Community Groups urged to apply for £2.5m Fund grants

Ulster Bank is calling on local charities, social enterprises, community groups and state-funded schools or colleges to apply for grants with the opening of the 2016 Skills & Opportunities Fund programme.

The initiative which was first launched in 2015 is part of a broader UK and Ireland Skills & Opportunities Fund from Ulster Bank, RBS and Nat West with £2.5 million distributed annually over a three year period.  The fund aims to support projects in disadvantaged communities that help people access the skills and opportunities needed to get into work or start a business now or in the future. 

The 2016 Round One application process can be accessed online and the closing date for all submissions is Friday 19 February. All groups should have a proven track record in organising and delivering programmes within disadvantaged communities.  Last year the fund awarded 10 grants island-wide, many to large-scale projects supporting enterprise and employability. This year the Fund will be encouraging applications for projects on a smaller scale – ie seeking funding from £1,000 to £10,000 and reaching more local organisations throughout Northern Ireland. Representatives of qualifying organisations should apply via the online portal: www.skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.com.  

Sean Murphy, Regional Managing Director Branch and Private Banking said “We were extremely impressed by the large number and high quality entries received locally for both rounds of the programme last year and are looking forward to a similar diverse and inspirational range of entries. Indeed we are hoping that the good news stories from some of our first round winners will inspire even more organisations to apply this year.

“Projects we award money to should support people into work, provide greater access to educational opportunities and inspire new business start-ups.  We’re particularly keen in this round to support smaller, more localised projects with grants from £2,500 to £10,000, and welcome applications from projects that can benefit from the support of our staff as volunteers or mentors.”

A panel of experts including independent judges and Ulster Bank senior managers will be involved in reviewing all entries and publishing a shortlist. Voting will then be open to the public on Friday 8th April with the public vote counting as one vote within the final phase of judging.  The winning projects will be announced week commencing 23 May 2016.

UK and Ireland wide the Skills & Opportunities Fund attracted over 1,800 entries from not-for-profit organisations in 2015 with 90 groups going on to win grants of up to £35,000.

Locally four organisations collected over £100K in 2015. Lenadoon Community Forum and Ballybeen Women’s Centre each won £35,000 to support skills and employment projects in their local area whilst Young Enterprise was awarded £25K to further expand a Quickstart programme aimed at developing the entrepreneurial skills of young people in schools. Co-operation Ireland also won £9,600 to roll out a cross-community jobs programme for 17-20 young people.    

For more information, to apply for funding or register your vote when the time comes visit skillsandopportunitiesfund.rbs.com