Introduction
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is one of Northern Ireland’s 11 local authorities and is responsible for delivering local services, community development, economic development, planning, leisure, environmental management and a wide range of grant and funding programmes across the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough.
The Council came fully into operation on 1 April 2015 following Northern Ireland’s local-government reform, which reduced the number of councils from 26 to 11. The new authority was created through the amalgamation of the former Antrim Borough Council and Newtownabbey Borough Council under the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.
It is therefore not a private foundation, charitable trust or corporate donor. It is a statutory local government body funded principally through rates, government grants, service income and other public-sector resources. However, it performs a substantial grantmaking role for community organisations, charities, sports clubs, cultural groups, businesses and individuals through multiple competitive funding schemes.
History and Background
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council emerged from one of the most significant reforms of Northern Ireland local government in decades.
Before April 2015, Antrim and Newtownabbey operated as two separate borough councils. The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 created a new governance framework and transferred responsibilities, staff, assets and liabilities to the newly reorganised councils.
The reform also gave councils an enhanced role in areas such as community planning, planning decisions, economic development and local service delivery.
The new Council became responsible for an area extending from Lough Neagh in the west to Belfast Lough in the east. Official financial reporting describes the Borough as covering approximately 274 square miles, divided into seven District Electoral Areas.
The seven District Electoral Areas are:
- Airport
- Antrim
- Ballyclare
- Dunsilly
- Glengormley Urban
- Macedon
- Threemilewater
The Council provides more than 90 different public services covering residents, communities, businesses and visitors.
Mission and Purpose
The Council’s Corporate Plan 2024–2030 sets out its ambition to support an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for the Borough.
Its stated vision is to be an ambitious Council that enables its communities towards an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future. Its mission focuses on meeting and exceeding the needs and aspirations of local people while demonstrating dynamic leadership and excellence.
Strategic Priorities
The Corporate Plan is organised around four principal strategic themes:
- People
- Place
- Planet
- Prosperity
These themes connect community wellbeing, environmental sustainability, infrastructure, economic development, business growth and quality public services.
People
The People theme focuses on improving residents’ quality of life and creating opportunities for communities to participate in local decision-making and activities.
Relevant priorities include:
- Health and wellbeing
- Community participation
- Inclusion
- Community safety
- Youth engagement
- Support for vulnerable residents
- Arts and culture
- Recreation and leisure
Council grant programmes supporting community facilities, social activities, good relations and cultural participation contribute directly to this theme.
Place
The Place theme is concerned with making Antrim and Newtownabbey an attractive, connected and welcoming Borough.
Activities include investment in:
- Town centres
- Community facilities
- Parks and open spaces
- Leisure infrastructure
- Cultural venues
- Regeneration
- Public realm
- Tourism
- Planning and development
Planet
Environmental sustainability is increasingly important within the Council’s strategic work.
The Council has developed a Climate Change Action Plan addressing mitigation and adaptation requirements under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. The plan involves different Council departments and is subject to ongoing review and reporting.
Environmental initiatives include biodiversity protection, waste reduction, tree planting, energy efficiency and climate resilience.
Prosperity
The Prosperity theme seeks to strengthen the local economy by supporting businesses, skills development, employment and strategic investment.
Council activities include:
- Business support
- Entrepreneurship
- Digital transformation
- Employment academies
- Skills programmes
- Town-centre development
- Tourism
- Investment promotion
- Apprenticeships and employment support
Governance and Structure
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council operates through elected councillors and a professional administrative structure.
The Council has 40 elected councillors representing seven District Electoral Areas.
Councillors make strategic decisions concerning:
- Policies
- Budgets
- Local services
- Grants
- Planning
- Community development
- Economic development
- Capital investment
- Environmental programmes
Mayor
As of July 2026, Councillor Henry Cushinan serves as Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey.
He was appointed in June 2026 for the 2026–27 civic year, becoming the first Sinn Féin Mayor of the merged Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Councillor Alison Bennington was appointed Deputy Mayor.
The Mayor acts as the Borough’s First Citizen, represents the Council at civic functions and supports community and charitable activities.
Chief Executive
The Council’s professional administration is headed by Chief Executive Richard Baker. Official Council documents identify him as responsible for leading the organisation alongside the Council’s senior management team.
The administrative structure covers major functions including:
- Community Planning
- Economic Development and Planning
- Organisation Development
- Parks and Leisure
- Sustainability
- Finance and Governance
Committees
The Council operates several committees dealing with specific responsibilities.
