NWP launches Sustainable Communities Fund
NWP launches Sustainable Communities Fund
Ireland’s leading organics recycling firm, Natural World Products (NWP) has launched a new ‘Sustainable Communities Fund’, seeking to provide financial support to community groups within the West Belfast and Keady areas.
The fund aims to support groups and projects that demonstrate community involvement and benefit with an aim to create opportunities and empower local people.
In line with NWP’s wider business, the funding initiative will have a strong focus on sustainability, providing assistance to groups and projects that can outline how they will make a positive contribution to sustainability at a local level.
The Sustainable Communities Fund is open to a variety of initiatives including but not limited to sports clubs, youth groups, music groups, gardening clubs and beyond.
Patrick Kelly, General Manager at NWP said:
“Contributing positively to the communities in which our facilities are located is vitally important to us. Our Management Team all come from local working-class backgrounds and we want to make sure, wherever possible, we are giving something back to help people on the ground who are battling every day to create opportunities for young people and others in communities that have increasingly been starved of support from central government.
“We currently donate premium-quality peat free compost to numerous initiatives right across Northern Ireland and have witnessed first-hand the hugely positive impact this activity has had.
“With this in mind, we are now pleased to be launching our Sustainable Communities Fund, which we feel represents the next step in our community development efforts.
“Without members of the local community using their brown bins to discard their household food and garden materials, we would not be able to carry out the work that we do.
“The idea of this fund is to say thanks and try to give back to the communities we’re from and who we ultimately depend upon.”
NWP delivers over half of all household recycling in Northern Ireland.
Household waste processed by NWP is converted into organic soil conditioner used by councils, agri-growers and the horticultural sector to return organic matter to heavily farmed soils and to contribute to a reduction in peat-based growing media products, making a significant carbon capture contribution in the fight against climate change.
Alderman Glenn Barr, former Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon added:
“Over the past number of years Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has developed a strong working relationship with NWP, allowing us to fully appreciate the positive impact that the business has had locally.
“Creating sustainable communities is just as important as creating a sustainable environment, and the NWP Sustainable Community Fund will undoubtedly help to further these efforts within Keady and surrounding areas.”
South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl, former Belfast Lord Mayor commented:
“NWP makes a significant contribution towards recycling efforts here in Belfast and across Northern Ireland.
“By launching this newest community funding initiative, NWP is once again exemplifying its commitment to bettering local communities in a sustainable way.
“I am confident that the Sustainable Communities Fund will create further positive impact within the West Belfast area and would like to encourage all eligible local groups to submit a funding application.”
Detailed eligiability criteria can be found below.
To apply to the Sustainable Communities Fund please complete and return an application form to – apply@nwp-recycle.com
The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund Criteria
Eligibility
Projects/groups within the following postcode areas are eligible to apply to The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund:
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The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund is open to projects that demonstrate community involvement and benefit with a focus on creating opportunities, empowering communities, and promoting sustainability.
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Organisations that apply for The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund must have been formed for a minimum of six months.
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Applications and projects that benefit all members of the community regardless of age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religion, will be given preference.
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Each application to receive funding from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs including copies of estimates and details of funding from other sources.
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Funding from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund will not be awarded in retrospect to projects that have already been completed.
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Funding from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund will not be made available to support the payment of salaries, or for ongoing expenditure.
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Political parties are exempt from applying to The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund.
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Bodies that have statutory responsibilities, including local authorities, hospitals or clinics are exempt from applying to The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund.
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Projects that involve the creation of a physical asset that may require ongoing maintenance, such as a garden, may require the production of a maintenance plan.
Process/Short-listing
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All applications are subject to consideration by the NWP Sustainable Communities Fund Management Committee.
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Following the shortlisting of all applications NWP will normally communicate a decision within eight weeks of each application submission deadline.
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Successful organisations may not apply for further funding from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund for a period of three years following the awarding of funds.
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NWP will consider applications that are received by each of two deadlines each year: 19th August and 30th November.
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Applicants should understand that successful projects may be subject to media and PR activity, to include photography and social media, in both the local press and in NWP communications.
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Applicants should be aware that members of the the NWP Sustainable Communities Fund Management Committee may wish to visit their project before a decision is taken on the application.
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In advance of any payment, all successful applicants will be required to provide invoices for agreed levels of funding. They may additionally be required to provide receipts for goods and services purchased with The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund money, should these be requested.
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All money received from The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund must be spent within six months of receipt.
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The decision of The NWP Sustainable Communities Fund Management Committee is final. The Committee reserves the right not to enter into correspondence with regard to their decision.
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