1) Christmas Large Village Switch-on Events (currently closed)
Available to any community development group responsible for organising one large village event.

2) Christmas Senior Citizens Events (currently closed)
Available to seniors groups for events which are open to the wider community.

3) Community Insurance Grant (currently closed)
Only available to groups once within any 12 month period.

Available to organisations carrying out a wide range of activities, for example, community activities, social/leisure, environmental, cultural, educational and economic development.

Please note that the group may be a specific interest group, for example, a senior citizens group running a luncheon club. However, they could also be involved in organising physical activities or lectures on health and safety and running reminiscence projects in addition to their main activity.

4) Rural Support (currently open)
Available to umbrella organisations representing a village or other clearly defined rural area.

5) Seeding Grant (currently open)
Used to help set up new groups and only available to those groups who have been in existence for one year or less.

6) Summer Events and Festivals (currently closed)
Available to organisations to support the delivery of Events and Festivals which are for the benefit of local people, contribute to civic pride and identity, demonstrate community participation or management. Events must be open to all sections of the community and must take place in the Borough of Antrim between late May and early September (outside of this Antrim Borough Council may consider applications for events being organised for St Patrick's Day 2009).

7) Summer Schemes (currently closed)
Available to support organisations in the delivery of Summer Schemes which are for the benefit of local young people, contribute to civic pride and identity, demonstrate community participation or management. Must be open to all sections of the community and take place in the Borough of Antrim between 1 July and 31 August, in liaison with North Eastern Education and Library Board Youth Service.

For further information on any of the above grant aid programmes please contact a member of the community services team on:

T: 028 9446 3113 E: community.services@antrim.gov.uk

8) Good Relations (currently open)
Available to support organisations in the delivery of events and projects that will engage participants in good relations themes, namely tackling racism, sectarianism and promoting shared communities. Applicants are strongly advised to contact the Good Relations Officer well in advance of the event/project to ensure that good relations themes are central to the application.

If your group is interested in improving community relations within the Borough of Antrim the Council may, at its discretion, give grant aid to programmes which provide:-

New and ongoing cross-community contact including training and events with a specific community relations theme
Cultural diversity, including grant aid for events and training that will promote mutual respect
Equality of service delivery and equitable treatment including the support of projects addressing diversity and the auditing of community relations issues
A programme of a regional nature, in conjunction with other district council community relations programmes
Programmes developing the linkages between community relations, equality and human rights

Consideration will also be given to programmes that address community relations issues relating to community safety.

For further information please contact the Good Relations Officer, Ian Wallace

T: 028 9446 3113 ext 1340
E: ian.wallace@antrim.gov.uk

9) Antrim Community Development Fund (open - closing date 4pm, Wednesday 13 August 2008) Available to community development or community economic development projects this grant assistance can cover capital costs or ongoing core staff costs up to £10,000. Successful applicants will be required to complete spend by 31 March 2009.

10) Community Festivals Fund (currently closed)
This fund has been established by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and jointly funded by DCAL and Antrim Borough Council. It's available to community groups towards the costs of events and to improve the capacity of community festivals and make them less reliant on public funding by providing support and training.

In this instance, a festival is defined as a series of events with a common theme and delivered within a defined time period. It should celebrate and positively promote what the community represents.

Community Festival Fund Application and Guidelines

Please note for all programmes:

1. The Community Services team are available should you require any assistance with an application.

2. A pre-assessment check will be available to those groups who submit an application at least two weeks prior to the funding deadline (if applicable).

3. FUNDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO PROGRAMMES OR ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY COMMENCED OR COMPLETED.

On an annual basis the approximate closing date for each of these programmes will be 12 noon on the second last Friday of:

Christmas Large Village Switch-on events - September each year
Christmas Senior Citizens Events - September each year
Community Insurance Grant - May and October each year
Rural Support - Ongoing, no deadline
Seeding Grant - Ongoing, no deadline
Summer Events and Festivals - February each year
Summer Schemes - February each year
Good Relations - Ongoing, no deadline
Antrim Community Development Fund - not yet confirmed
Community Festivals Fund - February each year

Please ensure that you select the correct grant aid type for the activity/project for which you are applying and ensure it is returned by the appropriate closing date.

In order to apply for this grant aid your organisation must meet the Eligibility Criteria set out below.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be:

a) A properly constituted group from the community/voluntary sector
b) Other group which demonstrates the support or involvement of disadvantaged and/or target group
c) Based/working within the Antrim Borough Council area

Ineligible Activities/Items:

a) Retrospective payments
b) Food or drink (with the exception of Christmas Events)
c) Groups mainly engaged in Sports, Arts and/or Cultural activities
d) Equipment is only applicable to Rural Support

For further information or help with an application form, please contact the Community Services team on T: 9446 3113 or email community.services@antrim.gov.uk