About the programme
Since 2016, over £23million has been awarded to support more than 720 projects across Northern Ireland. These CGRF programmes with a good relations focus also include a wide range of activities such as sport, music, drama, arts and crafts, to engage with and make a difference in local communities whilst contributing to peacebuilding and reconciliation. In addition, these projects provide important opportunities to develop new skills, gain qualifications, build self-confidence and develop new friendships, and to celebrate and embrace cultural diversity.
There are two streams of funding available: Project Funding and Small Grants.
For both streams, projects can claim salaries and programme costs, but these costs must be proportional to the good relations project being delivered. CGRF does not, and will not, replace mainstream core or project funding for groups.
Project Funding opens once a year for applications. Small Grants are open for applications throughout the funding year and are available for projects up to £1,500.
Successful projects must deliver within the funding year and contribute towards the delivery of one of the Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC) Strategy key priorities. Applications are welcomed, in particular, for good relations projects that include a focus on:
- Developing the capacity within and across communities to build good relations;
- Involving the hardest to reach participants;
- Delivering against the T:BUC Key Priority – Our Safe Community;
- Environmental activities and benefits.
View a short video about the CGRF below:
You can read more about the T:BUC Strategy via the links below:
Eligibility
The programme is open to properly constituted community groups and voluntary organisations. Examples include Association, Trust, Company limited by Guarantee, Community Interest Company, Charitable Incorporated Organisation or Industrial and Provident Society.
To be eligible for funding, your organisation must:
- be legally able to operate in Northern Ireland
- be independent, not for profit, and have a constitution or set of rules defining your aims, objectives and operational procedures
- have a suitable management structure and appropriate financial controls
- comply with relevant legislative requirements in respect of employment, health and safety, discrimination and equality of opportunity
2022/23 Central Good Relations Fund
Applications to the 2022/23 CGRF are closed, all funding allocations have been made and successful applicants have been advised.
Applications for small grants (up to and including £1,500) in 2022/23 are open for projects to be delivered up to 31 March 2023.
Apply for a Small Grant for delivery up to 31 March 2023
Applications for small grants in 2022/23 are open for projects to be delivered up to 31 March 2023. Download the application and guidance notes via the link below:
2023/24 Central Good Relations Fund
Applications to the 2023/24 Central Good Relations Fund are now open Applications should be made using the online application portal. To enable you to access the portal, you must register your organisation. However, if you have previously registered, you do not need to register again. More information on registering and applying can be found on this page.
Applying for CGRF funding
Applications to the Central Good Relations Fund 2023/24 for project funding (over £1,500) are now open. Applications for funding should be made using the online application portal.
To access the online application portal, you must first register your organisation. However, if you have previously registered, you do not need to register again. Please follow the link below and enter your username and password in the ‘Local Account Login’ section to log in to the application portal.
For those groups that have not already registered, please use the link below to register:
The 2023/24 CGRF Guidance Notes also contain a Step-by-Step Guide to Registration and a Step-by-Step Guide to the Application Form.
The deadline for applications is Thursday 12 January 2023 at 6pm. However, you must register your organisation by 12noon on Wednesday 11 January 2023 to enable access to the online application portal. Any registrations submitted after that time will not be accepted.
Support will be available during office-hours throughout the online application process. You can contact the Central Good Relations Team using details contained within the link below:
Register to apply for a CGRF grant
Organisations can register to apply online for a project funding grant under the Central Good Relations Fund (CGRF). Registration of your organisation is the first stage in the online application process. View detailed information via the link below:
Funded projects
You can view a list of 2021/22 CGRF funded projects via the link below.
Projects are listed alphabetically by group name and show the TBUC key priority the project contributes to and the area of impact by District Council area.
CGRF resources for groups
You will find some useful resources, including claim templates and guidance on our CGRF Toolkit page at the link below.
Contact the Central Good Relations Fund team
You can contact the CGRF team for any queries in relation to the funding programme by using the contact details found in the link below:
If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive updates from CGRF, please email: GoodRelationsFund@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk