—Skills and Innovation Fund
Tackling Textiles Grant: Skills and Innovation (Year Two)
We are delighted to announce the launch of the second year of the Tacking Textiles Grant: Skills and Innovation. This follows the successful pilot grant last year, where we supported five different projects across Northern Ireland.
These projects included:
- developing skills within schools and communities around repair and reuse.
- supporting vulnerable groups to access sewing classes.
- developing innovative online resources to inspire people.
- supporting a local business to bring sewing and repair skills into the community and corporate world.
We are looking for your ideas that support tackling textile waste through waste prevention, reuse, repair and reimagine.
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is administering the grant provided by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) – Waste Prevention Policy Branch to explore ways to reduce the environmental impacts of textiles.
The production, consumption and disposal of clothing and textiles is a growing environmental issue both locally and globally. Across the UK we are throwing away over one million tonnes of textile waste with up to 300,000 tonnes ending up in landfill or incinerated*.
According to WRAP clothing/textiles has the fourth largest environmental impact after housing, transport, and food.
We are looking for your ideas that help tackle this growing issue.
Value of grants available
Between £500 to £2,500
We would welcome applications from the following types of organisations:
- Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (under 250 employees)
- Social enterprises
- Charities
- Not for profit organisations
- Community & voluntary groups
Currently not open to:
- School and third level education organisations
- Sports clubs, churches, and youth groups
- Unconstituted groups
- Large enterprises (over 250 employees)
What type of projects will the Tackling Textile – Skills & Innovation Fund?
We are looking for ideas that support:
- Waste Prevention
- Reuse and Repair Models
- Reimagine
Materials and design innovation is critical to the future of a circular economy. By preventing waste at the design stage of product development, we can have consumption that is healthier and performs better for our people and the planet.
Reuse/Repair Models
Reuse and repair are essential in the development of a more circular economy. Reuse of products and materials is more beneficial as it retains a product’s inherent value by keeping it in use for longer. This minimises waste, create jobs, has positive social impact, reduces consumption, and associated carbon impacts.
Reimagine
Climate change is real; we know the impact; we know we must act, and we know that we must make changes to our current model of ‘take-make-dispose.’ We are looking for new ways to tackle the problem of production, consumption, and disposal of textile waste with the aim of creating a more circular textile economy.
How to apply ?
What is Submittable?
How to Get Started:
Getting started with Submittable is simple. Just click on the link below and follow the link to the Tackling Textiles Grant: Skills and Innovation tab.
Any queries please contact us by emailing textilegrants@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org
To apply for this grant, applicants are asked to complete an online form. You are strongly advised to download and read our Guidance Notes, which include the grant criteria.
Key dates
- Grant will open for applications on Thursday 12th October
- Completed application form must be received by 5pm Thursday 9th November 2023
- Successful applicants will be notified week commencing 20th November 2023
If you have any queries in the meantime, please send them to: textilegrants@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org
* The statistics shared are UK-wide, 2017 statistics published by Parliament. Read the report.