The Bright Path Fund

Closing Date:

Jan 26, 2026 12:00

• Area:

• Northern Ireland

• Grant size:

• One award of £620,000

• Priorities:

• • Care-experienced young people aged 17-21 • Private Rented Sector accommodation provision • Tenancy and mental health support

The Bright Path Fund is supported by Homewards NI and Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

The Bright Path Fund is focused on utilising the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to unlock homes for young people leaving care, alongside the provision of tenancy and mental health & wellbeing support. The Fund will be delivered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, in support of housing projects within The Royal Foundation's Homewards programme.

In this phase, the fund will seek to support a pilot project across Northern Ireland which is sustainable, scalable, and inspirational for third parties to adopt.

The fund is focused on care-experienced young people aged 17-21 with low support needs.

This pilot will act as a diversionary housing pathway for this cohort who are either aging out of care or those whose return to family has broken down post leaving care.

Goodyear Community Fund

Closing Date:

Jan 30, 2026 13:00

• Area:

• The greater Lurgan and Craigavon area

• Grant size:

• Grants of between £1,000 to £5,000

• Priorities:

• The focus of the fund builds on the original ethos of the Goodyear Sports & Social Club in ensuring a positive legacy with the continued promotion of sport, arts, health & wellbeing and cross-community engagement.

The Goodyear Sports & Social Club was set up as part of the old Goodyear factory in Craigavon in 1977 by the factory workers. The club building was opened in 1982 and although the factory closed not long after this date the Sports & Social club was able to provide sports and social facilities to the local Community until the wind down of its activities in June 2024.

Cregganconroe Community Benefit Fund

Closing Date:

Feb 12, 2026 13:00

• Area:

• Within a 6-mile radius of the wind farm.

• Grant size:

• Grants up to £2,000

• Priorities:

• * Any programmes/projects that address marginalisation and help tackle rural isolation. * Projects that have a particular emphasis on maximising community space. * Activities/services that are specifically aimed at children and young people and older people; provision of local educational classes/training courses and health related initiatives and arts/cultural activities. * Projects designed to improve and develop local environmental schemes. * Priority will be given to beneficiaries within the Pomeroy area given their close proximity to the wind farm. * Projects that encourage greater cross community interaction at a local level with a focus on improving relations between nationalist and unionist communities in the area.

This local community benefit fund was set up by Gaelectric in 2016 and is now managed by CGN Europe - a wind energy and energy storage company that believes in a sustainable future. GCN is committed to ensuring that their wind farms, whilst having obvious environmental benefits, also provide significant economic benefits to the local community.

Inishative Community Benefit Fund

Closing Date:

Feb 12, 2026 13:00

• Area:

• Within a 6-mile radius of the wind farm.

• Grant size:

• Grants up to £2,000

• Priorities:

• * Projects that improve the utilisation of existing community space within the specified radius. * Activities/services that are specifically aimed at older people, people with disabilities, children and teenagers (including pre-school children), providing skills development of local people and promoting health related activities or services. * Given the remoteness of some of these locations, the isolation and lack of statutory transport provision consideration will be given to local transport initiatives. * Projects and programmes offering invaluable advice and information and signposting on key rural issues. * Outdoor / Environmental projects in terms of encouraging a healthier and active community as well as protecting and enhancing the local environment. * Wider community events and programmes that encourage greater community interaction (including cross community aspects) encompassing the local rich and varied cultural aspects of music, drama, dance and sport. * Priority will be given to projects which demonstrate the ability to collaborate, network and share best practice.

This local community benefit fund was set up by Gaelectric in 2016 and is now managed by CGN Europe - a wind energy and energy storage company that believes in a sustainable future. CGN is committed to ensuring that their wind farms, whilst having obvious environmental benefits, also provide significant economic benefits to the local community.

The Brian Conlon Foundation

Closing Date:

Feb 12, 2026 13:00

• Area:

• Newry City (See boundary map)

• Grant size:

• Up to £3,500 we anticipate, however, that the average grant will be around £2,000

• Priorities:

• Funding will be made available for community associations and groups in the Newry area, who are working to advance education, amateur sport, provide opportunities for young people, and assisting communities in the local area.

The Brian Conlon Foundation is an independent Charitable Trust set up in Brian’s memory to continue his legacy by supporting causes that were close to his heart and that he was passionate about.

Brian was hugely successful in many walks of life - a high achiever in education, entrepreneurship, sport and in business. When a knee injury ended his budding Gaelic football career, Brian turned his attention to business, setting up First Derivatives from his mother’s spare bedroom in 1996. Now one of Ireland's most successful companies, it employs nearly 3,000 people with fifteen offices globally. Thousands of local graduates have passed through the company’s HQ in Newry, many of whom ended up being deployed to large financial institutions throughout the world.

Brian was immensely proud of his roots and his hometown of Newry, and, despite all of his success, he remained a humble and generous individual throughout, supporting numerous people and deserving causes, often quietly.

Funding will be made to local organisations who are working to advance education, amateur sport, provide opportunities for young people, and assisting communities in the local area.

Donations of up to £3,500 will be open for applications.

The Brian Conlon Foundation, commented "Through his professional & personal endeavours Brian made a difference to many people's lives. We hope that through this round of community funding Brian can continue to make a positive , tangible contribution allowing his spirit to live on in the local community in his home town of Newry."

SWEF Enterprise Fund Business Grant

Ongoing - No Deadline

• Area:

• Northern Ireland

• Grant size:

• Up to £2000

• Priorities:

• To be eligible to apply, you need to: - Be between the ages of 18-30 - Live in Northern Ireland - Applications must come from a majority shareholder - Be from a low-income household or facing other financial challenges preventing you from developing your business

Community Foundation NI is working in partnership with SWEF Enterprise Fund which helps young people from Northern Ireland develop their business idea and gain support with business investment that they would otherwise not be able to afford.

Business Grant: 
For: Businesses turning over more than £500 per month that have been trading for less than 2 years.
Applicants must be between the age of 18-30
Business grants are awarded up to £2,000

SWEF Enterprise Fund Start-Up Grant

Ongoing - No Deadline

• Area:

• Northern Ireland

• Grant size:

• Up to £500

• Priorities:

• To be eligible to apply, you need to: - Be between the ages of 18-30 - Live in Northern Ireland - Applications must come from a majority shareholder - Be from a low-income household or facing other financial challenges preventing you from developing your business

Community Foundation NI is working in partnership with SWEF Enterprise Fund which helps young people from Northern Ireland develop their business idea and gain support with business investment that they would otherwise not be able to afford.

Start Up Grant:
For: Pre-revenue businesses or businesses turning over less than £500 per month.
Applicants must be between the age of 18-30
Start-up grants are awarded up to £500

The Randal Foundation Small Grant

Ongoing - No Deadline

• Area:

• Northern Ireland

• Grant size:

• Up to £3,000

• Priorities:

• Poverty alleviation and support for women and children at risk of immediate harm

The Randal Foundation works to deliver the vision of Founders, Dr Nik and Moni Kotecha – saving and significantly improving the lives of 1 million people, across the UK and globally. We work in partnership with inspirational organisations, bringing support and essential funding to both create opportunity and foster hope, for those in greatest need.

In partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland we will offer grants to support grassroots activity that directly save or significantly improve lives, in line with the Randal Foundation’s mission.