Community Foundation News
2 Jun 2021
Celebrating Volunteer Week 2021
Each year we celebrate Volunteer week, 1st – 7th June. A week to say thank you to the millions of individuals who give up their time across the UK to support others.…
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28 May 2021
Philanthropy Fortnight – Our annual celebration
Our annual celebration of charitable giving explores, encourages and celebrates generosity to causes and communities across NI. As we come to the end of the 9th anniversary…
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26 May 2021
Tech-for-good projects receive £67k boost
The Foundation’s Techies in Residence programme awarded almost £70,000 seed funding to five local projects following a virtual pitch and online showcase (Thursday 20th…
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19 May 2021
Community Foundation welcomes new CEO
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has appointed Róísín Wood as its new Chief Executive. Róisín, previous CEO of Kick It Out, English football’s equality…
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13 May 2021
Addressing social injustice in the deaf community
View Digital have been recently awarded from Comic Relief Community Support programme to produce and publish journalism on deaf inequalities. The UK Deaf community of…
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11 May 2021
Upcoming £10 million Mental Health Fund
The Foundation is proud to announce a new £10 million Mental Health Support Fund, funded by the Department for Health, which will open for applications in the next few…
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7 May 2021
Meet our inspirational Board
The growth and success of the Community Foundation is due in no small part to the knowledge and dedication of our Trustees, past and present. Their contribution has been a…
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5 May 2021
Philanthropy Fortnight 2021 celebrating the outburst of generosity during a pandemic
As one of the most charitable and generous regions in the UK, Northern Ireland is set to celebrate the positive impact of philanthropic giving in our community. During…
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4 May 2021
New Community Investment Fund launching soon
New Community Investment Fund launching, with support from Bank of Ireland UK, Community Giving Fund. We are excited to be launching a new Micro-Community Investment…
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4 May 2021
A century on – ‘my space’, ‘your space’ or ‘our space’
By Michael Hughes As we move towards some of the pivotal dates in the centenary of the formation of Northern Ireland (including 3rd May when one hundred years ago it was…
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27 Apr 2021
Seven NI Civic Innovation projects awarded funding
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s Civic Innovation programme has awarded funding of more than £500,000 to seven initiatives that put people at the centre…
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19 Apr 2021
£4.4 Million fund to support carers
The Community Foundation are proud to be partnering with the Department of Health to support unpaid carers with a new £4.4 million fund, which will open in the next few…
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19 Apr 2021
Public consultation on the new EU PEACE PLUS Programme
PEACE PLUS is a new funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, building upon the work of the…
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8 Apr 2021
£425k All-Island Community Fund launched
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland and Community Foundation Ireland have launched a new All-Island Community Fund. The fund which was launched on a pilot basis…
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29 Mar 2021
Welcoming our new Peace Impact Programme Development Officer
Shauna Deery has been appointed PIP Programme (Peace Impact Programme) Development Officer at the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland based in Derry. She will be…
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29 Mar 2021
Welcoming outdoor sport back this week
As grassroots sport once again begins its phased return in NI it is now essential we use the power of sport to build back better for our young people, who have been…
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25 Mar 2021
Little Stranger by DU Dance
Jane Coyle, writer and originator of the project, little Stranger shares with us how the project came about and her passion to change individuals perceptions of migrant…
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24 Mar 2021
Always in our hearts
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and long-standing Trustee of the Foundation, Fred (David) Bass. Fred played a huge role at the Foundation,…
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10 Mar 2021
Young Enterprise NI inspire students into STEM careers
Techies in Residence (TiR) has supported over 25 groups since its inception and is focused on creating powerful change within communities through digital technology. We…
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8 Mar 2021
Acorn Giving Circle empowering women
International Women’s Day, 8th March, is celebrated globally sharing the outstanding achievements of women building a future that is sustainable, peaceful and inclusive.…
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8 Mar 2021
Women In Philanthropy
On this International Women’s Day (8th March) let’s celebrate the women in philanthropy in NI, their leadership and the increasing impact they make. Women are most…
