SMALL GRANTS, BIG IMPACT: LIVE HERE LOVE HERE SCHEME RETURNS AFTER AWARDING FUNDING TO 102 COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN 2025
Grants of up to £3,000 available to support communities transforming local spaces following over £158,000 being invested in community led environmental projects through the 2025 scheme.
Environmental charity, Live Here Love Here, has announced the return of its Small Grants for 2026, inviting community groups, schools, volunteers and not-for-profit organisations across Northern Ireland to apply for funding to improve and revitalise shared local spaces.
Live Here Love Here Small Grants supports projects that increase civic pride, enhance green spaces, revitalise underused areas, improve community health and wellbeing, and boost local biodiversity. Grants ranging from £500 to £3,000 are available for successful applicants, with applications now open until 30 June 2026. The initiative is delivered in partnership with ten local councils, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
The launch follows another successful year for the Scheme, which awarded £158,348 to 102 community projects across Northern Ireland. 2,552 volunteers dedicated 14,121 hours to transforming neglected spaces into vibrant community assets through initiatives including community gardens, biodiversity projects, litter reduction campaigns and outdoor wellbeing areas.
The impact was felt across every council area, with Belfast alone receiving over £37,000 to support projects that brought local residents together to improve shared spaces and deliver visible environmental change within their communities. As part of this, Belfast Harbour, a region which has seen significant recent development, awarded over £7,000 across five community projects with volunteers contributing 307 hours to develop and enhance the local environmental efforts across the region.
One standout initiative was delivered in Fermanagh, where 35 volunteers, contributed more than 650 hours at ARC Healthy Living to enhance and expand the centre’s existing garden. The grant enabled the installation of accessible raised growing beds, a composting area, a fruit-growing zone, native trees, and new potting tables. The impact of the expansion has significantly enhanced the space and capacity for members to join and partake in the community efforts while simultaneously creating a more diverse ecosystem that will attract a wider range of birds, animals, and insects to the area.
Gwen McCutcheon from ARC Health Living said, “The recent improvements have added so much to our garden and our community, enabling our work with our members and The Conservation Volunteers to continue to flourish. The new additions have significantly increased and diversified the biodiversity of the garden, and have also supported growth in our membership, with both educational and community engagement continuing to develop. We are incredibly grateful for the small grants scheme in enabling us to grow our space and in turn grow our environmental efforts in allowing more people from right across the community to come together, share their knowledge and skills and get involved.”
Highlighting the impact, Orla McGrady, Grants Officer at Live Here Love Here, said: “Through our Small Grants, communities have the opportunity to take meaningful environmental action and make a lasting difference in their local areas. Every year, we are inspired by projects that not only enhance shared spaces, but also bring people together through volunteering, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose.
“Small Grants continues to empower community-led change, supporting initiatives ranging from biodiversity-focused community gardens to projects that help protect and clean our coastlines and waterways. Last year alone, we saw 353 groups apply, and we are excited to see the ideas communities put forward this year. We look forward to supporting even more projects that will deliver real benefits for both local people and wildlife.”
Other projects delivered through last year’s scheme included The Advantage Foundation in Lisburn to transform a neglected area of the Ravine Community Nature Reserve into an accessible and engaging habitat for birds and pollinators. Meanwhile, in Derry/Londonderry, Newbuildings Methodist Church received funding to create the Epworth Environmental Garden which has not only significantly enhanced local biodiversity but fostered greater outdoor learning opportunities, raising awareness of environmental issues and local wildlife.
Live Here Love Here is also currently hosting Connecting Communities events across Northern Ireland, offering opportunities for local groups and volunteers to learn more about Small Grants and how to apply.
Lynda Surgenor, Community Engagement Manager at Live Here Love Here, added: “Our Small Grants are about giving communities the confidence and support to turn local ideas into meaningful action. From revitalising neglected spaces to creating projects that encourage people to connect with nature and with each other, the Scheme continues to demonstrate the value of grassroots funding.
“We know that even modest levels of support can create a lasting impact when driven by passionate volunteers and community organisations. By making funding accessible to groups of all sizes, we are helping to strengthen community connections, encourage local pride and deliver environmental improvements that can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
The Small Grants initiative offers awards of between £500 and £3,000 for eligible groups, including community and volunteer organisations, schools, youth groups, sports clubs, churches and not-for-profit organisations.
For more information on the Small Grants Scheme or how to apply, visit livehereloveherecommunity.org/smallgrants.