Department for Communities: Access and Inclusion Programme

Overview

The key objectives of the Department for Communities’ Access and Inclusion Programme are to:

1. Improve access to arts, culture and active recreation venues across NI for people with disabilities;

2. Make arts, cultural and active recreation venues more inclusive across society; and

3. Increase participation in arts, culture and active recreation activities by people with disabilities.

Programme Criteria

To be considered for funding, each application to the programme must satisfy the following criteria:

• There must be a demonstrable need for the project supported by evidence of consultation with/input from individuals with disabilities or the disability sector.
• An accessibility audit must be completed for each venue applying for funding. (Waived for 2020/21)
• The project must have clearly defined and measurable outputs and applicants must be able to demonstrate how they will measure these outputs / results.
• The maximum project cost must not exceed £30,000.
• Each applicant must provide match funding of at least 10% of the total project cost. (Waived for 2020/21)
• Additionality – Public money spent on a project must be additional, which means that it has to be spent:

- to allow something to happen that would not otherwise take place;

- to help something happen sooner than it would otherwise happen; or

- to improve the quality of an existing project or service.

• If the applicant is a community or voluntary group, the organisation must have an agreed constitution.

NB Accessing this funding through the NI Museums Council

Museums accredited with the NI Museums Council may submit applications to the Programme through the Museums Council who will be responsible for the assessment, scoring and ranking of projects. In the case of a council owned museum, venue operators must seek the agreement of the relevant Council before submitting an application to NI Museums Council. This must include confirmation of where the letter of offer should issue ie to NI Museums Council or the parent Council. Councils may still bring forward projects for museums not accredited to the NI Museums Council.

NB Accessing this funding through local Councils

NOTE It is wholly a matter for Councils to decide if they wish to accept applications from external organisations through an open call. Councils will, however, be responsible for the delivery of all projects they promote, whether internal or external. You will need to contact your local Council for further information.

Notes

• All applicants must confirm that projects will complete on or before the last day of the financial year in which the Programme is operating.
• The applicant must have a clear plan on how the project will be sustained at the end of the funding period.
• The Department must be satisfied that the applicant can demonstrate an acceptable level of control over any essential land or buildings.
• The applicant must be able to demonstrate that they have appropriate financial control arrangements, structures and procedures in place to effectively manage any funding awarded by the Department.

Conditions of Funding

The Department will expect applicants to be able to meet the following conditions if funding is awarded to the proposed project: -

• Applicants must be in a position to comply with any conditions attached to the grant that may be included in the Letter of Offer. The Department must be notified immediately if the applicant encounters any problems in complying with the conditions.
• Applicants must be in a position to deliver the project within the agreed timescales. The Department must be notified immediately of any delay or anticipated delay. Should the Department consider any delay to be unacceptable, the grant may lapse and any payments made may be recovered in whole or in part.
• Applicants must comply with the expenditure, receipting, evaluation and monitoring conditions stated in the contract for funding.
• Any person authorised by the Department for Communities including DfC’s Internal Audit Unit and the Northern Ireland Audit Office shall have rights of access to asset and accounting records in respect of any assistance provided.
• Applicants should be aware that information on applications and claims for payment for Grant assistance is stored on computer in accordance with the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018, and that such information may be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000; in addition this shall include any applicable national implementing Laws as amended from time to time including (i) the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) and (ii) Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 to the extent that it relates to processing of personal data and privacy; and (iii) all applicable Law about the processing of personal data and privacy;

For the full guidance see here