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8 Mar 2021
Fáilte roimh an Chiste Ultach/Welcome to the Ultach Fund
The Community Foundation is delighted to welcome The Ultach Fund to its family of managed funds. The original Iontaobhas Ultach Trust was established in 1989 to promote the…
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5 Mar 2021
RTE Toy Show Appeal open for applications
The Foundation are thrilled to be part of the first-ever RTÉ Toy Show Appeal. Before Christmas, the show aired and together you helped raise just over €6.6 million to…
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2 Mar 2021
Henry Gill’s Charity opens for applications
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has opened the Gills Charity Fund for applications (1st March 2021) from groups supporting older people in the Carrickfergus…
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1 Mar 2021
DFC Minster and DAERA Officials meet community champions
Today (1st March 2021) Communities Minster Deirdre Hargey, Paul Donnelly, Director of Rural Affairs Division and Gerard Treacy, Head of Branch – Rural Affairs West,…
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19 Feb 2021
258 families sign up to ‘I Can Grow’ project
Over 250 families in Derry and Strabane are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready to embark on the journey towards self-sustainability thanks to a new environmental…
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17 Feb 2021
Growing Food, Growing Community Project
Holywood Transition Town (HTT), Derry City & Strabane District Council (DCSDC), Holywood Shared Town (HST), and the Acorn Fund have joined forces to create a close…
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11 Feb 2021
The Foundation commits to being more open and trusting
Over 50 UK funders have signed a pledge for open and trusting grant-making, committing to be #FlexibleFunders for the organisations they support. The Community…
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4 Feb 2021
Reflections from Andrew, outgoing CEO
It’s a strange time to be doing anything at the moment; and it’s a strange time to be leaving an organisation. My farewells have all been virtual; and when I start my…
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4 Feb 2021
Maurice Healy Social Justice Awards
Maurice Healy died on 18th December 2019, the Community Foundation for NI immediately acknowledged his contribution to the local (and indeed international) fields of social…
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29 Jan 2021
Accelerator Programme empowers voluntary sector
Monkstown Village Initiatives in Newtownabbey is a charitable organisation serving the Monkstown community for over 25 years, with a focus on the regeneration of the…
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22 Jan 2021
How much of a crisis is enough of a crisis to ignite change?
Written by Paul Braithwaite for Involve NI. Paul leads the Foundation’s work on social and civic innovation. Since 2013 he has developed and delivered a series of unique…
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20 Jan 2021
Celebrating public spirit and generosity
In Northern Ireland, there are around 50 individuals at any one time who are destitute because of their asylum status (NICRAS). This means that they have no adequate…
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20 Jan 2021
Covid Response
Since March we have been privileged to work with over 1,000 organisations who have been working tirelessly to provide support to those in our communities. Covid forced…
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13 Jan 2021
Aware NI encourage children to ‘Express Yourself’
12.6% of children and young people in Northern Ireland experience common mood disorders such as anxiety and depression – around 25% higher than in other UK nations…
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5 Jan 2021
Star Boxing Club gains Christmas bonus from Business Eye and Community Foundation partnership
Star Amature Boxing club has been an integral part of the New Lodge community for 82 years. So much more than a boxing club, they work hard to reach young people in the…
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4 Jan 2021
Building leaders, building peace programme
We are now recruiting individuals from a range of communities across Northern Ireland to take part in our Building Leaders, Building Peace: A Grassroots Leadership…
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16 Dec 2020
Circle of Change – A unique giving model
Giving Circles are a collection of individuals who pool their donations together to make grants to local individuals and organisations. Often, they are formed from a group…
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4 Dec 2020
Paul Braithwaite, leading social innovation
We are thrilled to announce our colleague Paul Braithwaite has been highly commended for the C03 Social Innovation Award. An award which celebrates individuals who have…
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3 Dec 2020
Giving Tuesday 2020
December 1st is Giving Tuesday and to mark this global day of giving and generosity, The Community Foundation awarded over £12,500 to three organisations at their online…
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2 Dec 2020
Social Justice Awards launched in memory of Maurice
Maurice Healy died on 18th December 2019 and the Community Foundation for NI immediately acknowledged his contribution to the local (and indeed international) fields of…
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1 Dec 2020
