Grand Slam: Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Community.

Applications now open! Closing date: Friday 2 October 2026

Do you have an idea that could help make your community safer?

If you're part of a community group in an eligible area of Ards and North Down*, you can apply for up to £1,000 to turn your idea into reality.

The Grand Slam Participatory Budgeting Programme gives local groups the opportunity to secure funding for community safety projects. Local residents then vote to decide which projects receive support.

*Applications are open to groups operating within eligible areas of Ards and North Down Borough Council. Bangor and Newtownards are currently supported through alternative funding programmes and are therefore not eligible for Grand Slam. For further information, please contact pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Download the application pack >>> PCSP Grand Slam_Application Form and Notes (PDF, 8 MB) (opens new window)

Application Guidelines

Who can apply?

You can apply if:

Your group operates within an eligible area of Ards and North Down Borough Council
Your group has at least five members
Constituted and non-constituted groups are welcome to apply
If your group is not constituted, you must have sponsorship from a constituted organisation or community group

A maximum of three applications may be submitted from any one organisation or umbrella group (for example, a sports club with junior and senior sections, or a school with several year groups).

If more than three applications are received from the same organisation, we will ask you to identify which applications should proceed.

When and where must projects take place?

Projects must:

Take place between November 2026 and March 2027
Be delivered within an eligible area of Ards and North Down Borough Council.

What can funding be used for?

You can apply for up to £1,000 towards costs such as:

Your project must support at least one of the following community safety themes:

Better Places, Safer Spaces
Building Health, Wellbeing and Resilience
Building Respectful Relationships
Online Safety and Cyber Security
Community Cohesion and Inclusion
Safer Roads, Safer Communities

How will applications be assessed?

Projects will be assessed against the following criteria:

Is the project safe and legal?
Can it be delivered within the proposed budget and timescale?
Will it benefit the local community?
Does it support one or more of the community safety themes?

What cannot be funded?

Funding cannot be used for:

If you are unsure whether your project is eligible, please contact us for advice before applying.

How do I apply?

Submit your completed application by Friday 2 October 2026 to:

Ards & North Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership
Signal Centre
2 Innotec Drive
Balloo Road
Bangor
BT19 7PD

Or email: pcsp@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

What Happens Next?

Eligibility Check

Once we receive your application, we will review it to ensure it meets the programme criteria. We may contact you if we need further information.

Groups will be notified of the outcome of this stage by Friday 9 October 2026.

Community Decision Event

Shortlisted groups must attend the Community Decision Event on:

Friday 23 October 2026
Queen's Hall, Newtownards
2.00pm to 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Attendance at this event is a condition of funding. Each project may be represented by up to five people.

Groups will display their project idea and explain:

What they plan to do
Who will benefit
How the project will improve the community

Displays can include posters, photographs, display boards and other visual materials.

Community Voting

After viewing all project displays, participants will vote for their ten favourite projects.

Projects receiving the highest number of votes will receive funding.

Successful projects will be announced as soon as possible after the event.

Groups that are unsuccessful will be offered advice and support.

What happens after funding is awarded?

Successful groups must:

Deliver their project by 31 March 2027
Attend a community celebration event to share the outcomes of their project

Attendance at the celebration event is a condition of funding.