Dormant Accounts NI

Dormant Accounts Fund NI supports the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland to be more resilient and prepared for the future by funding activity that increases capacity and sustainability. The programme will support organisations to adapt to future challenges and be more financially resilient.

The funding distributed through Dormant Accounts Fund NI is not generated through National Lottery activity. Dormant accounts are UK bank and building society accounts that have been untouched for 15 or more years, and where banks and building societies are unable to trace the customer who owns the account.

We received policy directions from the Department of Finance in September 2019 to distribute these funds to the sector. Around £20 million has built up over the past ten years. Money from Dormant Accounts will continue to be released for us to distribute each year to support capacity-building and increase resilience and sustainability in the Northern Ireland VCSE sector.

Given that this is a rolling fund, we're taking a phased and long-term approach to support the sector, based on learning. Organisations can only receive one award so we are encouraging groups to take their time in developing an idea which will best fit their needs for the future.

For this first phase, we have developed a flexible and responsive grant programme that will support organisations to be able to adapt to future challenges and be more financially resilient. We want to fund organisations that can identify the best way to improve their long-term capacity, sustainability or resilience to best deliver their mission.

We’ll award funding for between one and three years, in order to have the greatest impact for the organisations and the communities they serve.

Up to £100,000 is available for individual organisations.

If you are working with other organisations to share services or are considering merging with another organisation, talk to us before you apply as we may consider awarding more than £100,000.

The Dormant Accounts Fund will also support larger strategic investments that will enable collaboration and develop new and creative approaches to sustainability for the sector. These will be Northern Ireland-wide or sector-specific proposals that could focus on a specific theme. Contact us if you feel this avenue is more appropriate for your idea.

We hope that the Dormant Accounts Fund will support VCSE organisations to: *have the confidence, capacity and resources to achieve their aims. *be flexible, adaptable and strategic with a clear understanding of their environment. *be sustainable, with financial flexibility and longevity.

You can apply if you are currently delivering services in Northern Ireland and are: *an unregistered community or voluntary organisation *a registered charity (unincorporated) *a registered charity and not-for-profit company *a not-for-profit company *a Community Interest Company *a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

You cannot apply if you are a: *statutory body *school *college *university *religious institution like a church, synagogue, mosque etc. However, faith based groups that are working in a community setting are eligible. Please Note: The Dormant Accounts Fund NI cannot support new or emerging organisations to become more established. The programme will not cover the cost of supporting organisations to recover from the immediate impact of COVID-19.