Acorn Fund, sowing seeds of change in Derry and Strabane
People in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area are being invited to take part in a food growing project over the next 18 months. The ‘I can grow’ project,…
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13 Nov 2020
Awards for Destitute Asylum Seekers
Although it’s impossible to know the exact number, NICRAS reports Northern Ireland to have around 50 individuals at any one time who are destitute because of their asylum…
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6 Nov 2020
Embedding a culture of Public Participation in post Covid recovery
Involving the public in shaping our post Covid recovery and building back better was on our agenda at our recent virtual round table discussion for MLA’s and Executives…
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2 Nov 2020
Impact Report 2019/2020
Here at the Community Foundation, we are a local grant-making charitable trust that connects people who care with causes that matter. Matching generous people with…
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2 Nov 2020
£2 Million Community Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund
The Community Foundation is delighted to launch a new £2 million supporting community-based arts, culture and heritage projects, in partnership with the Communities…
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26 Oct 2020
Calling All Techies
The Foundation is delighted to announce six successful organisations who will be taking part in this year’s Techies in Residence (TiR) programme. TiR matches…
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19 Oct 2020
Remembering David and Joe
The last few weeks have seen the sad loss of two people who were closely associated with the Community Foundation. David Cook, a founding trustee of the Foundation…
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16 Oct 2020
Seeing is Believing – A brief insight into mental health
Official reporting states that Northern Ireland has the highest rate of suicide within the UK, however, new information came to light last week that Northern…
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13 Oct 2020
Football Trailblazers show us how it’s done
Football is for everyone and Belfast Trailblazers, a powerchair disability football club, open to all ages, gender and disability was awarded £2,500 through the Foundation…
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13 Oct 2020
Fundraising in the Midst of Crisis Workshops
As Covid-19 continues to restrict what was considered normal community interactions and activities, many of our community and voluntary sector groups have seen their annual…
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1 Oct 2020
From Event Tourism to ‘Community Calling’
Sarah Scullion As a mum, freelancer and entrepreneur Sarah Scullion leads a busy life. Launching a travel startup specialising in event tourism was her next step. …
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25 Sep 2020
Community Empowerment and Leadership in Uncertain Times
The last 25 weeks have felt like a movie. For some it’s been a wonderful life and for others, it’s been a nightmare on Elm Street – For most it’s been…
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17 Sep 2020
How Rosie’s Trust has been keeping owners and pets together during lockdown
In response to coronavirus and the changing needs within communities, our Coronavirus Funds have awarded over £4 million to nearly 1,000 communities throughout Northern…
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11 Sep 2020
Techies in Residence calls for tech professionals
The Community Foundation’s Techies in Residence programme, which matches charities and social enterprises in Northern Ireland with digital technology partners, is now…
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10 Sep 2020
Crossroads NI – supporting young careers
Crossroads NI, partly funded through the Coronavirus Community Fund, provides respite care for Carers, young and old. One of their main projects is working with Young…
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8 Sep 2020
Sharing or Divisive history? – A reflection of Anger Atonement and Healing
By Michael Hughes In a decade where the centenary celebrations/commemorations for such events as the First World War, the 1916 Rising and the sinking of the Titanic have…
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8 Sep 2020
Accelerator programme supports a more resilient voluntary sector
The Community Foundation, in partnership with the Department for Communities (DfC) and NICVA will this week launch a new Accelerator Programme for the voluntary sector. …
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26 Aug 2020
Allegri community-based arts & culture initiative brings music into lockdown
Covid-19 has impacted on all of us, including the enriching interactions and activities we previously took for granted and for many have disappeared from their lives. …
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25 Aug 2020
Voluntary and Community sector receives £500,000 boost
Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has joined forces with local philanthropists to invest £500,000 in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector. The…
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19 Aug 2020
103 Communities across NI supported with New Needs
Our New Needs Fund was set up to support communities to respond better and address new needs appearing in the community as a result of the Coronavirus. With restrictions…
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17 Aug 2020
