Funding to Support Social Justice Initiatives in Northern Ireland Communities

A funding programme designed to help local communities in Northern Ireland give voice to marginalised groups is inviting applications.

Funding is available for locally based community groups and ‘communities of interest’ in Northern Ireland for projects that are promoting or embedding human rights and social justice in their day-to-day work, for and with their chosen communities.

The Social Justice Small Grants Programme was originally set up by Atlantic Philanthropies as part of its Human Rights legacy in Northern Ireland, and is administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

The programme is inviting applications from constituted, locally based community groups and locally based ‘communities of interest’, or those working towards being constituted, with an income of £1.5 million or less.

The funding is to be used for costs associated with projects that address at least one of the following objectives:

  • To give voice and power to those whose human rights are most at risk and to support them to challenge inequality, exclusion, and unfairness.
  • To provide groups and communities with support to challenge, monitor and remedy inequality and rights violations.
  • To increase awareness of and contribute to building a culture of rights within and between communities, particularly those most marginalised from decision making
  • To support communities and marginalised groups to find solutions to contentious issues.

In addition, applicants must show how they will advance and adhere to the values of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund (NIHRF).

There is particular interest in projects which focus on peacebuilding/legacy, racial justice, gender, health, socio-economic rights, tech, and digital rights, (including the need for accountability and safeguards), and climate.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available. In some instances, grants of up to £15,000 may be considered.

The deadline for applications is 6 October 2023 (1pm).

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)