Community Foundation for Northern Ireland – Fibrus Community Fund
Grants are available for local community groups and voluntary organisations to address digital poverty in rural communities in Northern Ireland.
Fund Information
| Funding body: | Community Foundation Northern Ireland |
| Maximum value: | £ 2,000 |
| Application deadline: | 20/02/2023 |
Background
The Fibrus Community Fund is administered by Community Foundation Northern Ireland in partnership with Fibrus Networks Ltd.
Objectives of Fund
The funding is intended to assist grassroots organisations in providing digital technology for the most vulnerable, promoting connectivity, community and facilitating a strong, sustainable broadband connection across rural communities in Northern Ireland.
Value Notes
Grants of up to £2,000 are available.
Who Can Apply
Applications will be accepted from community groups, voluntary organisations and other local, grassroots or community-led organisations.
In the event of oversubscription, the fund will prioritise:
- Applicants who have not previously been awarded a grant from the fund.
- Organisations that have an annual income below £50,000.
- Those who more clearly articulate the need in relation to the beneficiaries.
Location
Eligible postcodes
T22 , BT23, BT24, BT25, BT26, BT27, BT28, BT30, BT31, BT32, BT33, BT34, BT35, BT38, BT39, BT40, BT41, BT42, BT43, BT44, BT45, BT46, BT48, BT51, BT52, BT53, BT54, BT55, BT56, BT57, BT60, BT61, BT62, BT63, BT65, BT66, BT67, BT69, BT70, BT71, BT74, BT75, BT76, BT77, BT78, BT79, BT80, BT81, BT82, BT92, BT93, BT94
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Organisations or activities linked to the promotion of armaments, alcohol, human rights abuses, tobacco or pornography.
- The advancement of religion. This includes organisations whose purposes include the advancement of religion.
- The establishment of endowment of any school or institution providing further education within the meaning of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.
- The provision of assistance to any Housing Association within the meaning of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.
- Promotion of religious or political activity, including any flags and emblems that may deem to be associated with such.
- CIC Companies Limited by Shares, or CICs without an asset lock clause. Eligible CICs must have at least three unrelated committee members, and/or the majority of the committee unrelated.
- Trips outside of Northern Ireland.
- Applications from individuals.
- Applications from statutory organisations.
- Purchase of vehicles.
- Holiday schemes.
- Parties and shopping trips.
- Activities that duplicate existing services.
- Retrospective funding.
- Substitution for statutory funding.
- Groups who have not complied with previous monitoring requirements.
Eligible Expenditure
Priority will be given to proposed activities specifically aimed at young people who need greater access to technology or connectivity, or initiatives to combat digital exclusion among the elderly.
Examples of the types of projects that could be funded include:
- Projects that provide access to engage with a range of digital devices (laptops, tablets, iPads, smart-phones, etc.), such as a community loan facility, etc.
- Projects that strengthen the capacity of individuals to use a range of available digital services, such as training workshops or courses, which may also include catering and venue hire costs.
- Projects that provide access to enhance connections with others, such as a community-use internet hub, or internet café, etc.
- Provision of internet installation/connection in community facilities for community use.
Priority will be given to projects that:
- Focus on the positive contribution of people within the community, and support those most in need of support to use and access digital technologies.
- Intend to build on the assets within the community, to support those who have faced digital challenges.
- Focus on the need of their beneficiaries in terms of digital poverty, as well as focus on what is good about their community, and how this project will build on previous successes as a community, and support the beneficiary/beneficiaries in the longer term.
How To Apply
The deadline for applications is 1pm on 20 February 2023.
A detailed list of eligible postcodes and the online application form can be accessed from the Community Foundation Northern Ireland website.
Contact Community Foundation Northern Ireland for further information.
Useful links
The Fibrus Community Fund – Community Foundation Northern Ireland (communityfoundationni.org)
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
Enquiries
Community Foundation Northern Ireland
Community House
City Link Business Park
6a Albert Street
Belfast BT12 4HQ
Tel: 44 (0) 28 9024 5927
E-Mail: info@communityfoundationni.org
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