Launch of Pears Community Spaces Fund

23 May 2019

The Community Foundation has launched a new fund in partnership with Pears Foundation, focused on encouraging and developing greater understanding between people of different backgrounds.

‘The Pears Community Spaces Fund’, will give grants of up to £5,000 and will be open for applications from community and voluntary groups who can demonstrate a partnership approach to addressing identified need. The grants awarded will give space to groups to connect, share ideas, explore and learn together. Funding may be used to carry out joint activities or events aimed at bringing different communities together, whether that be communities of faith, ethnicity, neighbourhood or of different backgrounds. It may also be put towards using shared spaces in local communities.

Dawn Shackels, Director of Peace Building and Communities at the Community Foundation said “When we connect people who care to causes that matter, we encourage communities to be proud of who they are and to work together to be innovative and take risks in trying new solutions to problems. The Pears Community Spaces Fund will do just that. It is more than simply a pot of financial support-it is a creative vehicle to encourage joint working and cohesion between groups, encouraging and supporting collaboration to bring different communities together.”
“The timing of this generous support from Pears Foundation to communities in NI also coincides with Philanthropy Fortnight, our annual campaign to celebrate giving and generosity across Northern Ireland and we are so pleased to be launching this fund today and partnering with Pears Foundation to deliver ‘The Pears Community Spaces Fund’.

Sir Trevor Pears CMG, Executive Chair of Pears Foundation said, “Pears Foundation is committed to supporting communities across the UK. We are pleased to be working with the Community Foundation to address these universal challenges and through this funding, give groups and communities in NI the space to work together.”

The Pears Community Spaces Fund is now closed for applications. For further information please email
Mhughes@communityfoundationni.org