees and asylum seekers.
• In exceptional cases, grants up to £20,000 may be considered for bids which can include multiple local partners.
• Grants will be for the duration of one year.