The Village Catalyst grant scheme is a partnership initiative between the Department for Communities (DfC), the Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). Applications are invited from charities, social enterprise and other not for profit groups in rural villages of less than 5,000 people, who want to tackle rural poverty and social isolation in their area, by developing a sustainable use for a disused historic building in their village.
The programme builds on a 3-year pilot which resulted in 4 projects being developed, highlighted in a short film.
Support is available for communities to:
To be eligible, the building must be listed or within a conservation area.
For further information please contact villagecatalystsupport@communities-ni.gov.uk.
Village Catalyst guidance for applicants