Supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, these grants of between £500 and £10,000 are for people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.



These grants aim to support projects that:

• bring people together and increase community activity by helping communities to meet their needs through voluntary action, self-help projects, local facilities or events. Communities can be people in a local area or people who share
  a common interest or need.
• involve more people in a wide range of community activities by involving more people in new activities and supporting activities which are open and accessible to everyone who wants to take part.
• increase skill and activity by supporting activities which help to develop people and organisations - encourage talent and raise standards.
• improve quality of life by supporting local projects that improve people's opportunities, welfare, health or environment, especially those most disadvantaged in society.
• are well organised and planned by encouraging good organisation and planning of activities. Well thought out activities meet community needs better and have the most impact.

Projects that Awards for All in Northern Ireland might support include:

• developing an existing service in your area, such as a playgroup, lunch club or information centre
• helping more people to play a fuller part in local life, for example producing a community newsletter, talking newspapers for people who are blind, mobility schemes or respite services
• removing barriers to taking part in sport or the arts for disabled people, young people, older people or those who are economically poor
• broadening experiences by organising trips to sporting events and festivals or staging them yourself
• giving talks on the local built, cultural or natural heritage to community groups
• getting together to carry out some simple works which allow more people to enjoy their local heritage
• recording people's memories and producing a book
• providing training to improve computer and other information technology (IT) skills
• encouraging activities to improve health or promote good mental health such as keep fit classes for older people.
• commissioning a professional artist to write a new play or piece of music which your group will perform.

Click here for more information.

Click here to download an application form as a PDF document.