GrantRadar

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Financial Assistance 2027-2028 – Call 1

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's annual Financial Assistance programme for the community and voluntary (not-for-profit) sector in the district. Call 1 for 2027-2028 funds projects under 14 themes, from arts, culture and heritage and community events to good relations, Irish language, sports programmes, suicide prevention and ending violence against women and girls. Each theme has its own guidance notes and grant range, published on the council's SmartSimple grant system.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Amount not specified
Deadline
37 days left
30 November
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Community and voluntary sector (not-for-profit) organisations delivering projects in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area
  • The council's 2025-2026 guidance defined eligible applicants as the voluntary sector including social enterprises and Community Interest Companies; groups had to be constituted, with audited or income and expenditure accounts and a bank account in the organisation's name; sole traders and private sector organisations were ineligible
  • Individual themes have their own rules: in 2025-2026 Community Summer Schemes were limited to constituted community associations, schools could apply under Local Biodiversity Enhancement, and Tourism Events required at least £15,000 of spend on the event from other sources

What it funds

Projects under the following thematic areas:

  • Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Community Engagement
  • Community Events and Festivals
  • Community Growing 'Lets Grown NMD'
  • Community Summer Schemes
  • Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
  • Good Relations
  • Irish Language
  • Local Biodiversity Enhancement
  • Minority Communities
  • PCSP Community Safety and Support
  • Sports Programmes
  • Suicide Prevention and Emotional Wellbeing
  • Tourism Events

All themes are subject to funding availability.

What it will not fund

  • Applications from sole traders or private sector organisations
  • Retrospective applications for projects already started
  • Purchase of gifts and presentations to individuals
  • 'Own labour' and hire of 'own facilities'
  • Volunteer or existing staff costs, donations to charities and sponsorships
  • Projects which pass income from the project to a charity or other third-party organisation via sponsorship or donations
  • Projects generating a profit, unless the income is used to enhance the project or offset costs outside those applied for
  • More than one application per organisation per event/theme area
  • Requests outside the minimum and maximum limit for the theme

These exclusions are from the council's 2025-2026 Call 1 guidance; check the 2027-2028 theme guidance notes on SmartSimple for the current list.

How to apply

  1. Optionally attend an information workshop, booked via TicketSource: 19 October 2026 7pm at Newry Leisure Centre, 22 October 2026 7pm at Down Leisure Centre, Downpatrick, or 4 November 2026 12.30pm on MS Teams
  2. Create an account on the council's Grant Manager (SmartSimple) system at newrymournedowndc.smartsimpleuk.com and read the guidance notes for your theme
  3. Submit the application on SmartSimple by 12 noon on Monday 30 November 2026

Late application submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

'How To' instructions for registering on SmartSimple can be downloaded from the grants page; for help contact the Grants and Funding Unit on 0330 137 4040.

Have ready

  • Annual audited accounts, independently examined accounts or income and expenditure accounts, dated within two years of the application
  • For Community Growing and Local Biodiversity Enhancement: the identity of the landowner(s) and written permission to use the land, where available

Taken from the council's 2025-2026 guidance; the 2027-2028 theme guidance notes on SmartSimple give the current requirements.

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