Climate action vision for Derry/Londonderry
The first investment by the National Lottery Community Fund to help communities to reduce their carbon footprint in NI has been awarded to the Community Foundation’s…
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7 Aug 2020
Techies In Residence Youth app helping young people tackle COVID-19 self-isolation
A mobile app to support teens and young adults with arthritis self-isolating in the wake of COVID-19 has been launched by the charity Versus Arthritis. The development of…
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7 Aug 2020
Techies In Residence Information Sessions Available
If a tech solution could help your community build on their potential or empower you to reach your ambitions this programme could be for you. Techies in Residence…
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6 Aug 2020
“Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict”
The Community Foundation offers its sincere condolences to the Hume family on the passing of John Hume, former leader of the SDLP, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Ghandi Peace…
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31 Jul 2020
‘Philanthropy for a safe, healthy and just world‘
Dawn Shackels, Director of Peace-building and Communities at the Community Foundation Northern Ireland. (This article was originally published by Foundations for Peace)…
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22 Jul 2020
£700,000 Comic Relief Fund Supporting Communities to Rebuild
As we rebuild towards a “New Normal” the Community Foundation and Comic Relief are mindful of the many issues that need to be addressed along our recovery journey. Many…
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21 Jul 2020
FUSE project supporting community cohesion in North Belfast
The Foundation work in partnership with the International Fund for Ireland to deliver Peace Impact Programmes (PIP) across the whole of Northern Ireland. PIP is designed to…
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16 Jul 2020
Thank you from our team to yours
Thank you form our team to yours The endless work and hours of volunteering during this challenging period have not gone unnoticed. Andrew McCracken our CEO has a message…
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10 Jul 2020
Small things make a huge difference – The Ann McGeeney Fund
Ann McGeeney was born on the 3rd June 1962 in Cornonagh, a small townland outside Crossmaglen in South Armagh. Ann began her working life in Crossmaglen as manager of the…
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10 Jul 2020
Gill’s Charity Fund
It’s not everyday that you receive a gift from a Will that is 260 years old. But when The Gill’s Charity, based in Carrickfergus, got in touch with the Foundation two…
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10 Jul 2020
First round of New Needs Funding awarded to sixteen groups
In response to coronavirus and the changing needs within communities, our New Needs Fund awarded £85,000 to sixteen communities throughout Northern Ireland this week. …
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29 Jun 2020
New Needs Fund Now Open
Community Foundation launches a £600,000 New Needs Fund helping communities and community organisations to address new needs appearing as a result of coronavirus. …
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26 Jun 2020
Techies in Residence launches ‘Design Hops’ to support VCSE Sector online
The Community Foundation has today, 26th June 2020, announced a new approach to its 5th round of Techies in Residence, an innovative programme which matches local charities…
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5 Jun 2020
Reflections on community responses to COVID-19
Paul Braithwaite, Community Foundation, and Maurice Meehan, Public Health Agency (This article was published by PHA on 27 May) In Northern Ireland we are used to…
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1 Jun 2020
Pressure Groups Empower Community Change
Throughout the Foundation’s history we have been committed to addressing the challenges of peacebuilding, social justice and effective community development. We believe…
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29 May 2020
360 Giving Data
Coronavirus Community Fund Update Opened 15th March 1,015 applications received £1.68 Million awarded to groups Over 515 groups supported Through the Coronavirus…
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26 May 2020
Promoting Wellbeing and Positive Thinking through Art Therapy
Mollie Browne, recently received an award from the Thomas Devlin Fund to support her journey on an Art Foundation Course at the Ulster School of Art in Belfast. A past…
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24 May 2020
Kindness in lockdown for mental health
“It’s important we learn from the coronavirus pandemic to be more kind as a society.” As mental health awareness week draws to a close and we live our lives in…
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4 May 2020
Saying Thank you on #GivingTuesdayNow
On Tuesday 5th May we’re celebrating a global day of unity in response to Coronavirus – #GivingTuesdayNow. A day where people come together to recognise, celebrate…
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1 May 2020
Coronavirus Foundation Update
Coronavirus Community Fund Update Opened 15th March 1,016 applications received £1.68 Million awarded to groups Over 515 groups supported View groups here. So…
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30 Apr 2020
Comic Relief supports ‘No Child Goes Hungry – Community Support Programme’.
