Enkalon Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £200,000 - £300,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly reviews (March, June, September, December)
• Grant Range: Up to £6,000 (average £1,000)
• Geographic Focus: Northern Ireland (with special focus on former Antrim Borough area)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.enkalonfoundation.org/

Phone: 028 9447 7131

Email: info@enkalonfoundation.org

Charity Number: 103528 (Charity Commission for Northern Ireland)

Application Form: Available online at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/enkalonfoundationapp

Overview

The Enkalon Foundation was established in 1985 following the closure of the British Enkalon textile factory in Antrim, initially created to support ex-employees and the local community affected by the closure. The foundation was officially registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 28 January 2016. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed over £5 million across Northern Ireland through approximately 6,500 grants, with £2.6 million specifically benefiting the former Antrim Borough area. Currently operating with an annual budget of approximately £200,000-£300,000, the foundation continues to support ex-employees with healthcare equipment while also providing grants to charities and community groups across Northern Ireland. The foundation is run by five trustees with the support of an administrator, who assess applications at quarterly meetings.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Fund (rolling basis, quarterly decisions)

• Grant Amount: Up to £6,000 (average grant is £1,000)
• Application Method: Online application form available year-round
• Decision Schedule: Trustees review applications quarterly in March, June, September, and December
• Purpose: Supports core running costs or project costs for charities and community groups

Ex-Employee Support Fund

• Purpose: Provides healthcare equipment and support to former British Enkalon employees
• Application Method: Direct application to the foundation

Priority Areas

The foundation's charitable purpose is “the relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.”

Historically funded organizations include:

• Youth groups and youth services
• Senior citizens clubs and associations
• Self-help groups
• Animal welfare organizations
• Arts and cultural organizations
• Mental health groups
• Health charities (Age NI, Chest Heart and Stroke, Macmillan)
• Women's organizations (Women's Aid, Antrim Happy Hearts)
• Disability support groups (Autism NI, Rehability Antrim)
• Community facilities (Men's Shed, community centers)
• Festival and cultural groups (Antrim Festival Group, Youth Lyric)
• Community radio (Antrim Hospital Radio)
• Animal sanctuaries (Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary)

What They Don't Fund

Normally grants are not made to:

• Playgroups, PTAs, senior citizens groups, or sporting groups outside the former Antrim Borough area
• Individuals
• Medical research
• Travel costs
• Projects outside Northern Ireland

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by five trustees who meet quarterly to assess applications and oversee the foundation's operations:

Peter - Joined British Enkalon in 1963 and remained until its closure, serving in various posts before becoming Personnel Manager. His long connection to the original factory provides historical perspective on the foundation's mission.

Mark - Partner in the Chartered Surveying Practice of O'Connor Kennedy Turtle, with over 20 years of experience in the construction and property sectors in Antrim and throughout Northern Ireland. Joined as trustee in 2011.

Stephen - Lived in the Antrim area since his family moved there for the opening of British Enkalon. Became a trustee in November 2011 after previously administering the foundation.

John - Has a keen interest in community development both locally and provincially, with a passion for cross-community activities. Serves the Church of Ireland on several committees including as a trustee of the Church of Ireland Pension Fund. Married with three sons and five grandchildren, living in the Borough of Antrim.

Claire - Born and raised in Antrim, returned to the area after university to settle and start work and a family.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Details about your organization
• Project description or core costs requiring funding
• Detailed budget (can be uploaded or filled out online)
• Clear demonstration of need for funding
• Explanation of how the group, users, and wider community will benefit
• Details of other funding applications and planned fundraising activities

Decision Timeline

• Review Schedule: Quarterly meetings in March, June, September, and December
• Processing Time: Applications are assessed at the next scheduled quarterly meeting after submission
• Notification: Applicants are informed of decisions following trustee meetings

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the foundation has made approximately 6,500 grants totaling over £5 million since 1985. In a typical year, the foundation makes around 188-245 individual donations totaling £180,000-£275,000, indicating a substantial volume of successful applications.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation has different reapplication timescales based on geographic location:

• Former Antrim Borough area: Groups can submit applications annually (once per year)
• Rest of Northern Ireland: Groups can submit applications biennially (once every two years)

This policy applies to all applicants regardless of whether previous applications were successful or unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Looks For

Clear Demonstration of Need: Applications must clearly demonstrate the need for funding and articulate how the group, users, and wider community will benefit.

