The Cooper Richardson Fund

Closing Date:

Jun 19, 2023 13:00

• Area:

• Northern Ireland

• Grant size:

• Applicants can apply for a grant ranging from £1,000 to £2,000.

• Priorities:

• • To improve access to sport and physical activity, with a particular focus on supporting facilities in areas of economic need and for those most isolated in communities • To improve the health and well-being of people in Northern Ireland • To provide funding for resources, including equipment for small organisations, who may have limited access to funding opportunities • To remove barriers for getting things done in communities

Jack Cooper and his son-in-law Paul Richardson both died in 2022. This fund was set up by their family to honour Jack and Paul and the generous nature that they shared. They also shared a love of sport.

Jack was a talented footballer and badminton player. Paul was a competitive swimmer and water polo player.
As well as sports, the fund will also focus on the arts, especially music, which brought joy to Paul.

The fund will continue Jack’s lifelong connection with his home of Dundonald, and an interest in local history, which he passed on to his daughter Karolyn.

The Community Foundation is delighted to manage this fund on behalf of the Cooper and Richardson Families.

The Pressure Group Fund

Ongoing - No Deadline

• Area:

• Northern Ireland

• Grant size:

• Up to £1,000

• Priorities:

• Applications are invited for projects that can demonstrate how they are trying to address social injustice and what the impact of their work will be. In particular how they will encourage civic action, working with groups and individuals to get their voices heard by decision-makers.

Purpose of the Fund

Throughout the Foundation’s history we have been committed to addressing the challenges of peacebuilding, social justice and effective community development. We believe in the power of community activity to change Northern Ireland for the better.

The common theme linking all our grant programmes is that they provide individuals and groups with tools and support to make positive changes to their lives. We want to raise awareness of social justice issues on behalf of vulnerable communities.

The Pressure Group Fund has been established in recognition of the contribution groups and people in our society, who are working towards supporting social change, can make through direct civic action, lobbying and campaigning. It is one way in which the Foundation can be responsive to needs and issues facing communities.

What is a Pressure Group?
A pressure group is an organised group that does not hold candidates for election, but seeks to influence and change government policy or legislation. They are also described as 'interest groups', 'lobby groups' or 'protest groups'. Pressure groups are not necessarily formally constituted as organisations.

What Do They Do?
Pressure groups allow people the opportunity to participate in democracy by being involved in social change without necessarily joining a political party. Pressure groups may be viewed as essential to democracy because they allow the free expression of opinion and the opportunity to influence governments.
Examples of sectors where pressure groups may focus on could include:
Culture
Environment
Human rights
Health and wellbeing
Poverty and inequality