An email went out to all Club Secretaries regarding Funding Opportunity for Clubs,
Dear Club Secretaries,
We want to let you know about a current funding opportunity that may be of interest to Cycling Ulster affiliated clubs based in Northern Ireland.
Dormant Assets for All, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, offers grants of £300 to £20,000 to help voluntary and community organisations strengthen how they operate and prepare for the future.
This funding is not for delivering new cycling programmes or events, but instead focuses on helping clubs become more sustainable, better organised, and more resilient in the long term.
Who can apply
To be eligible, clubs must:
- Be based in Northern Ireland
- Be a constituted voluntary or community organisation
- Have a UK bank or building society account in the club’s name (with at least two unrelated signatories)
- Be run by volunteers (staff salaries cannot be funded under this programme)
What clubs could apply for
Examples of eligible costs that may suit cycling clubs include:
Digital & Communications
- Developing or improving a club website
- Setting up or professionalising social media channels
- Digital training for committee members
Volunteer Recruitment & Support
- Volunteer recruitment campaigns
- Training for volunteers or ride leaders (e.g. cycling skills, safeguarding, first aid, leadership)
- Volunteer expenses and support costs
- Equipment to support volunteers (e.g. safety kits, training equipment bags, signage)
Governance & Club Development
- External support to review or improve governance, policies or constitutions
- Strategic planning support to help clubs grow sustainably
- Financial management or treasurer training
- Support to improve inclusion, accessibility and equality practices within the club
What the funding cannot be used for
- Staff salaries or wages
- Buying bikes or vehicles
- Running or expanding regular cycling activities
- Ongoing core running costs (e.g. rent, utilities)
- Retrospective costs
Why this is worth considering
This funding is a strong opportunity for clubs who want to:
- Reduce pressure on a small number of volunteers
- Improve how the club is run behind the scenes
- Build skills and capacity within their committee and volunteer team
- Put better systems in place for future growth and sustainability
If your club is interested, we encourage you to review the fund guidance carefully and consider whether this could support your club’s long-term development. Dormant Assets for All | The National Lottery Community Fund
