Small Grants Available For Derry~Londonderry Community Groups

The Acorn Giving Circle is entirely funded by a group of local female philanthropists who are dedicated to helping improve the lives of children and young people through social, cultural, sporting or educational activities.  The Giving Circle was formed in 2012 as a response to the establishment of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland’s Acorn Fund and as a legacy of the 2013 City of Culture year. 

Previous groups who have been funded include Friends of St. Brigid’s Association, North West Women’s Collective and Cruse Bereavement Care. The Foyle Hospice was recently awarded £500 for its ‘Healing Hearts’ project - providing bereavement support for a child or young person aged 4-16 years. The project used arts and crafts and photography to help create a personal ‘Memory Project’.

The Live Life Lisa Orsi Foundation also received a grant last year to help bring over 50 young people to China to compete in the 2016 Asian Gaelic Games.

The application process is open from Monday, April 3 until April 18 and applications are available online at www.communityfoundationni.org.

This is the first Giving Circle to be formed in Derry~Londonderry, however, Giving Circles are a well-established form of philanthropy. Groups of individuals donate money and time to a pooled fund and decide collectively where funding will be allocated – either to a local charity or community project.

A representative from the Acorn Giving Circle explained where the group is directing its efforts in this funding round:

‘The aim of the Giving Circle is to collectively direct our support to where the need is greatest and where we know that it will make a real and significant difference to the local community. We’ve already seen how a small grant can make a real and lasting difference in local communities, helping improve the lives of young people and giving them new opportunities.

‘We are encouraging projects and organisations who support young people to apply for the Giving Circle as soon as they can.’

For more information on how to join the Acorn Giving Circle, or to request an application form email Shauna Kelpie on [email protected] or phone 028 71371547.