Realistic Funding Requests: While the maximum grant is £6,000, the average grant is £1,000. Organizations should be realistic about funding requests given the foundation's status as a small funder.

Detailed Budget: A comprehensive budget is required, either uploaded or completed online. If your project budget exceeds what the foundation can provide, demonstrate other funding sources and planned fundraising activities.

Community Benefit: Emphasize how the funding will benefit the wider community, not just individual beneficiaries.

Connection to Charitable Purpose: Clearly link your project or organization to the foundation's purpose of relieving those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship, or other disadvantage.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

Organizations that have successfully received funding include:

• Age NI
• Antrim Happy Hearts
• Chest, Heart and Stroke
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• Women's Aid
• Men's Shed
• Autism NI
• Rehability Antrim
• Antrim Festival Group
• Randalstown ARCHES
• TIDAL
• Youth Lyric
• Antrim Hospital Radio
• Mid-Antrim Animal Sanctuary
• Crosskennan Lane
• Various community associations, senior citizen's groups, play groups, and sports clubs (particularly within the former Antrim Borough area)

Strategic Considerations

Geographic Advantage: Organizations based in the former Antrim Borough area have more frequent application opportunities (annual vs. biennial) and may access a wider range of funding categories including playgroups, PTAs, senior citizens groups, and sporting groups.

Flexibility in Use of Funds: The foundation accepts applications for both core running costs and project costs, offering flexibility in how funds can be utilized.

Timing Your Application: Submit applications well before quarterly meetings to ensure timely review. Consider the March, June, September, and December schedule when planning your funding timeline.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Keep it modest: With an average grant of £1,000, this is a small but consistent funder. Don't ask for the maximum £6,000 unless genuinely justified.

1. Emphasize community benefit: The foundation has strong community roots dating back to supporting workers affected by factory closure. Clearly demonstrate how your project benefits the wider community, particularly those experiencing disadvantage.

1. Know your geography: Location matters significantly. Organizations in the former Antrim Borough area have preferential access and can apply annually rather than biennially.

1. Provide a comprehensive budget: The foundation specifically requests detailed budgets and information about other funding sources. Transparency in financial planning is essential.

1. Align with their history: The foundation has consistently supported health, social welfare, youth, elderly, arts, and animal welfare causes. Ensure your organization fits within these established funding patterns.

1. Plan for quarterly cycles: With only four decision points per year, timing is important. Submit early and be prepared to wait for the next quarterly meeting.

1. Consider reapplication timelines: If unsuccessful or needing additional funding, factor in the annual (Antrim) or biennial (rest of NI) reapplication policy when planning your funding strategy.

References

1. Enkalon Foundation official website - https://www.enkalonfoundation.org/
2. Charity Commission for Northern Ireland charity details - https://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/charity-details/?regid=103528&subid=0
3. Supporting Communities - Enkalon Foundation funding news - https://supportingcommunities.org/funding-news-1/2022/10/24/enkalon-foundation
4. Heritage Funding Directory UK - Enkalon Foundation entry - https://www.heritagefundingdirectoryuk.org/directory/enkalon-foundation/
5. NICHI Health Alliance - Enkalon Foundation funding information - https://healthallianceni.com/funding_schemes/enkalon-foundation/
6. Antrim Guardian - “Enkalon Foundation: the gift that keeps on giving!” - https://www.antrimguardian.co.uk/news/2020/10/30/gallery/enkalon-foundation-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving-11763/
7. Funders Forum for Northern Ireland - Enkalon Foundation member page - https://fundersforumni.org/members/enkalon-foundation/