Bright Sparks Grantmaking Programme

Context

In Northern Ireland, child poverty is a significant issue, with nearly one in four children living in relative poverty and one in five in absolute poverty.  It is widely acknowledged that poverty can create significant barriers to educational attainment.

• Children in poverty may lack access to nutritious food, stable housing, healthcare, and quality early childhood education, all of which are crucial for healthy development and school readiness.
• Poverty can hinder school readiness, with children from low-income families often lacking the social, emotional, and cognitive skills needed to succeed in the classroom.
• The home environment plays a crucial role in a child’s educational development. Children from low-income families may lack access to books, educational materials, and a supportive learning environment at home.
• Poverty can be a source of chronic stress for families, impacting a child’s mental and emotional well-being, which can affect their ability to focus and learn in school.

Evidence from the NI Children & Young People’s Strategy shows that the gap in attainment between children growing up in poverty and their peers starts early and lasts throughout school. According to Save the Children, by the time they reach primary school, children from low-income families are already up to a year behind middle-income children in terms of cognitive skills.

A significant portion (61%) of children in poverty live in working families, highlighting that employment alone doesn’t guarantee a poverty-free household. Lone-parent households are particularly vulnerable, with 37% of children in such households experiencing poverty after housing costs. 

About Us

LFT Charitable Trust is a Belfast based family foundation offering small grants and support. We build our knowledge by engaging with individuals and organisations working within our priority areas of health, education and the alleviation of suffering & distress.

Our priority is to fund partner organisations which make a lasting difference to people’s lives; focus on reducing isolation, inequality and stigma; and inspire and empower individuals to realise their potential and share in the life of the whole community.

It follows that LFT believes that all children should have equal opportunities to succeed in school, regardless of their socioeconomic background.  

Objective of the Bright Sparks Grantmaking Programme

The aim of this LFT Grantmaking Programme is to empower community-based initiatives to advance equitable access to the resources, opportunities, and support systems every child needs to succeed in school and throughout life.

Application Process

Applications are welcomed from organisations with previous relevant experience supporting disadvantaged families with children up to age 13 and organisations that work directly with children of the same age group (0-13 years).

Examples of projects that could be considered include:

• Initiatives that support early learning, school readiness, and access to high-quality early childhood education programmes.
• Initiatives that empower parents and families to actively participate in their children’s education and navigate the education system.
• Early interventions providing a strong foundation for learning and preventing achievement gaps from widening.
• Programmes providing tutoring, mentoring, and academic enrichment activities to boost attendance and attainment of pupils facing educational challenges due to poverty.
• Projects that address non-academic barriers to learning by providing essential resources such as school supplies, uniforms, and food. A maximum of £1,000 from the total budget can be allocated for this type of direct assistance.

To apply, applicants should download an application form here.

As with all funders, it is likely that demand will exceed available funds and so this will be a competitive process and priority may be given to organisations who have not previously been supported by LFT.

Criteria used to assess applications will include:

• Previous relevant experience
• Project Outline and Rationale
• Number of beneficiaries anticipated
• Impact expected and how this will be measured (with preference given to applications that propose the use of validated tools)
• Projects that prioritise collaborative working with parents, school and the community.
• Value for Money

Applications for grants of up to £7,000 are invited.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noon 14^th October 2025.

Applications should be made by email to grants@lftcharitabletrust.com

Eligibility

This funding is intended for targeted interventions that directly benefit those children most affected by poverty, rather than broad-based initiatives.  To make the greatest impact, applications must demonstrate a clear focus on meeting the needs of children and families disadvantaged by poverty or low income.

Additionally,

• Projects must specifically benefit children up to 13 years old living in poverty.
• Only applications from registered charities will be considered.
• Only activity taking place in Northern Ireland will be considered.
• Only expenditure incurred for the purposes of the project and that can be directly attributed to the expected outputs/outcomes will be eligible.
• Financial commitments are envisaged from 1^st December 2025 with a requirement to commence project delivery within three months of receipt of a letter of offer.
• Project delivery should not exceed 12 months.

Reporting & Evaluation

LFT welcome the opportunity to visit the project during the delivery period and will seek an impact report from funded projects on completion of the project.

Enquiries at any stage of the application process are welcomed by the Secretariat. Grantmaking decisions are made by LFT Board of Trustees.