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What We Fund:
Our Current Funding Focus

In light of our substantial charitable forward commitments, coupled with the unknown financial implication relating to our ongoing litigation with regards to our investment in apartments at Victoria Square, Chichester Street, Belfast, the Committee of Management has agreed a strategy for the next 18-24 months to ensure we can continue to offer support at this critical time.
Based on the current critical issues facing our communities, for the next 18-24 months UGV is focusing its support on the areas of Poverty and Homelessness.

*Exceptional projects outside Poverty and Homelessness may only be considered at the discretion of the UGV Committee of Management.

*Please note that we expect projects to start within 6 months of the grant being offered.

Poverty

We are living in a particularly challenging and uncertain period. The number of people affected by poverty is rising rapidly as the cost-of-living crisis continues. This means people are unable to buy food, heat their home, pay their rent, or buy the essentials for their children. Such insecurity and uncertainty leads to stress, isolation, marginalisation and discrimination. We want to support projects which address the issue of poverty.
0 %
of NI’s population live in relative poverty.
0 %
live in absolute poverty.
0 %
of children are growing up in poverty - NI kids are worse off now than a decade ago.
0 %
of children in poverty in Northern Ireland live in working households

Homelessness

Northern Ireland is in the midst of a homelessness and housing crisis, one that has been growing over the past 20 years. Homelessness is not solely a housing problem—it is a complex issue influenced by poverty, limited access to education and employment, substance abuse, mental illness, relationship breakdowns, and, increasingly, domestic violence. We want to support projects which address the issue of homelessness.
0
people in NI are currently officially classified as homeless - that's one in every 33 people
0 /3
of those who are officially homeless are under the age of 18.
0 %
of those who are currently homeless are families.
0 %
represents the growth over the last five years of the number of children living in temporary accommodation

Projects We've Supported

Find out more about the types of projects we've supported responding to poverty and homelessness. These projects
demonstrate UGV's commitment to
addressing critical social issues and
making a meaningful difference in
communities that need assistance most.

Hosford Homes

Refurbishment of 240 Newtownards Road into 6 independent apartments and a community space, giving access to housing and support to those facing challenging circumstances and who are at risk of homelessness and social isolation.

Roscor Youth Village

The refurbishment of the original house at Roscor providing 5 new rooms for young people facing challenges, helping 100s of individuals every year.

Habitat for Humanity

To deepen community impact and grow the number of people supported through Habitat ReStore; the charity’s social enterprise. Last year more than 138,000 local people accessed low-cost materials to improve their homes and skills training was provided for hundreds of vulnerable individuals.

Homeplus NI

Supporting Sessional Workers to continue vital outreach and drop-in services during the pandemic for vulnerable groups such as new communities and homeless people. This included providing food, clothing and advice and delivering food into the community.

Apply for funding

Find out more about the application process.

Closing date for Expressions of Interest: 30th November 2025.

How to apply
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