Short-term funding to support communities through COVID-19

The Public Health Agency investment can be used to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities living through the ongoing pandemic.

Professor Hugo Van Woerden, Director of Public Health at PHA, said: “It is hoped this short-term funding programme will facilitate a health improvement response to the recovery phase of the pandemic by enabling and encouraging improved resilience through healthy lifestyle choices, while also aiming to address underlying social determinants of health and the negative impact of the pandemic on vulnerable groups within our communities.”

Programmes eligible for funding should promote healthy lifestyle choices. Projects which have benefitted from this programme previously have included workshops focusing on, for example, drugs and alcohol awareness, autism and young women, postnatal depression, stress management programmes including teaching young people stress management techniques, personal development programmes, ‘Hope Ambassador’ training, and parenting programmes. Other activities supported also included gardening, yoga, mindfulness, arts and crafts, and cooking.

This year the programme will allow groups to apply for a wider range of programmes with the aim of achieving better health and wellbeing as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

The short-term funding programme is available in the Northern Trust area through the four community networks (CRUN, NACN, CWSAN, Impact Network NI).

Two types of awards are available under this scheme: Award one programme of up to £1,000 that non-constituted and constituted non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups can apply for; and Award two programme of between £1,001 and to a maximum of £5,000 for constituted, non-profit taking community/ voluntary sector groups.

The closing date for applications for these grants is Thursday, August 6, at 3pm.

Any group interested in applying for the short term funding programmes for Northern Area Grants scheme can contact

The Northern Area Health Alliance.

The short term grant application this will be available on the funding section of the health alliance website. To access the documents you will have to register to become a member of the Health Alliance at www.healthallianceni.com

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