Community Investment Grants Programme Open For Applications
Mid Ulster District Council has opened its newly redesigned Community Investment Programme, marking a major step forward in how the Council supports and invests in the community and voluntary sector across the district.
The new grant programme represents a complete refresh of the Council’s approach to community funding, putting in place a streamlined, evidence-based investment framework that targets resources where they can make the greatest difference to local people and places.
Built around the principle of improving outcomes for communities, the redesigned programme has a clear focus on strengthening collaboration at a local level and ensuring that every pound invested delivers tangible, positive change.
Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Frances Burton has welcomed the new programme, saying:
“This new Community Investment Programme is designed to make our funding more effective, more accessible, and more responsive to local need. It’s about giving communities the support they need to thrive — and ensuring that investment is targeted, fair, and focused on delivering lasting outcomes for people across Mid Ulster.”
The new Community Investment Programme consolidates 17 previous grant schemes into just 5 categories, simplifying access for community groups and creating a more transparent, outcomes-driven process.
The five new funding categories are:
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Community Development Grants (up to £5,000) – for organisations delivering ongoing programmes of community activity over one to three years, aligned with local priorities.
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Strategic Events Grants (up to £8,000) – for large-scale community festivals or events attracting more than 2,000 attendees and promoting equality, inclusion, and regional participation.
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Irish Language Activity Grants (up to £6,000).
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Community Infrastructure Capital Investment (up to £50,000 for capital projects; up to £10,000 for feasibility studies).
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Bursaries for sports and regional and minority language activities (up to £500).
A key change in the new approach is the introduction of three-year funding cycles for Community Development, Strategic Events, and Irish Language Activity Grants. This shift to multi-annual awards provides greater financial stability and longer-term planning opportunities for community organisations. Community Infrastructure Capital Investment Grants and Bursaries will continue to open on an annual basis.
The changes follow extensive engagement with the community and voluntary sector, which called for recognition of the contribution community groups make to delivering local outcomes, multi-annual funding awards and a simplified and proportionate application and monitoring process.
To help groups prepare for the new programme, the Council will host a series of pre-application workshops through the end of November and December 2025 in Maghera; Clogher; Cookstown; Bellaghy; Coalisland; Dungannon and Magherafelt, with a final online session in January 2026. These sessions will guide applicants through the new process, outline eligibility and assessment criteria, and provide practical advice on developing strong, outcome-focused proposals.
Details and booking information for the workshops are available on the Council’s website at https://www.midulstercouncil.org/grants