Openreach Community Fund

Charity Number: CUSTOM_7F7DA540

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £50,000
  • Success Rate: 36% (2024)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £2,000
  • Geographic Focus: Northern Ireland only
  • Average Award: £1,356

Contact Details

Website: https://communityfoundationni.org/grants/openreach-community-fund/

Email: applications@communityfoundationni.org

Fund Manager: Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI)

For Application Support: Contact the Grants Team via email at applications@communityfoundationni.org

Overview

The Openreach Community Fund, established in 1989 with support from Openreach NI and the Communication Workers Union (formerly known as the Telecommunity Fund), supports grassroots community organisations across Northern Ireland. Managed by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland since inception, the fund has made over 569 awards supporting 293,122 beneficiaries. With approximately £50,000 allocated annually, the fund focuses on small, locally-based projects that benefit disadvantaged groups including young people, older people, and people with disabilities. In 2023-2024, the fund awarded £54,196 to 29 successful applicants. The fund was rebranded to the Openreach Community Fund in 2024, reflecting Openreach's ongoing commitment to supporting local communities across Northern Ireland.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Openreach Community Fund: £500 - £2,000 per award

  • Fixed application deadlines throughout the year
  • Applications processed through online portal at Community Foundation Northern Ireland website
  • Check the fund webpage for current deadline information

Priority Areas

The fund prioritises:

  • Projects supporting young people, older people, or people with disabilities
  • Communities dealing with rural isolation, low income, social exclusion, or reduced access to services
  • Projects that involve beneficiaries in their development and delivery
  • Small groups with annual income typically under £200,000
  • Community education and leadership development
  • Facility improvements for community use
  • Arts-based activities promoting inclusion
  • Mental health and wellbeing initiatives
  • Projects that strengthen social networks

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects targeting “all ages” without specific focus on priority groups
  • Organisations outside Northern Ireland
  • Large organisations with annual income over £200,000 (lower priority)
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Governance and Leadership

The Openreach Community Fund is co-managed by Openreach and the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI).

Key Personnel:

  • Garrett Kavanagh, Director at Openreach in Northern Ireland
  • Orla Black, Grants Director, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
  • Lois Kilpatrick, Grants & Donor Care Officer, CFNI

Leadership Perspectives

Garrett Kavanagh stated: "I continue to be immensely proud of Openreach's transformative impact in building community connections right across Northern Ireland. The recent CFNI Impact Report highlights our dedication and commitment to ensuring those who are more disadvantaged from within our communities get the support they need. Our ongoing investment in communities is having grass-roots impact and we are seeing outcomes where communities are being better connected, have improved mental health and well-being, and upgraded social networks."

Orla Black commented: “We at the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland are proud of the positive impact we have achieved since co-founding the fund in 1989. By equipping and empowering local people to create change, communities right across Northern Ireland have benefitted greatly.”

How to Apply to Openreach Community Fund

How to Apply

  1. Visit the Community Foundation Northern Ireland website at www.communityfoundationni.org
  2. Navigate to the Openreach Community Fund page
  3. Review the Grant FAQs before starting your application
  4. Complete the online application form
  5. Applications must be submitted by 1:00pm on the published deadline

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a locally based not-for-profit, voluntary or community group working in Northern Ireland
  • Must have an active management committee
  • Must have a governing document (Constitution)
  • Must have a current bank account in the name of your organisation
  • Provide most recent set of accounts

Decision Timeline

Success Rates

  • 2024 Success Rate: 36%
  • January 2024 Round: 14% success rate (fund significantly oversubscribed)
  • 2023-2024: 29 successful applicants from competitive pool
  • The fund is described as “normally significantly oversubscribed”

Reapplication Policy

For guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application, contact the Grants Team at applications@communityfoundationni.org.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

  1. Clear Focus on Priority Groups: Applications must target young people, older people, or people with disabilities specifically
  2. Evidence of Disadvantage: Strong applications demonstrate how the project addresses rural isolation, low income, social exclusion, or reduced access to services
  3. Beneficiary Involvement: Projects that involve beneficiaries in development and delivery are prioritised
  4. Small, Local Impact: The fund favours grassroots organisations with income under £200,000
  5. Straightforward Applications: Previous beneficiaries describe the application process as “extremely straight forward and easy to complete”

Recent Funded Projects

Sensory Kids NI: Received funding to provide sensory support to children and young people, creating a secure environment that promotes development and reduces anxieties for families. A representative noted that “The application process was extremely straight forward and the practical support from the Openreach team has been hugely supportive to our work.”

Ederney Village in Bloom Association: Awarded £2,000 for a Wellness Public Living Room, transforming a room in the Village Community Hub into a welcoming space three days a week for older and rurally isolated volunteers during colder months. Centre Manager Neil Armstrong noted the activities “helped to relieve isolation and loneliness by connecting and empowering” their elderly population.

Key Language and Terminology

The fund emphasises:

  • “Grassroots” organisations and projects
  • “Connecting communities” and “transformative impact”
  • “Equipping and empowering local people to create change”
  • Addressing “disadvantage” and “isolation”
  • Building “community connections” and “social networks”
  • “Mental health and well-being” outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Limitation: This fund is exclusively for Northern Ireland organisations - do not apply if based elsewhere in the UK
  2. Keep It Small and Local: With an average award of £1,356 and maximum of £2,000, focus on specific, achievable grassroots projects
  3. Target Priority Groups: Clearly demonstrate how your project benefits young people, older people, or people with disabilities - general “all ages” projects are not funded
  4. Competition is High: With only 14-36% success rates, ensure your application is exceptionally well-targeted and demonstrates clear outcomes
  5. Involve Beneficiaries: Projects that involve beneficiaries in development and delivery are prioritised - show participatory approaches
  6. Address Disadvantage: Strong applications clearly articulate how they tackle rural isolation, low income, social exclusion, or reduced access to services
  7. Small Organisations Favoured: Priority given to groups with income under £200,000 - this is a fund designed for grassroots community groups, not larger established charities

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