NIMC: Access and Inclusion Grants

Overview

2022 Changes

Please note the following changes to last year’s programme:

• Maximum grant available from DfC for each project is increased to £30,000
• Applicants are still required to contribute 10% of total project costs – to receive a £30,000 grant therefore applicants must provide at least £3,000
• The Department is particularly keen to welcome applications for Changing Places facilities, accessible equipment for play parks and projects that will impact positively on sustainability and climate change.

Given the later launch date to this year’s programme, NIMC require that any projects submitted will complete by the 31 March 2023 deadline. There will be no flexibility this year around that completion date.

Programme Objectives

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 and/or input from individuals with disabilities or the disability sector.
• An accessibility audit must be completed and attached to each application for a Council owned venue.
• Whilst an accessibility audit is not essential for an application from an accredited museum the project must have the endorsement of the Northern Ireland Museum Council.
• 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 grant available from the Department for each project is £30,000.
• Each applicant must contribute funding of at least 10% of the total project cost.
• All grant recipients will be required to observe the current procurement requirements for construction works and purchase of goods and services as outlined by the Department of Finance’s Procurement Policy and Guidance (https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/topics/procurement/procurement-policy-and-...).
• 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 organisation it must have an agreed constitution which includes arts, culture (including leisure) or heritage as a primary objective of the body.
• Museums affiliated to the NI Museums Council (NIMC) may submit applications to the Programme through the NIMC 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 NIMC. This must include confirmation of where the letter of offer should issue i.e. to NIMC or the parent Council. Councils may still bring forward projects for museums not affiliated to the NIMC.
• 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.
• All applicants must confirm that projects will complete on or before the last day of the financial year in which the Programme is operating. There should be no expectation of end of year funding flexibility.
• The applicant must have a clear plan of 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.

Eligible Projects

A full list of what can and cannot be funded is attached at Appendix 1.

The Department is particularly keen, however, to welcome applications for Changing Places facilities, accessible equipment for play parks and projects that will impact positively on sustainability and climate change.