CRC Community Relations/Cultural Diversity: Small Grants Scheme

Community Relations Council

Open (with deadline for applications) Active citizenship Age Aged 26 - 59 years Aged 60+ Arts, culture and heritage Black and minority ethnic Children (0-12) Communities Community and neighbourhood development Community development Cross community Cultural heritage Cultural, events and festivals Faith and religion Family and parenting good relations Human rights and equality Human rights and justice Multiculturalism Peace and reconciliation Performing arts Racial equality Refugees and asylum seekers Social partnership Verbal arts Visual arts and media Young people (13-25) Northern Ireland Micro (up to £1,000) Small (up to £10,000)

Track grant Notes

Overview

Key Principles of the Community Relations/Cultural Diversity (CR/CD) Funding Scheme

The work MUST be intentional.
Your programme must have a clear good relations purpose from the outset with deliberate and planned activities which directly address sectarianism and/or racism (the two main aims of the CRCD grant scheme). This can be achieved in a variety of ways including facilitated workshops, discussions, Q&A, Speeches at events, showcase of cultural diversity through music, art, dance, food from different cultures, storytelling etc. If your project does not include this learning element then it will not be considered a priority and will most likely be rejected.
It must address an identified good relations need.

All applications must be able to clearly demonstrate the good relations need they want to address and how they have identified this need.

The scheme supports a wide range of work and offers support and assistance whether you are a first-time applicant or have been supported in the past.

If you are planning events for the forthcoming year, please feel free to contact a member of their team to discuss your proposals prior to submitting your application. They can give you advice on how to plan your work and to source additional funding, if required.

Current Good Practice

CRC has been gathering current good practice in relation to delivering programmes online and in different formats.

Please check out the examples of work currently taking place:

CR/CD Funding Details

All projects in receipt of CR/CD funding must be completed within this financial year.
Grants are up to £10K maximum and for project costs only.
Average grant is £2K – £5K.

Aims of the CR/CD Scheme

The Community Relations Council, with the support of Government, has established a fund to spend each year on community relations projects. This funding is intended to help community/voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland develop their capacity to engage in community relations work and to enhance the community relations potential of projects they undertake.

The application form will ask you to identify which of the CR/CD objectives best matches the aim of your project and how through its delivery who will benefit.

To develop opportunities for groups to explore their own cultures, beliefs and traditions, thus increasing their capacity to develop relationships of trust with those of different traditions and values.
To develop opportunities for groups to extend their knowledge and understanding of others’ cultures, beliefs, and traditions - increasing their acceptance of and respect for diversity.
To enable groups to challenge stereotypes of their own and other communities in order to acknowledge and address difference.
To increase the ability and confidence of groups and organisations to identify and address those issues that divide them.
To develop networks of communication, trust and co-operation between divided communities.
To promote models of good practice for community relations work in Northern Ireland.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a proposal prior to submitting an application please contact a member of the Funding and Development Programme or phone 028 9022 7500.

T:BUC Requirement

Applicants are required to outline the outcome in Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) to which the proposed project will contribute.

Eligibility Requirements

There are certain specific criteria you must adhere to when applying for funding:

Read about the CD/CR scheme criteria.

Eligibility

They welcome applications from:

Community development groups
Cultural organisations
Women’s and Men’s groups
Faith based groups
Tenants associations
Youth groups
Rural groups

What is funded?

Grants may be awarded towards the following costs (guidance on costs):

Freelance external trainers, artists, or facilitators (up to £40ph/£280 per day). Preparation time can be included if it is in proportion to the project.
Keynote speakers to include subsidies (up to £250 per person).
Basic travel costs within Northern Ireland and Ireland (£0.45 per mile).
Consultant (standard £250, specialist £300 per day) - evidence of specialism must be provided.
External room hire (small space £10 - £20 per hour, conference space will depend on participant numbers and need).
Hospitality and catering up to £2.50pp – tea/coffee (+scones £3.50pp), £7pp lunch, £12pp evening meal.
Resource materials to support CR activities (up to £750).
Accommodation and overnight residential (£80 per person, per night).
Bursaries for community relations practitioners to attend conferences. These are limited to one bursary per year for an individual from an applicant group (£300 cap).

Please note these are examples of costings. Every application will be assessed on its own merit and the budget available to CRC.

Ensure that the costs you a requesting are supported by quotes and demonstrate value for money. The CRC may request these at any time for audit purposes.

Costs are eligible for a project from the date of receipt of the application by CRC. However it is at the group's own risk to undertake an event before it has been assessed or awarded funding.