These include:
- Audit and Risk Committee
- Community Development Committee
- Economic Development Committee
- Operations Committee
- Planning Committee
- Policy and Governance Committee
Committee recommendations and Council decisions shape grant programmes, budgets, public services and major investments.
Funding and Financial Structure
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council finances its work through a combination of:
- District rates
- Government grants
- External programme funding
- Service charges and fees
- Leisure and cultural income
- Capital grants
- Partnership funding
For the financial year ending 31 March 2025, the Council reported a net cost of services of approximately £61.4 million, compared with a budget of approximately £60.4 million. External funding was approximately £59.9 million.
The Council also reported approximately £10.9 million of capital investment during 2024–25, including investment in innovation infrastructure, public spaces, leisure facilities, community and cultural assets, technology and vehicles.
Grants and Funding
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council operates one of the more diverse local-authority grant portfolios in Northern Ireland.
Its current grants structure includes funding for:
- Community development
- Community facilities
- Good relations
- Arts and culture
- Community festivals
- Sport
- Athletes and coaches
- Capital equipment
- Business improvements
- Community safety
- Anti-violence initiatives
- Skills development
- Community resilience
- Youth activities
Individual grant schemes have their own eligibility rules, deadlines and funding limits.
Community Facilities, Programmes and Activities Grant
The Community Facilities, Programmes and Activities Grant is one of the Council’s principal community-development funding programmes.
The 2026–2028 programme supports community, voluntary and charitable organisations whose projects have community development as a primary objective.
Projects should improve residents’ lives by helping create strong, healthy and vibrant communities and encouraging participation in community life.
Funding can support community facilities as well as activities and programmes.
Eligible programme expenditure can include:
- Venue hire
- Training
- Capacity building
- Transport
- Programme materials
- Publicity
- Volunteer expenses
- Educational activities
- Small items of equipment
Funding for community programmes and activities can reach up to £5,000 per year, while community-facility support can also reach a maximum of £5,000 under the relevant category.
Scale of Community Development Funding
For the 2026–27 funding year, the Council received 92 applications under the Community Facilities, Programmes and Activities programme.
A total of 82 applications achieved the required assessment threshold, seeking approximately £486,833 for 2026–27.
The draft Community Development budget allocated £628,000 to this grant programme. Multi-year successful applications were also approved for approximately £451,696 in 2027–28, subject to monitoring and funding arrangements.
This demonstrates that community development represents a substantial part of the Council’s local grantmaking activity.
Good Relations Grant Programme
The Good Relations Grant Programme supports properly constituted community, voluntary and charitable organisations based within Antrim and Newtownabbey.
For 2026–27, organisations could apply for up to £2,000 per application.
The programme seeks to:
- Reduce prejudice
- Challenge sectarianism and racism
- Promote equality
- Improve relationships between people from different religious beliefs, political opinions and racial groups
- Increase mutual understanding
- Build a more shared society
Eligible activities may include workshops, training, study visits, community engagement and seminars.
Cultural Grant Aid
The Council’s Cultural Grant Aid Programme supports constituted groups and individuals seeking to participate in, develop or promote cultural activities.
Funding priorities include:
- Developing artistic talent
- Increasing cultural knowledge
- Promoting participation and inclusion
- Showcasing arts activities
- Celebrating shared heritage
- Supporting cultural diversity
- Increasing understanding of minority languages
Eligible arts areas can include literature, traditional arts, dance, drama, music, film, digital arts, crafts, visual arts, public art and other creative activities.
Heritage can include historic buildings, monuments, landscapes, artefacts, traditions, folklore, languages and natural heritage.
Recent programme guidance provided grants of up to £1,000 for eligible cultural group activities, with some cultural products such as exhibitions or publications eligible for up to £500.
Community Festivals Grant
Community Festivals funding forms part of the Council’s arts, heritage and events grant portfolio.
It supports locally organised festivals and community celebrations that encourage participation and strengthen community life.
The Council’s 2026–27 grant calendar includes a dedicated annual application period for Community Festival Funding.
Sports Grants
The Council operates multiple sport and leisure funding schemes rather than a single sports grant.
Its portfolio includes:
- Sports Event Grants
- Grants to Clubs
- Capital Grants to Sports Clubs
- Defibrillator Grants
- Bursaries for Athletes
- Bursaries for Coaches and Officials
The Sports Event Grant operates through several calls during the year, giving clubs and organisations multiple opportunities to seek support.
