Islamic Relief: UK Grants for Domestic Programmes

Overview

Islamic Relief UK Programmes is dedicated to supporting and investing in a thriving and diverse voluntary and community sector that brings positive change to the lives of people across the United Kingdom.

Their domestic-based projects and partnerships aim to:

• Build greater resilience to poverty
• Combat challenges faced by women
• Supporting refugees and asylum-seeking populations
• Promote and facilitate the development of young people and their families

Programme Aims

They build partnerships with UK-based organisations working in a range of key areas. To be eligible to apply for funding, your organisation/project must work alongside our key strategic domestic aims:

• Building Resilience to Poverty:
  • Prioritising programme delivery within disadvantaged and vulnerable communities
  • Incorporating sustainability within programme initiatives
  • Developing the capacity of local communities to address issues of poverty
• Combating challenges faced by women:
  • Providing economic opportunities for women
  • Supporting survivors of domestic abuse
  • Developing the confidence and skills of women
• Supporting Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Communities:
  • Engaging in projects that empower refugee communities socially and financially
• Youth & Family Development
  • Engaging young people in constructive activities
  • Encouraging youth leadership and confidence-building
  • Supporting disadvantaged BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, and Refugee) populations

Eligibility

Applications will only be considered if an organisation can demonstrate how they meet one (or more) of their key aims. They are particularly seeking applications from organisations which demonstrate:

• Strong local or subject area expertise
• Working to involve beneficiaries in the planning and delivery of their programmes

Applicants are welcome from organisations such as:

• Local community groups and/or faith-based organisations
• Charities (including local branches of national charities) acting for the benefit of the local community
• Voluntary and community organisations
• Registered charities, including charitable incorporated organisations
• Registered not-for-profit companies
• Registered community interest companies

Although you do not have to be a registered charity to be eligible to apply for their grants, your work and the focus of your application must be for charitable purposes in the UK. All organisations must, as a basic requirement, have a constitution and a bank account, with the same name as the organisation.

Details of previous funded projects can be found here.

Funding Level & Notes

They have a fund of £2million allocated for this year’s round of funding. 

• Grant amounts can vary from £1,000 to £40,000 depending on the project for first-time applicants, with a duration of 12 months. 
• Second time successful applicants can bid for £40,000 with an option for multi-year funding. 
• Applicants that are receiving multi-year funding, are not eligible to apply again unless in their final year or have provided a strong case to the UK Programmes Team in writing, prior to the application. 

Funds are not provided all together, rather in portions and on condition of successful interim narrative and financial reports. Islamic Relief is prudent with its funds and has a responsibility to ensure funds are utilised for the intended purposes upon the grant agreement. As such, they have the following payment schedule for a 12-month project:

• 1st payment and within a month of a signed contract – 60% of total fund. 
• 2nd payment after reviewed interim narrative and financial report – 30% of remaining fund. 
• 3rd and final payment after reviewed final narrative and financial report – 10% of the remaining fund. 

Eligible costs

Islamic Relief UK funding can be used to cover all the costs of delivering a project, including:

• Staff salaries and associated costs
• Room hire
• Equipment, materials, and other project resources
• Organisational or core costs(including rent, heat, light, insurance) proportional to the size of the project.