Deadline: 24-Jan-25
The Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council is inviting applications to provide financial support for events that align themselves to key priority areas such as; Cultural Tourism, Music/Food Tourism and Sports and Activities (tourism related).
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council recognise that as part of economic growth since the Covid Pandemic there is still a need to allow event organisers to have flexibility in outputs. It is important to support the events sector as they will play a massive part in reinvigorating the tourism offering as they adapt to changes in trends both from the visitor and from the business sector. It is likely in the short to medium term that the demand will be from closer-to-home markets. As a destination it is therefore important to showcase the events with fresh offerings for delivering exceptional events that promote the Borough as an all-in-one experience to stay and play which will in turn generate economic benefit for the area.
Objectives
- The key objectives to supporting and sustaining tourism events will be to:
- Assist with project costs that will provide event delivery, sustainability, and skills retention within the organisation.
- Support events to plan for the safe return of event delivery in 2025-26, adhering to the latest public health advice for events and mass gatherings.
- Allow event organisers to scenario plan for varying levels of event delivery. Full event proposals for the preferred delivery option should be submitted as scenario one. Alternative or hybrid delivery contingency proposals should be submitted as scenario two or three.
- Demonstrate economic support and benefit from the use of local artists, suppliers and event professionals.
- Enhance the profile and appeal of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area e.g., through media and marketing campaign/exposure focussed on the domestic market
- Promote a quality visitor experience to the domestic market and promote confidence in engaging with events. Note: a ‘visitor’ for a tourism event as ‘someone who comes to spectate or attend the event. They can either buy a ticket to attend the event or gain free entry, anyone who participates in the event or makes the event happen is deemed a participant and not a visitor.
- Support the wider economic recovery of the tourism events sector within the Borough of Causeway Coast and Glens.
- Generate economic benefits for the Causeway Coast and Glens area (where possible) through increased visitor numbers, bed nights and spend.
Funding Information
- Events must satisfy the parameters below to apply for the Tourism Events Growth Fund:
- Events with an overall total budget of between £10,000 and £30,000 (Events with a total budget in excess of £30k are ineligible. In-kind support/Volunteer time must not be included in the budget). Maximum award – £15,000.
- Total visitor numbers greater than 600. (Participants at the event cannot be included in your visitor numbers. For example, if there is a competitive element, the competitors cannot be counted as visitors).
- The event must take place over a minimum of 2 days (Events must have a start and end date and run for consecutive days). Events should encourage overnight stays were possible (The event must last for a minimum of 5 hours on each day).
- No requirement to demonstrate return on investment.
- The Tourism Events Growth Fund will offer financial support to eligible events taking place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.
What can be funded?
- Eligible costs may include the following:
- Insurance (applicable to the event only)
- Programming Costs including online/hybrid
- Venue Hire
- Performance/Artist Fees
- Transport
- Equipment Hire/Purchase
- Advertising/Communications (marketing & media costs, printing/signage etc.)
- Administration (stationery, postage etc.)
Who can apply?
- To be eligible for grant-aid, you will have to show that your organisation is a bona fide organisation that is well run and that it falls into one of the following categories:
- Has a properly adopted “Governing Document” such as a constitution or memorandum and articles of association which clearly show that it is non-profit making and taking.
- Is an external non-profit making organisation organising a substantial event/festival which generates both tourism and economic benefit for the Borough.
- All events must take place in Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. For those events which take place at a number of venues, (some of which may be in other Local Authority areas), funding will only apply to the actual event which takes place and provides benefit within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area.
Exclusions
- Events in receipt of other Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council funding e.g. Community Festivals Funding or Cultural Arts & Heritage grants are not eligible to apply to the Tourism Events Growth Fund. In addition, the following will not be eligible for funding from the fund: –
- Individuals
- Groups operating outside the Causeway Coast and Glens Council area (Unless significant event delivery is benefitting the residents and visitors within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area)
- Organisations with charitable fundraising as their main focus
- Organisations who have substantial, demonstrable reserves
- Political Organisations
For more information, visit Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council.