Equity in Action Fund: Strengthening Communities Across Northern Ireland 

29 Aug 2025

The Equity in Action Fund, developed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, is already making a significant impact by supporting grassroots organisations to build stronger, more informed communities.

So far, 18 local organisations have been awarded a total of £104,455 through the fund. These first grants represent a powerful step towards tackling issues of hate, misinformation, division, and trauma, while also celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion.
The projects supported through Equity in Action reflect the creativity and resilience of communities across Northern Ireland. Among the initiatives funded are:

• Anti-racism campaigns and diversity, equity, and inclusion training
• Youth-led anti-stigma campaigns and peer-led workshops tackling hate and bias
• Trauma-informed mental health programmes helping individuals build resilience
• Boxing initiatives in Newry and Belfast, combining sport with education to challenge prejudice and hate crime
• Community-led responses to misinformation, hate crime, and online harm, including forums, storytelling, and theatre events
• Youth voices projects focused on addressing the impact of online hate and misinformation

Orla Black, Director of Grants and Fund Development said: 

“In recent years, Northern Ireland has seen growing challenges from hate crime, misinformation, and social division. Grassroots organisations are uniquely placed to respond; they have the trust of their communities, the lived experience, and the energy to create positive change.

“The Equity in Action Fund ensures that these groups have the resources to take action, build connections, and foster a culture of equity, empathy, and understanding.”

“Each of these initiatives is locally rooted, designed by communities themselves, and directly addresses the challenges they face.

“The £104,455 awarded so far is just the beginning. The Fund will continue to support initiatives that bring people together, promote fairness, and strengthen the bonds of community across Northern Ireland.”

“At its heart, Equity in Action is about recognising that small, local actions can drive big change – and that empowered communities are the key to a more inclusive and resilient society.”

FactCheckNI, a recipient of an Equity in Action Fund grant, said: 

“Bad information harms us all in Northern Ireland. It undermines public confidence, fuels division, and weakens participation in democracy. It also creates barriers between people and the accurate information they need to understand their communities, the issues that affect them, and to make informed decisions.”

“With this new funding, we will focus on migration – producing fact checks and articles that separate fact from fiction, and training groups in critical thinking and fact-checking skills. Our aim is to ensure everyone has access to clear, evidence-based information and to support open, informed conversations on one of the most important and often misunderstood issues of our time.”

If you would like to donate to the Equity in Action fund, please do so through our JustGiving page. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/equityinaction