Dormant Accounts Fund NI will support the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland to be more resilient and prepared for the future by funding activity that increases capacity and sustainability. We hope the programme will support organisations to adapt to future challenges and be more financially resilient.
Dormant accounts are UK bank and building society accounts that have been untouched for 15 or more years, and where banks and building societies are unable to trace the customer who owns the account.
We received policy directions from the Department of Finance in September 2019. These funds are not derived from National Lottery activity. Around £20 million has built up over the past ten years.
Money from Dormant Accounts will continue to be released for us to distribute each year to support capacity-building and increase resilience and sustainability in the Northern Ireland VCSE sector. Given that this is a rolling fund, we’re taking a phased and long-term approach to support the sector, based on learning. We are encouraging groups to take their time in developing an idea which will best fit their needs for the future.
For this first phase, we have developed a flexible and responsive grant programme that will support organisations to be able to adapt to future challenges and be more financially resilient. We want to fund organisations that can identify the best way to improve their long-term capacity, sustainability or resilience to best deliver their mission.
We anticipate that we’ll award funding for between one and three years, in order to have the greatest impact for the organisations and the communities they serve. Complete the online application if you have an idea that meets these aims.
We’ll also support larger investments that will enable collaboration and develop new and creative approaches to sustainability. These Northern Ireland-wide or sector-specific proposals could focus on specific themes such as volunteering, digital capacity or diversity and inclusion. These are examples of themes and not set criteria. Contact us directly if you feel this avenue is more appropriate for your idea.
Area
Northern Ireland
Funding size
Up to £100,000 for individual organisations
Total available
If you think you will need more than £100,000 for your project because you’re working in partnership, please get in touch.
Application deadline: Ongoing
For more information go to : www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/dormant-accounts-ni
