Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Community Facilities Fund
Overview
The Community Facilities Fund (CFF) is a grant scheme to support minor capital works, events, pitch maintenance, repairs and/or implementation of digital solutions to enable groups and organisations to improve income opportunities, make changes to the facility use and/or make the facility more accessible and inclusive to further engage the local community.
The fund has three distinct strands, providing targeted support for different types of community improvements including for buildings, events and sports pitches:
- Community Facility: repairs, upgrades & capital works (max available per application £15,000 and you are not eligible to apply if you received this element of the grant in 2023/24 or 2024/25
- Event infrastructure: for community events (max available per application £8,000)
- Sports Pitches: development and maintenance (max available per application £20,000)
Separate applications MUST be completed for each strand. Applicants are only eligible to submit a maximum of 2 applications across the three strands.
What do they want to achieve through the Fund?
The overall aim of the grant funding is:
- improve, upgrade and/or refurbish Community Facilities to offer activities and services which help to increase opportunity, reduce inequality and broaden community engagement;
- support pitch development/maintenance; and purchase/hire of equipment to enhance the sustainability of external sporting facilities; and/or
- enhance community events to build on social cohesion and engagement opportunities.
The objective is to provide better access to existing community services, create a wider range of services, improve the ability to respond to community needs and improve community links and networks. The Community Facilities Fund spend must align to the principles of the Community Plan which include Sustainable Development, Equality and Participation.
The primary objectives of the grant funding programme are:
- To improve the quality and accessibility of community facilities
- To encourage participation in community life through enhanced facilities and resources
- To promote well-being through greater access to social, cultural, and sporting opportunities
Click here to read the Community Plan
Funding Level & Eligible Projects
Based on eligibility, applicants may apply to two out of the three funding strands if their project aligns with the respective criteria. Each application must be submitted on a separate form to ensure appropriate evaluation.
1. Repairs, capital works, and digital improvements to community facilities
Funding Amount: Up to £15,000
Eligible projects:
- Repairs and upgrades to existing community buildings (e.g., structural repairs, roof work, changes to encourage multi-use of premises and make it fit for purpose)
- Capital works for facility improvements (e.g., accessibility upgrades such as ramps or lifts, heating improvements)
- Digital enhancements (e.g., installation of Wi-Fi, purchase of IT equipment for community use)
- Exterior grounds improvements (e.g. landscaping, fencing, lighting, parking improvements)
N.B Organisations that have previously been in receipt of funding through the Community Facilities Fund Scheme in 2023-24 or 2024-25 will be unable to apply to Strand 1.
2. Event infrastructure for community events
Funding Amount: Maximum of £8,000
Eligible projects:
- Audio/visual equipment
- Stage infrastructure
- Marquees or canopies for outdoor community activities
- Beacons for events
- Welfare & Safety equipment
3. Sporting pitch development and maintenance
Funding Amount: Maximum of £20,000
Eligible projects:
- Maintenance and improvement of existing sports pitches (e.g., resurfacing, drainage work).
- Materials to support general pitch maintenance
- Equipment and tools to support and maintain regular pitch maintenance
- Contractor support for pitch maintenance
- Essential health and safety infrastructure
Please note, these are not exhaustive lists in regard to eligible items of spend
Eligible Criteria
The Community Facilities Fund is open for projects in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area. Applicants need to demonstrate that the facility or event is of significant importance in the local community and can evidence this. All applications will need to show how the community has been involved in the development of the project and how they will continue to be involved in the future.
The pitch development and maintenance and events infrastructure for community events are new funding streams for 2025/26. All 3 strands will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and funds for this and future years are subject to availability of financial resources. Groups should ensure that they take adequate measures therefore to ensure future sustainability of their facilities, events and/or pitch development and maintenance.
Projects will be assessed against five criteria – eligibility, affordability, deliverability, feasibility and sustainability. Projects must achieve a minimum threshold score of 50 in order to be successful and will be ranked according to individual scores
Who can apply
The Community Facilities Fund (CFF) is open to community/voluntary organisations based in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area that meet the following criteria:
- an open and accountable governing document (Constitution or Articles and Memorandum of Association, or applicable governing document) that has been properly adopted;
- a bank account in the name of the organisation, which requires at least two (unrelated) signatories
- an annual set of independently examined financial accounts, endorsed at an Annual General Meeting;
- a Management Committee or Governing Board, elected by its membership at an Annual General Meeting, and elected office bearers;
- have appropriate Safeguarding Policies for protecting Children and Vulnerable adults, who are involved as part of the group’s programme;
- have appropriate Health and Safety Policies
- a minimum of £5 million Public Liability Insurance, to cover all risk associated with the activities of the organisation.
- evidence of a lease or permission of landownership for the facility with a minimum of 10 years remaining