Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland: THRIVE programme
Overview
THRIVE- Financial Resilience programme is delivered in partnership with their sister foundations across the UK – Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, and Bank of Scotland Foundation.
This has been made possible thanks to an additional donation from their sole funder, Lloyds Banking Group to celebrate 40 years of grant giving.
What do they mean by financial resilience?
Financial resilience is about being prepared for life’s ups and downs. It’s the ability to foresee, plan for, and adapt to changes and unexpected financial challenges. Whether it’s a small shift or a sudden shock to your personal or household finances, financial resilience means having the strength to not just survive but thrive.
Who can apply?
- THRIVE is open to registered charities with an income of £500,000 or less, with a least one year of annual returns published on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s website.
- If your charity is registered with another charity regulator in the UK/Ireland, it must show that you operate in Northern Ireland.
Types of charities they fund
Social and Community Welfare
- Community Services: Family centres, youth clubs, older peoples clubs, afterschool clubs, self-help groups, childcare provision, preschools and playgroups.
- Advice Services: Homelessness, addictions, bereavement, family guidance, money advice, helplines, suicide awareness.
- People with disabilities: Residences, day centres, transport, carers, information, advice and advocacy.
- Promotion of health: Information and advice, mental health support, independent living, day care.
- Civic Responsibility: Young people at risk, crime prevention, promotion of volunteering, victim support, mediation, rehabilitation of offenders.
- Cultural Enrichment: Improving access to the arts and heritage for those in greatest need.
Education and Training
- Employment: Employability skills, personal development support, interview and job coaching.
- Training and Education: Accredited, vocational, personal development training, life skills.
Programme Aims
- THRIVE aims to support charities in providing financial advice, building financial resilience, delivering financial education, or encouraging good financial health among people in greatest need.
- This could include providing practical financial support, budgeting assistance, help with debt management, financial education, and personalised advice, to help people navigate financial challenges and build long-term resilience.
- In line with the priorities of The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, your charity must support people in greatest need.
- For example, supporting people living in poverty; the unemployed; those with disabilities or mental ill health. (This is not an exhaustive list – other areas of need will be considered.)
Funding Level & Notes
THRIVE will provide support of up to £15,000 over 2 years.
They want to help charities grow stronger and more resilient – to thrive beyond the lifetime of this grant. As such, an additional £2,500 will be held for each grantee for organisational development initiatives.
FLEXIBILITY COMMITTMENT – They recognise that costs you need supported at the time of application may not be what you need throughout the lifetime of your grant. They encourage you to speak to your grants officer should things change and they will endeavour to be as flexible as possible. (Please note – you must receive confirmation of approval before changes are made).
Costs considered
- Materials & Equipment
- Salary Contributions
- Overheads / Core costs
- Transport costs
- Volunteer expenses
- Training / Tutor costs
- Activity costs
- Research Costs
- Minor refurbishment
Eligibility
Your organisation needs to be a registered charity: Your group needs to be a registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or other charity regulator within the UK or Ireland. Your application must support people residing in Northern Ireland.
You must have at least one year of annual returns published on the charity regulator website: They will not ask you to provide your accounts, as these can view ed on the charity regulator website. Accounts must be uploaded within 10 months of your financial year end, as per charity commission guidelines. If you have not uploaded your accounts within this timeframe, your application cannot be considered.
Your income must be no greater than £500,000: The total income of your charity needs to be £500,000 or less as shown on your most recent set of annual accounts.
You must have at least 3 unrelated trustees/board members: In addition, you must follow the rules around the minimum number of Trustees/Board Members as set out in your governing document.
You must have a safeguarding policy in place, reviewed at board level: If you work with children, young people or vulnerable adults, you must have a safeguarding policy in place. For further information published by NSPCC, click here
There must be adequate insurance cover to run your charity and any activities within this application: You will not be able to submit an application if you do not have adequate insurance cover to run your charity and activities contained in your application.
Your application must fit within your charitable purpose as outlined in your governing document: For guidance published by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, click here
Your application must not be completed by a fundraising consultant: They do not accept applications completed by a professional fundraising consultant. If you need support to complete this application, sign up for one of their pre-application support sessions at grants@halifaxfoundationni.org