Small Seeding Activity and Insurance Grant
The Council provides small-scale support to community organisations through its Small Seeding Activity and/or Insurance Grant.
This scheme forms part of the Community Development portfolio and is intended to help smaller organisations establish activities or address essential costs associated with community participation.
Capital Premises and Equipment Grants
Capital funding is available to eligible community organisations for premises and equipment.
The Council’s grants framework includes separate Capital Premises and Capital Equipment support, helping organisations strengthen facilities and improve their ability to deliver community services.
Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Change Fund
The Council administers a dedicated Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Change Fund in partnership with wider Northern Ireland policy initiatives.
For the 2026–28 programme, 18 applications were assessed and five successful projects requested approximately £84,682 in the first year and £81,682 in the second year.
The Council allocated a budget of £86,000 per year for the programme.
The initiative forms part of efforts to prevent violence against women and girls and support community-level awareness and change.
Elevate Community Renewal and Resilience Fund
The Elevate Community Renewal and Resilience Fund supports organisations working in areas identified as experiencing high levels of deprivation.
Funding targets eligible areas that fall within the most deprived Super Output Areas while excluding locations already receiving Neighbourhood Renewal funding.
For 2026–28, funding applications could range from approximately £5,000 to £25,000, depending on the approved programme framework.
In March 2026, the Council reported that 11 applications totalling approximately £377,437 had achieved the required funding threshold for the two-year programme.
PCSP My Community Small Grants
The Council’s grant portfolio also includes PCSP My Community Small Grants, connected with community safety and the work of the Policing and Community Safety Partnership.
The Council’s 2026–27 funding calendar identifies PCSP grants as operating on a rolling basis.
Business Grants and Support
The Council also provides support to local businesses.
Business-related programmes include:
- Business CCTV grants
- Business digitisation support
- Town-centre shopfront improvement schemes
- Digital-transformation programmes
- Employee upskilling
- Technical assistance
- Entrepreneurship and business-development programmes
The Business CCTV Grant Programme, originally launched in 2022, has provided assistance to eligible businesses seeking to improve security at commercial premises.
Employee Upskilling Fund
The Council operates an Employee Upskilling Fund within its skills and employability work.
The programme complements employment academies, apprenticeship support, career fairs and Labour Market Partnership initiatives intended to strengthen skills and employment opportunities across the Borough.
Research Funding
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is not a conventional academic research funder.
It does not operate a permanent open programme for:
- Basic scientific research
- University fellowships
- Laboratory research
- Independent academic research grants
- Large research infrastructure
Research may nevertheless form part of commissioned studies or partnerships relating to planning, environmental management, economic development, community needs, skills or policy development.
The Council’s main funding role is focused on community development, economic activity, culture, sport, inclusion and local services rather than academic research.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Love Living Here Community Plan
The Council facilitates the Borough’s Love Living Here Community Plan, bringing public agencies, community organisations and other partners together around shared outcomes.
The plan focuses on creating communities where residents:
- Enjoy good health and wellbeing
- Live in connected, safe, clean and vibrant places
- Benefit from economic prosperity
- Achieve their full potential
- Receive support when vulnerable
Community planning allows different organisations to combine resources and coordinate responses rather than working separately.
PEACEPLUS
Antrim and Newtownabbey participates in the PEACEPLUS Programme, funded through the European Union and administered by the Special EU Programmes Body.
Local PEACEPLUS action plans focus on:
- Community regeneration and transformation
- Thriving and peaceful communities
- Respect for cultural identities
- Youth development
- Health and wellbeing
- Shared community facilities
- Positive community relations
- Education and skills
- Addressing racism and sectarianism
The Council’s 2024–25 performance reporting states that it secured £4.4 million in PEACEPLUS funding.
Plant One Million Trees
The One Million Trees Initiative is an environmental partnership intended to plant one million native trees across the Borough.
The programme seeks to:
- Address climate change
- Increase woodland habitat
- Enhance green spaces
- Improve biodiversity
The Council works with communities, government agencies, landowners and environmental partners to increase tree planting throughout Antrim and Newtownabbey.
Climate Change Action Plan
The Council’s Climate Change Action Plan addresses both mitigation and adaptation.
It was developed to meet responsibilities under Northern Ireland climate legislation and involves Council departments working together to identify climate risks and actions.
Belfast Region City Deal
Antrim and Newtownabbey is one of the six local councils participating in the Belfast Region City Deal.
