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Who can and cannot apply

This fund is now closed.

Who this funding is for

This funding is for organisations who provide capacity building support to other VCSE groups.

To apply you must be a:

  • support organisation
  • network organisation
  • membership organisation
  • umbrella body
  • community anchor organisation
  • established organisation that has a history of providing capacity building support to other groups

You must also be a:

  • unregistered voluntary or community organisation
    An organisation set up with a governing document - like a constitution. But is not a registered charity or company. If you get funding we'd expect you to incorporate or become registered with a regulator (for example, the Charity Commission or CIC regulator).
  • not-for-profit company
    A company limited by guarantee - registered with Companies House. And might also be registered as a charity.
  • registered charity (unincorporated)
    A voluntary or community organisation that's a registered charity. But is not a company registered with Companies House.
  • Community Interest Company (CIC).
    A company registered with Companies House. And the Community Interest Company (CIC) Regulator.

You must support underrepresented VCSE groups

You should use this funding to support smaller VCSE groups with an annual income of around £10,000 up to £100,000.

The groups you support must focus on representing the needs of one of the following:

  • older people
  • disabled people
  • women
  • ethnically minoritised people
  • faith-based communities
  • LGBTQ+ people
  • rural communities

You can apply if you’re a generalist or a specialist support organisation

You might be a generalist support organisation that helps a diverse range of VCSE groups. Your aim might be to improve access to underrepresented VCSE groups who are not currently benefiting from your support.

Or you might be a specialist support organisation that already specialises in helping underrepresented VCSE groups. Your aim might be to get more resources to meet the needs of these groups.

If you're a generalist support organisation

We expect you to:

  • identify the sector of one of the underrepresented VCSE groups you want to improve access to – for example, women's groups, older people's groups, disabled people's groups, rural groups
  • collaborate with groups from that sector to work out what those groups need – for example, a women’s group, disabled people's group etc
  • improve access to your services by designing or delivering them in a different way that encourages and supports participation
  • use diagnostic tools (or other methods) to assess the skills and capabilities of the groups you’ll support
  • measure the impact of the support you give to each group

If you're a specialist support organisation

We expect you to:

  • tell us which sector of under-represented VCSE groups you specialise in e.g. women’s groups, rural groups etc
  • improve access to your services for groups that support people – for example, by delivering them in a different way that encourages and supports participation
  • use diagnostic tools (or other methods) to assess the skills and capabilities of the groups you’ll support
  • measure the impact of the support you give to each group

Who cannot apply

We cannot accept applications from:

  • organisations that do not develop the skills, capacity and resilience of other VCSE groups
  • individuals
  • sole traders
  • religious institutions - like churches, synagogues and mosques (although faith-based community groups are eligible to apply)
  • organisations based outside Northern Ireland
  • companies that can pay profits to directors, shareholders or members (including Companies Limited by Shares)

We do not accept applications written for you by private businesses or consultants

Be careful of businesses or consultants who say they can support you with your funding applications. They might say they’re acting on the Fund’s behalf, or they’re a preferred supplier of the Fund. They could even offer to write an application for you. We do not accept applications from these types of businesses or consultants.

But it’s ok to get help from support organisations - like your local council or Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA). They may be able to give you support and advice on writing your application.