Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme supports volunteer-led, community-driven projects that improve local environments, enhance shared spaces, and strengthen civic pride across Northern Ireland. The programme funds practical environmental actions that transform underused areas, improve biodiversity, and encourage community participation in maintaining cleaner, greener public spaces.
Delivered in partnership with local councils and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the scheme is designed to empower small community groups to deliver visible environmental improvements at a local level.
About the Programme
- The scheme supports community-led environmental improvement projects.
- It is delivered in partnership with Live Here Love Here, councils, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
- It focuses on enhancing public and green spaces.
- The programme encourages civic pride and community involvement.
- It supports volunteer-led environmental action.
- It promotes biodiversity and ecological improvements.
- It helps transform underused or neglected spaces.
- It strengthens local environmental stewardship.
Programme Objectives
- Increase civic pride through community action.
- Improve quality and usability of local green spaces.
- Transform underused areas into community assets.
- Enhance health and wellbeing through better environments.
- Promote biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
- Reduce littering and dog fouling through local action.
- Support environmental improvement of coastal and inland areas.
- Strengthen community engagement in environmental care.
- Improve environmental management at local level.
- Encourage inclusive participation in community projects.
Key Focus Areas
- Community-led environmental improvement projects.
- Enhancement of parks, green spaces, and public areas.
- Biodiversity and habitat improvement initiatives.
- Coastal and inland waterway clean-up and enhancement.
- Anti-littering and community cleanliness campaigns.
- Urban regeneration of underused spaces.
- Community wellbeing through environmental action.
- Local conservation and sustainability projects.
- Volunteer engagement and participation activities.
Funding Information
- Grants available: £500 to £3,000.
- Non-constituted groups may apply for up to £1,000.
- Funding supports small-scale community environmental projects.
- Volunteer-led delivery is a core requirement.
- Professional labour costs limited to a maximum of 30% of the grant.
- Funding cannot be used for overheads or running costs.
What Funding Cannot Be Used For
The scheme does not support:
- Salaries or ongoing staff costs.
- Insurance, mileage, or general overheads.
- Office running costs.
- Catering or volunteer expenses.
- Capital equipment or large machinery.
- Electronic equipment purchases.
- Projects led by individuals.
- Non-environmental activities.
- Political party activities.
- Religious promotion activities.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Volunteer and community groups.
- Non-constituted community groups (up to £1,000 funding).
- Youth groups.
- Sports clubs.
- Churches (for environmental projects only).
- Schools and educational institutions.
- Third-level education organisations.
- Not-for-profit organisations.
Applicants must deliver volunteer-led environmental improvement projects.
Who Can Benefit?
The programme supports:
- Local communities across Northern Ireland.
- Residents benefiting from improved public spaces.
- Wildlife and biodiversity in urban and rural areas.
- Schools and youth groups engaging in environmental action.
- Community organisations improving local environments.
- Coastal and inland communities.
- Volunteers participating in local improvement initiatives.
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to achieve:
- Improved quality of local green and public spaces.
- Increased biodiversity and habitat quality.
- Reduced littering and environmental degradation.
- Stronger community engagement in environmental action.
- Enhanced wellbeing through improved surroundings.
- More sustainable and cleaner local environments.
- Increased civic pride and ownership of public spaces.
- Revitalisation of underused community areas.
Why This Programme Matters
- Local environments directly impact community wellbeing.
- Small-scale projects can deliver visible environmental change.
- Volunteer action strengthens community cohesion.
- Biodiversity improvements support long-term sustainability.
- Cleaner public spaces improve health and quality of life.
- Community ownership encourages long-term maintenance.
- Environmental action builds stronger civic identity.
Application Tips
- Focus on practical, visible environmental improvements.
- Ensure the project is volunteer-led and community-driven.
- Clearly define environmental benefits and outcomes.
- Demonstrate local need and community involvement.
- Avoid including ineligible costs in your budget.
- Show how the project improves biodiversity or public space quality.
- Keep project scope realistic for small grant funding.
- Highlight long-term community impact and sustainability.
- Ensure compliance with funding restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme?
- It is a funding programme supporting community-led environmental improvement projects across Northern Ireland.
How much funding is available?
- Between £500 and £3,000, with up to £1,000 for non-constituted groups.
Who can apply?
- Community and volunteer groups, schools, youth groups, sports clubs, churches, and not-for-profit organisations.
What types of projects are funded?
- Environmental improvement projects such as green space enhancement, clean-ups, biodiversity work, and public space revitalisation.
What costs are not covered?
- Salaries, overheads, equipment purchases, catering, insurance, and individual-led projects.
What is the main goal of the programme?
- To improve local environments and strengthen civic pride through community-led environmental action.
Conclusion
The Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme supports small-scale, volunteer-led environmental projects that enhance public spaces and strengthen community wellbeing across Northern Ireland. By funding practical local initiatives, the programme promotes biodiversity, reduces environmental issues, and builds stronger, more engaged communities.
For more information, visit Live Here Love Here.