Hardship Funding: Community Grants Now Open

The DfC Hardship Fund will be used to support and sustain community projects/organisations who are providing practical support to help tackle and alleviate food and fuel poverty.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will effectively administer the allocated Hardship Funding via Open Call Community Grants and Direct Awards to established community partners, organisations delivering food and fuel relief projects across the Borough to support with increased demand on services during the cost of living crisis.

Two Community Grant Programmes currently available in the Borough through the Hardship Fund are:

1. Warm Well Connected Grant- aims to support organisations to provide a warm space and hot food provision within community facilities for local residents during the colder winter months of December-March. Applications are now open and are available for completion online at antrimnewtownabbey.eformz.info from 12noon on Friday 29 September 2023. The grant will close on Friday 20 October at 4pm.

2. Community Fridges Grant- will provide financial support to organisations who have been delivering a community fridge/cupboard initiative within Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough since 01 April 2022. Applications are now open and are available for completion online at antrimnewtownabbey.eformz.info from 12noon on Friday 29 September 2023. The grant will close on Friday 20 October at 4pm.

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper said, “This funding is important, as it will deliver support to projects and organisations to provide food, fuel and financial relief to families and households experiencing financial difficulties within the Borough during the Cost of Living Crisis.

“The Community Grants available through the Hardship Fund will provide a much needed opportunity for local organisations to apply for funding to increase food provision and access to warm spaces in the community during the colder winter months of December- March. We encourage local community and voluntary groups to embrace this opportunity and utilise the grant aid available”

For more information about these grants and others, visit antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/grants