Coronavirus Community Fund in Northern Ireland

Deadline: Ongoing

The Coronavirus Community Fund is open to community organisations throughout Northern Ireland, who are supporting isolated older people at this time.

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The focus of the fund will be to offer community organisations emergency funding to deal with emerging issues in the community, affecting older people (aged 50 and over), as a result of the continuing threat of coronavirus, and the need for self isolation, and potential for further exacerbation of loneliness and isolation of these older people.

What can be supported within the fund themes?

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Running costs for organisations to provide such support, including volunteer expenses, staff costs, and transport; providing the organisation is focusing their attention on providing support to both existing, and any potential new beneficiaries.
Small capital costs are eligible, providing the capital item will address the priorities of the fund, and is linked to keeping the older person connected to the outside world.
Examples might include:

Enabling older people to keep warm by accessing home heating oil or warm clothes.
Enabling older people to access a nutritious meal by connecting them to services providing groceries, and/or ready made meals.
Enabling and encouraging older people to use and access technology to keep them connected to the outside world.
Reaching out to isolated older people by telephone, and befriending if possible.
Funding Information

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Typically the Fund will be able to provide grants of £1,000, however, they will consider applications for up to £2,500, if it is clear within the application that the funds are needed and will provide support for isolated older people.

The Fund will not support:

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Applications from individuals
Purchase of vehicles
Holiday schemes
Parties and shopping trips
Promotion of religion, this includes organisations whose main purpose includes advancement of religion
Party political activity
Applications from statutory organisations
The Community Foundation will also not fund organisations or activities which promote causes that are contrary to purposes. Causes and activities that are contrary to the purposes include, but may not be limited to, those outlined in investment policy. The Fund will not therefore fund organisations or activities which they determine are linked to the promotion of armaments, alcohol, human rights abuses, tobacco or pornography.
Eligibility Criteria

Fully constituted community organisations based within Northern Ireland.

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The Fund wants to support community groups working together; particularly in smaller geographical communities. They will therefore encourage a partnership approach, and one application from one lead organisation, rather than a number of separate applications.
To be eligible to apply your project must support older people (aged 50 and over) and help to:
Reduce isolation and vulnerability of older people during any isolation period that may arise as a result of the threat of covid 19,
Supporting ongoing needs of older people, to ensure that their well being is maintained,
Any initiative that will help ensure older people remain connected with the outside world during this time.
Criteria and Guidance

The current novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which began in December 2019, presents a significant challenge for Northern Ireland, as well as globally.
Current analysis shows that the death rate from covid 19 was ten times higher in the very elderly compared to the middle-aged.
Those aged over 50 appear to be the most at risk of serious illness, and deaths were also at much more common among people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or respiratory problems.
There also appears to be a slightly higher number of deaths among men compared to women.
In recognition of the emerging threat of covid-19, and particularly to older people; and the great contribution that communities are already offering to support their older people, the Community Foundation has developed an emergency fund; following consultation with a number of organisations who support older people in Northern Ireland.

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Please read the following text before beginning your application:

You are a locally based not-for-profit, voluntary or community group working in Northern Ireland to improve the quality of life for local people
You have an active management committee, with no two related cheque signatories
You have a current bank account in the name of your organisation
You have up to date annual accounts
You have complied with the conditions of previous grants including submission of monitoring returns
For more information, visit https://communityfoundationni.org/grants/coronavirus-community-fund/