New Grant Making Programme

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

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.

Context
It is estimated that there are over 31,000 adults with a learning disability in Northern Ireland and only 6% of these adults are in paid employment. LFT recognises that being employed is about more than earning money – being employed is about feeling valued, experiencing independence and creating fulfilment.

Funding
The aim of this LFT Grant making Programme is to identify and support small social enterprises (turnover less than £250k) that provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

LFT is offering grants of up to £5,000 for projects that will improve the ability of social enterprises to offer employment opportunities, compete commercially and enhance sustainability through investment in people, technology or equipment.

Application Process

We welcome applications from social enterprises that:-
• Can demonstrate the potential to increase their social impact
• Have the capacity to generate enhanced trading income
• Will maximise outcomes for beneficiaries
• Can evidence grassroots engagement and are led by strong governance and management
• Have identified innovative and potentially scalable enterprise opportunities

To apply, applicants should set out their response (no longer than three A4 pages) to the following questions.

• What is the social issue your organisation is trying to tackle?
• Describe your social enterprise: the products/services you supply; the sales/trading income generated; and the involvement of adults with learning disabilities.
• What grant amount are you applying for and for what purpose? What measurable outcomes do you expect to achieve as a result of this investment?

The deadline for receipt of applications is 24th March 2022.

Financial commitments are envisaged from 1st May 2022 with a requirement to commence project delivery within three months of receipt of a letter of offer.

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

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