Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council: Community Festivals Fund

Overview

The Community Festivals Fund (CFF) was established in recognition of the potential contribution that festivals can make to communities, the local economy and wider government priorities.

The fund aims to support the development and capacity of locally run festivals by providing support and training to make them less reliant on public funding in addition to offering funding towards the costs of events. The fund enables community organisations to celebrate their cultural identity and strengthen community relations while promoting equality and targeting poverty and social inclusion.

Definition of a festival

A community festival is defined as a series of events (or a single event with several elements) with a common theme and delivered within a defined period of time (not to exceed 28 days). It is developed from within a community and should celebrate and positively promote what the community represents.

Community festivals are about participation, involvement and the creation of a sense of identity and are important in contributing to the social wellbeing of a community. They must be initiated and led by, or in partnership with a community organisation – the community must play a strong part in the development and delivery of the festival and have ownership of it.

Funding Limits

A minimum of £1,000 and a maximum of £3,500 is available for any one organisation in each financial year.

The total amount awarded can only make up 87.5% of the total expenditure of the festivals (up to the maximum amount available), therefore applicants will need to demonstrate a 12.5% match funding contribution that can be an ‘in-kind’ amount.

General funding principles

• Organisations must comply with all statutory obligations regarding the delivery of and access to their project or event, including health & safety and licensing requirements.
• This is a competitive scheme and applications will be determined on the basis of merit.
• Applications to this scheme will be open to all festivals that can meet the core criteria of the scheme irrespective of whether they are established or emerging events.
• Applicants can apply to other sources of public support, outside of the council, but must declare this in their application form and show how the additional funding will add value to the festival. This other source of funding could make up the remaining 12.5%.
• Festivals should contribute to the promotion of a positive image of Northern Ireland and organisers must take steps to avert anti-social behaviour.
• Applicants will be expected to make efforts to maximise income through ticket sales and sponsorship. They should develop a plan to improve the sustainability of their festival, and reduce reliance on public funding, in future years.
• Those organisations based outside their area may be awarded funding for festivals projects as long as the entirety of the festivals project takes place within the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area.
• Festivals must take place in their area between the date of their signed terms & conditions being received and 31st March 2026.

Who can apply? - eligibility

Organisations must be able to demonstrate the following eligibility criteria:

• an open and accountable governing document (constitution or articles and memorandum of association, or applicable governing document) that has been adopted at a public meeting of the group’s membership
• a bank account in the name of the organisation, which requires a minimum of two unrelated members to authorise withdrawals and an annual set of independently examined financial accounts, endorsed at an Annual General Meeting
• a management committee or governing board, elected by its membership at an Annual General Meeting, and elected office bearers
• have appropriate safeguarding policies for protecting children and vulnerable adults, who are involved as part of the group’s programme
• evidence of public liability insurance cover of a minimum £5 million for the activities of the group, including the proposed festival, or confirmation from a broker that this can be produced.
• evidence of employers liability insurance (where applicable) to cover a minimum £10 million for the activities of the group, including the proposed festival, or confirmation from a broker that this can be produced
• evidence that the group is based within their area or that the festival beneficiaries are residents of their area

Funding criteria

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is committed to empowering communities to take the lead in shaping cultural provision and engaging more people in creative experiences as audiences and participants. In order to deliver the Community Festivals Fund aims and principles, applicants will need to demonstrate how their festival aims to address a minimum of two of the schemes criteria:

1. Promoting equality, target poverty and social exclusion
2. Celebrating and encouraging cultural expression through strong community participation
3. Enhancing community relations
4. Capacity building by providing support and training

Promoting equality, target poverty and social exclusion

• Challenge existing or perceived barriers regarding disability, poverty, joblessness, age, race, location, language and gender.
• Help to reduce hate crime and intimidation by enabling people to feel safer at events, activities or facilities associated with a different culture

Celebrating and encouraging cultural expression through strong community participation

• Help create a place where cultural diversity is celebrated by increasing understanding of and respect for different culture/s
• Demonstrate the power of cultural activities to enrich the lives of individuals and make positive changes in connecting communities through participation

Enhancing community relations

• Help create a community where everyone feels safe, tackle issues of inequality and reduce the motivation for discrimination.
• Help create a community, which promotes mutual respect and understanding, is strengthened by its diversity and where cultural expression is celebrated and embraced.

Capacity building by providing support and training

• Help staff and volunteers improve skills and/or receive training
• Demonstrate how the festival has/will grow in reputation, to include visitor numbers, experiences and sustainability.