Community Foundation for NI: Openreach Community Fund

Overview

Who can apply:

Constituted grass roots community and voluntary groups

Criteria:

• Priority will be given to applications from small groups, typically with an annual income of less than £200,000, as evidenced in most recent set of accounts
• Projects must aim to directly support one of the following specific groups:
  • Young people
  • Older people
  • People with disabilities

The Fund will not support projects targeting all ages.

Priority will be given to projects that will benefit groups dealing with disadvantage (e.g. rural isolation, low income, social exclusion, reduced access to services), and projects that involve the beneficiaries in their development and delivery.

• In the event of oversubscription, priority will be given to lower income organisations

Examples of types of projects that may be supported within Fund themes:

• Community education and training opportunities
• Communication and leadership skills
• Local initiatives to improve resources and community facilities
• Creativity and self-expression through drama, music or a range of arts activities
• Inclusion and involvement of disadvantaged communities
• Out of school projects for young people

Guidance for Applicants

Openreach is interested in supporting groups that are funded by the Openreach Community Fund by offering potential volunteering help from their staff.  Please tick the box on the webpage if you are interested in availing of the volunteering support and confirm that you are happy for them to share your contact details with Openreach.

Please read the following text before beginning your application. 

• You are a locally based not-for-profit, voluntary or community group working in Northern Ireland to improve the quality of life for local people
• You have an active management committee, with no two related cheque signatories
• You have a governing document, i.e. Constitution in the name of the applicant organisation
• You have a current bank account in the name of your organisation
• You have up to date annual accounts
• You have complied with the conditions of previous grants including submission of monitoring returns

In 2024 the success rate for applications to this fund was 36%.