The wider investment programme focuses on four major pillars:
- Innovation and digital
- Infrastructure
- Tourism and regeneration
- Employability and skills
A major local project connected with the City Deal is the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, helping strengthen advanced manufacturing, research collaboration and regional economic growth.
Skills and Employment
The Council provides numerous skills and employability initiatives.
These include employment academies covering areas such as:
- Welding
- Medical administration
- Electrical and clean technology
- Phlebotomy
- HGV and coach driving
- Security
The Council also promotes apprenticeships, employment support programmes, skills training and job fairs.
Community Wellbeing and Anti-Poverty Work
Community initiatives include:
- Community fridges
- School uniform reuse
- Social supermarket support
- Age-friendly programmes
- Mental-health initiatives
- Community advice
- Food programmes
- Community safety wardens
- Loneliness reduction activities
- Neighbourhood Renewal
These programmes complement direct financial grants by providing practical services and partnerships.
Impact and Examples of Work Supported
The Council’s 2024–25 performance reporting provides several indicators of community impact.
During the year, the Council reported that its Community Capacity Building Programme engaged 482 volunteers from 115 active groups, helped participants achieve 150 accredited qualifications, and distributed approximately £734,000 in community grant aid.
Supporting Families
The Council’s school-uniform and Christmas toy reuse schemes received 14,743 donated items and supported approximately 1,950 families during 2024–25.
Its Social Supermarket supported 321 households, including 385 adults and 176 children.
Community Advice
Council-supported Community Advice Antrim and Newtownabbey assisted 39,313 clients during 2024–25.
According to Council reporting, approximately £7.94 million in benefits were taken up by residents as a result of advice and support.
Arts and Cultural Participation
During 2024–25, the Council reported approximately 628,992 visits to its culture and heritage venues.
Theatres attracted more than 47,000 attendees, while major Council events attracted approximately 225,170 visitors.
Cultural grants and community-festival funding complement this direct investment in arts and heritage facilities.
Accessibility Investment
Council investment also includes improving accessibility at community facilities.
In July 2026, the Council reported completing approximately £100,000 of accessibility and car-parking improvements at Stiles Community Centre, illustrating its wider infrastructure investment in inclusive community facilities.
Community Safety and Good Relations
Community Safety Wardens completed 4,941 patrols during 2024–25 and engaged with more than 7,500 people.
Good Relations grants, PCSP funding and PEACEPLUS activities supplement this work by supporting community-led initiatives aimed at improving relationships and reducing division.
Understanding the Council as a Donor
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council should be classified as a statutory local authority and public-sector grantmaker, not a philanthropic foundation.
Its funding primarily benefits projects connected to the Borough and its residents.
Potential applicants include, depending on the specific programme:
- Community and voluntary organisations
- Registered charities
- Faith-based organisations
- Sports clubs
- Cultural groups
- Artists and individuals
- Businesses
- Community facilities
- Youth organisations
- Organisations working in disadvantaged areas
Applicants should always review the specific guidance for each programme because funding amounts, geographic eligibility, eligible costs and application dates differ substantially.
Current Grantmaking Outlook
The Council maintains a formal annual grant calendar.
The 2026–27 funding calendar includes scheduled or rolling opportunities for sports, Good Relations, PCSP projects, community facilities, capital premises and equipment, community resilience, cultural programmes, festivals, bursaries and other initiatives.
This structured funding system makes the Council an important recurring funding source for community groups and locally active organisations in Antrim and Newtownabbey.
Conclusion
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has served as the local authority for the Borough since 1 April 2015, when the former Antrim and Newtownabbey councils were merged as part of Northern Ireland’s local-government reform.
The Council is governed by 40 elected councillors representing seven District Electoral Areas and delivers more than 90 public services. Its work is guided by strategic priorities focused on People, Place, Planet and Prosperity.
Although it is not a charitable foundation or conventional research donor, it operates a broad and significant grantmaking portfolio.
Its programmes fund community development, facilities, culture, festivals, sport, good relations, business development, community safety, skills, anti-violence initiatives and neighbourhood resilience.
Community grant aid alone reached approximately £734,000 in 2024–25, while the Council has also secured multimillion-pound external investments including £4.4 million in PEACEPLUS funding.
For charities, voluntary organisations, community groups, sports clubs, cultural organisations and locally based businesses operating in Antrim and Newtownabbey, the Council represents an important source of recurring public funding and partnership opportunities.
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