Northern Ireland

Vision

• These are the outcomes we want to contribute to via this programme:

  The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust is committed to funding initiatives that advance peace, equality, inclusion, and human rights within Northern Ireland. Our vision is of a Northern Ireland with the following characteristics:

  • A constitutional settlement which takes account of the range of political views of the people of Northern Ireland, Britain and Ireland, and which is underpinned by the principles and values of democracy, human rights and equality. 
  • A pluralist political culture which is transparent, responsive, accountable and inclusive of the full breadth and diversity of the population.
  • Effective and democratic mechanisms for managing societal and political difference without recourse to violence.
  • A respectful and inclusive public discourse about the historical conflict in Northern Ireland, which promotes a shared understanding of the root causes of the violence, and a public policy framework which facilitates truth, justice and reconciliation.
  • A cohesive society where diversity is celebrated and cultural heritage is respected, fostering a sense of unity and belonging among all communities in Northern Ireland.

Priorities

The Northern Ireland programme has three priority areas:

1. Strengthening human rights and equality 

We are interested in funding work which:

• aims to ensure the implementation of human rights commitments by the state
• promotes policy initiatives and advocacy campaigns aimed at countering racism, classism, misogyny/sexism, homophobia and transphobia
• strengthens the anti-racist voice in systems of power and accountability in Northern Ireland.
   

2. Reimagining society

We are interested in funding work which:

• fosters a positive, forward-thinking political landscape in Northern Ireland, emphasising participation, inclusion and sustainability
• promotes inclusive, evidence-based and responsible public discourse
• facilitates the growth of progressive social movements within Northern Ireland.
   

3. Cultivating peace and reconciliation 

We are interested in funding work which:

• promotes a shared understanding of the root causes of past violence
• encourages groups engaged in armed struggle to take steps towards exclusively non-violent strategies and to engage in comprehensive processes of transition from paramilitarism to civilian life.
• assists communities heavily influenced by paramilitarism in cultivating democratic, anti-sectarian, and non-violent methods for expressing and managing political differences.
   

Assessment 

• This is how your application will be assessed:

  We receive many more applications than we are able to fund, which often leads to good proposals being refused.

  Decisions about grants in the Northern Ireland programme are made by a Northern Ireland committee consisting of trustees, staff, and co-opted members selected on the basis of experience/expertise. Recommendations from this committee are then scrutinised, with final decisions authorised by JRCT’s board of trustees.

  Please note that JRCT aspires to be an anti-racist organisation and this means that we are committed to supporting our grantees in pursuing similar goals. As part of your application, we would like to know what being anti-racist means to your organisation, and what help you might need to develop this aspect of your working practice or understanding.

  Some factors that will be taken into consideration when assessing applications are: 

  • Does the proposed work effectively address the intersecting harms of economic inequality, climate breakdown, patriarchy, and racial or sectarian injustice?
  • Is the proposed work likely to bring about lasting, strategic, or systemic changes?
  • Does the proposed work centre the voices and experiences of marginalised or underrepresented groups at different levels?
  • Does the proposed work explore the underlying root causes of violence and injustice, rather than merely addressing superficial symptoms?
  • The programme prioritises applications that demonstrate ‘upstream’ characteristics. This means that we are more likely to support an application if it demonstrates qualities shown on the right-hand side of the diagram below.  

  

Geographical focus

• This is how we understand our geographical focus:

  The geographical focus of the programme is on work which has an impact across Northern Ireland. 

  Further detail:

  • While the primary focus of the programme lies within Northern Ireland, the committee will consider applications for initiatives that work on an all-island basis, or that will strengthen civil society relationships on an East-West or North-South basis (in partnership with organisations in Britain and Ireland).
  • Local work will be supported only where it is likely to have a wider impact, for example if it is testing a model which can then be replicated, or is addressing a local issue that has wider social or political implications.
  • Please note that all applications to JRCT which propose work with a geographical focus on Northern Ireland will be considered through the Northern Ireland programme only.  

Specific exclusions

• These are the initiatives we do not fund through this programme: 

  Potential applicants are encouraged to read through the Trust’s general eligibility guidance/exclusions.  In addition to the general exclusions, the following types of work will not be funded under the NI programme: 

  • the delivery of basic services to people in need, including welfare advice, women’s refuges, basic skills training etc;
  • the core costs of community centres, local women’s groups, local voluntary sector infrastructure organisations or similar community level groups;
  • schools work;
  • work related to health or disability;
  • community development or community relations projects that do not relate directly to the priority interests outlined above;
  • any form of personal healing or therapeutic work, including counselling;
  • historical research, documentation or archival work;
  • work related to the past which is primarily concerned with particular events during the conflict.

Recent grants

For a full list of projects recently funded under the Northern Ireland programme, please see the database of grants awarded.

Applications

• These are the next steps if you are considering submitting an application: 

  Potential applicants are encouraged to contact grants staff via phone or email prior to writing a proposal. 

  If applicants encounter difficulties or barriers with the written application process, they have the option to submit an application via alternative means, such as video. Please get in touch at least four weeks prior to the deadline to receive instructions on how to submit an application via video, or to discuss any other access requirements.

  For further information about the application process, see apply now.

Case studies