Comic Relief and the Community Foundation respond to child hunger in Northern Ireland as a direct result of the COVID-19 crisis. Through the Children Surviving and Thriving…
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30 Apr 2020
Communities Achieving Impact
We’re delighted to have awarded over £1,000,000 in funding from our Coronavirus Community Fund. In just four weeks nearly 300 local communities who are doing amazing…
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27 Apr 2020
£21m is not enough – Andrew’s advice to charity CEO’s
It’s now two weeks since the UK Chancellor announced £750m of extra funding for frontline charities across the UK and we’re hoping to hear shortly what that…
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23 Apr 2020
Giving in response to Covid19? Do it ….. but just take a minute to answer 3 questions
Taking a minute is something we’ve all done more of recently. As life as we know it has changed we’ve had to stop and think about what to do, how to cope, our family…
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22 Apr 2020
The Lightbody Foundation supports vulnerable people affected by Coronavirus
The Lightbody Foundation set up by Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody has donated £30,000 to support the most vulnerable groups affected by Coronavirus. The £30,000…
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15 Apr 2020
Community Foundation Coronavirus Community Fund grows to over £1 million after three weeks of launching
The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has awarded £622k to over 245 community groups supporting people of all ages and at increased risk as a result of the virus,…
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12 Apr 2020
Derry City and Strabane District Council Contributes £50,000
A special fund of £50,000 will open today in Derry and Strabane to assist with the delivery of support and bolster vital community services in the local response to…
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9 Apr 2020
Minister announces funding supporting the Coronavirus Community Fund
DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots MLA today announced that he will provide £200,000 towards the ‘Coronavirus Community Fund’. The Community Foundation fund, which opened on…
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3 Apr 2020
Bank of Ireland donate €150,000 to the Community Foundation Coronavirus Community Fund
Bank of Ireland have donated €150,000 in support of local charities and community organisations assisting vulnerable individuals and groups through challenges faced by…
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30 Mar 2020
The Community Foundation receives £100,000 from National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal
The National Emergencies Trust (NET) has announced the first allocation of nearly £2.5m going out to front line charities to help those most in need. £100,000 of the…
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28 Mar 2020
ARN Foundation contributes an additional £100,000 to the Coronavirus Community Fund
The Community Foundation welcomed an additional contribution of £100,000 from the ARN Foundation today, funding which is much needed in Northern Ireland . The ARN…
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26 Mar 2020
Communities rally together to offer support to the vulnerable
In just three weeks the Coronavirus Community Fund has reached a total of £1 million! Awarding over 245 community groups and awarded over £624,000 to groups seeking to…
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25 Mar 2020
Community Foundation broadens criteria for Coronavirus Community Fund
Adapting to what we’ve been hearing from groups on the ground, other funders in NI and the changing daily challenges presented by Covid19, the Community Foundation will…
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24 Mar 2020
A note from our CEO
Like everyone, my life is currently dominated by background noise of uncertainty and fear. It’s completely daunting. I’ve just spent 30 minutes reading through the…
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20 Mar 2020
£200,000 for the Community Foundation Coronavirus Community Fund
The Community Foundation are delighted to be working with the Department for Communities. Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey MLA, has announced that she is providing…
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20 Mar 2020
Ulster Garden Villages Limited match fund the Community Foundation Coronavirus Community fund
The Community Foundation are delighted to receive this first major contribution from Ulster Garden Villages to their recently launched Coronavirus Community Fund. This…
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18 Mar 2020
The National Emergencies Trust Appeal
The National Emergencies Trust has today (Wednesday 18th March) launched an appeal to raise funds to help local charities to support those individuals suffering hardship as…
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15 Mar 2020
Community Foundation launches Coronavirus Community Fund
Joining the wave of generosity that the coronavirus is provoking from communities across Northern Ireland, the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland has opened a fund…
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14 Mar 2020
Funding new solutions to real world social, economic and environmental challenges
This week we completed our latest Community Innovators programme with 18 groups pitching for a share of £140,000 of seed funding. The teams presented their ideas and…
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