The Acorn Fund Giving Circle is calling for applications to its small grants scheme, which provides financial support of up to £500 to local groups that work with, or support, children and young people in the Derry City area.
The Acorn Giving Circle is entirely funded by a group of local female philanthropists and 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.
It is seeking applications for social, cultural, sporting or educational projects that aim to make a lasting difference to the local community. Last year, the Live Life Lisa Orsi Foundation received a grant to help bring over 50 young people to China to compete in the 2016 Asian Gaelic Games.
Other recipients included Extern Youth Services for a new project with 10 young people that promoted citizenship, volunteering and placements in community organisations. New Buildings ABC received funding towards a programme of activities and team building challenges designed to test and further develop the skills and confidence of participants.
The application process is open until December 1 and applications are available online at www.communityfoundationni.org.
This is the first Giving Circle to be formed in Derry, 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 Giving Circle is supporting grass-roots projects to deliver fantastic projects for their communities. We’ve already seen how a small grant can make a real and lasting difference, helping improve the lives of young people and giving them new opportunities.
‘We can assist with after-school programmes, workshops and resources or small on-ground works, to help these groups reach as many people as possible.’
For more information on how to join the Acorn Giving Circle, or to request an application form email Shauna Kelpie on skelpie@communityfoundationni.org or phone 028 71371547.
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