The Fibrus Community Fund

Purpose of the Fund:

The Fibrus Community Fund was established by Fibrus Broadband in 2021.  The Fund is aimed at addressing digital poverty and exists to support the work of communities across Northern Ireland (NI) to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable.

Data from the latest Digital Skills statistics for NI were released in November 2023, and contained analysis of the level of digital skills of people aged 16 and over. It reports that almost one in five people (18%) had no digital skills (276,000 people) and almost half (47%) of those aged 65 and over had no digital skills.

The Wired Up report commissioned by the Community Foundation in late 2022 identified the top three groups as being at risk of digital exclusion as older people (88.5%), people on a low income (83.5%) and people with a disability (75.3%). The Fund, therefore, has a particular focus on supporting grassroots organisations that support older people, people on low income, and people with disabilities.

Having the ability to access the internet can open a range of opportunities for individuals and communities, especially when it comes to education, employment and socialising.   Formed with one vision; to connect communities across Northern Ireland, the Fibrus Community Fund will offer technology grants to enable people to stay connected; whether it is young people staying connected to online resources, or elderly people ordering groceries and video calling family.

The Fibrus Community Fund will have one round of funding in 2024, opening for applications on Monday 22nd April and closing for applications on Friday 17th May at 1pm.  Projects are expected to commence from early June 2024.

Fund Aims:

The Fund is aimed at addressing digital poverty by awarding grants of up to £2,000 to enable local groups and organisations in particular areas, to provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable in that community, with a particular focus on older people, people on low income and people with disabilities.

Grants Available: Up to £2,000

We will offer grants of up to £2,000 for projects that address digital poverty with a particular focus on older people, people on low income and people with disabilities.

Who Can Apply?

Constituted community and voluntary organisations with an annual income below £50,000, based in the areas outlined below:

Eligible postcodes:

BT5, BT6, BT8, BT9, BT12, BT13, BT16, BT17, BT18, BT19, BT20, BT21, BT22, BT23, BT24, BT25, BT26, BT27, BT28, BT29, BT30, BT31, BT32, BT33, BT34, BT35, BT36, BT38, BT39, BT40, BT41, BT42, BT43, BT44, BT45, BT46, BT47, BT48, BT49, BT51, BT52, BT53, BT54, BT55, BT56, BT57, BT60, BT61, BT62, BT63, BT64, BT65, BT66, BT67, BT68, BT69, BT70, BT71, BT74, BT75, BT76, BT77, BT78, BT79, BT80, BT81, BT82, BT92, BT93, BT94, BT99.

Project Priorities:

• Focus on the positive contribution of people within the community, and help those most in need of support (older people, people on low incomes and people with disabilities) to use and access digital technologies
• We want to hear how your community intends to build on the assets within that community, to support those who have faced digital challenges
• We expect you to focus on the need of your beneficiaries in terms of digital poverty, as well as focus on what is good about your community, and how this project will build on previous successes as a community, and support the beneficiary/beneficiaries in the longer term

The success rate for the Fibrus Community Fund in 2023 was 26%.  In the event of oversubscription, we will therefore prioritise:

1. Applicants who have not previously been awarded a grant from the Fund.
2. Those who more clearly articulate and evidence the need in relation to digital exclusion.

Examples of Types of Projects:

• Projects that provide access to engage with a range of digital devices (laptops, tablets, iPads, smart phones, etc.), such as a community loan facility, etc.
• Projects that strengthen the capacity of individuals to use a range of available digital services, such as training workshops or courses.
• Projects that provide access to enhance connections with others, such as a community-use internet hub, or internet café, etc.

We Will Not Fund:

• The Community Foundation will not fund organisations or activities which promote causes that are contrary to our purposes. Causes and activities that are contrary to our purposes include, but may not be limited to, those outlined in our investment policy.  We will not therefore fund organisations or activities which we determine are linked to the promotion of armaments, alcohol, human rights abuses, tobacco or pornography
• The advancement of religion.  This includes organisations whose purposes include the advancement of religion
• The establishment of endowment of any school or institution providing further education within the meaning of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1972
• The provision of assistance to any Housing Association within the meaning of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976
• Promotion of religious or political activity, including any flags and emblems that may deem to be associated with such
• CIC Companies Limited by Shares, or CICs without an asset lock clause.  Eligible CICs must have at least three unrelated committee members, and/or the majority of the committee unrelated
• Trips outside of Northern Ireland
• Applications from individuals
• Applications from statutory organisations
• Purchase of vehicles
• Holiday schemes
• Parties and shopping trips
• Activities that duplicate existing services
• Retrospective funding
• Substitution for statutory funding
• Groups who have not complied with previous monitoring requirements

Please note:

• Applicants that currently hold a live Fibrus Community Fund grant and who are considering re-applying to the fund must ensure all outstanding information is provided for the current grant held.  This includes details of spend and any monitoring.
• In cases where broadband installation/connection is being requested, please check Fibrus availability at www.fibrus.com. If your premises are not connectable/yet connectable, please consider applying for other types of digital equipment from the fund such as laptops, visual aids etc.

If you require any help with this application, please contact the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Grants and Donor Care Team on 028 9024 5927.