Apply Now: The Christmas Festive Fund 2026 (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 02-Oct-2026

The Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Christmas Festive Fund is inviting applications from community associations in local towns, villages, and hamlets to support inclusive outdoor Christmas light switch-on events during the 2026 festive season. The fund aims to help local community groups organise welcoming celebrations that bring residents together, encourage broad participation, and strengthen community spirit across the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area.

About the Christmas Festive Fund

The Christmas Festive Fund supports community associations to organise inclusive outdoor Christmas light switch-on events in towns, villages, and hamlets across the Council area. The programme is designed to ensure that local festive celebrations are accessible and welcoming to all members of the community. By providing financial assistance for event-related costs, the fund enables community groups to create opportunities for residents to come together and celebrate the festive season. Purpose of the Fund The main purpose of the Christmas Festive Fund is to strengthen community participation and local connections through outdoor festive events.

The programme aims to:

- Encourage community spirit - Support inclusive Christmas celebrations - Bring local residents together - Encourage wide community participation - Help community associations organise outdoor light switch-on events - Ensure events are welcoming and accessible to everyone - Support festive activities in local settlements When Must Events Take Place? Eligible projects must take place between: Saturday 28 November and Wednesday 16 December 2026. Applicants should ensure that their proposed Christmas light switch-on event falls within this eligible period. Who Can Apply? The fund is open to formally constituted non-profit community associations based within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area. Eligible applicants must have appropriate: - Governance arrangements - Insurance - Financial procedures The programme is specifically intended for community associations organising events for their local settlements. Funding Available Funding is available in two bands, depending on the population of the settlement. Settlements With 1,000 or More People Settlements with a population of 1,000 or above can apply for grants of up to £2,500. Settlements With 100 to 999 People Settlements with a population between 100 and 999 can apply for grants of up to £750. The funding structure allows larger and smaller settlements to receive support appropriate to their population size. What Can the Grant Pay For? The Christmas Festive Fund can support a range of costs directly associated with eligible festive events.

Eligible expenditure includes:

- Entertainment - Venue hire - Promotional literature - Event insurance - Equipment hire - Signage - Advertising - Printing - Administration - Selection boxes Equipment can be hired from either the Council or private companies where appropriate. Equipment Purchases Are Not Eligible While equipment hire is an eligible cost, purchasing equipment is not eligible for funding. Applicants should therefore ensure that any equipment included in their project budget is proposed as a hire cost rather than a purchase. Inclusive Community Events Inclusivity is a key consideration of the Christmas Festive Fund. The Council wants events that encourage participation from a broad range of local residents and are accessible and welcoming to members of the community. Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed event will: - Involve the wider community - Encourage participation from different groups - Create an inclusive festive atmosphere - Welcome local residents - Provide an outdoor celebration that is accessible to the community Where multiple applications are received from the same settlement, preference will be given to the application that demonstrates the strongest level of inclusivity. One Grant Per Settlement Only one community group per settlement will receive funding. If multiple eligible community groups submit applications for the same settlement, the Council will select the application that best demonstrates inclusivity and broad community involvement. Applicants should therefore clearly explain how their event will benefit and involve the wider settlement. Settlements Already Receiving a Council Christmas Event Groups located in settlements that are already receiving a Council Christmas event are not eligible for funding through the Christmas Festive Fund. Applicants should consider this requirement before preparing their application. Governance and Financial Requirements Applicants must be formally constituted, non-profit community associations. They must have suitable governance and financial procedures in place to demonstrate that the organisation can responsibly manage public funding. Applicants should also have appropriate insurance arrangements for their activities and proposed event. How to Prepare a Strong Application Community associations should focus their applications on demonstrating the community value and inclusive nature of their proposed Christmas event.

A strong application should explain:

- The settlement where the event will take place - The proposed Christmas light switch-on activities - How many people the event is expected to involve - How the wider community will be encouraged to participate - How the event will be inclusive and welcoming - How the grant will be spent - What entertainment or activities are planned - Any equipment that needs to be hired - How the event will be delivered safely and responsibly Applicants should ensure that their proposed expenditure falls within the eligible cost categories. Making Christmas Celebrations More Inclusive The Christmas Festive Fund places particular importance on events that involve the wider community. Rather than focusing only on the light switch-on itself, applicants should consider how their even