Have your say! Come along and vote for your favourite community campaign!
We have received 169 applications from community groups across the borough for this year’s round of funding, making it one of our most exciting yet! Now in its fifth year, the project continues to go from strength to strength, delivering real and lasting benefits for local residents.
Community groups from every corner of the borough have put forward inspiring ideas to improve their areas – from activities and initiatives to projects that bring people together. Each successful group could receive up to £1,000 to bring their idea to life.
And now it’s over to you!
There are three exciting Market Stall events taking place, where each applicant will showcase their idea and how it can benefit their community. All you (the public) have to do, is come along to an event, have a look at all the different ideas and vote for your favourites!
These events will be a fun day for all the family to enjoy, with lots of great activities for the children, spot prizes, and teas and coffees on hand while you check out all of the amazing community ideas!
The events:
- Saturday 30th May 2026, 10:00am – 2:00pm: South Lake Leisure Centre
- Saturday 6th June 2026, 10:00am – 2:00pm: Banbridge Leisure Centre
- Saturday 13th June 2026, 10:00am – 2:00pm: Armagh City Hotel
CHECK OUT OUR ‘STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO YOUR TAK£500+ VISIT!’ VIDEO TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY!
We hope to see you there!
WHAT IS TAK£500?
Tak£500+ is a Participatory Budgeting process which means that local people get to decide how public funds are used to address needs in their area. Community Planning Partners have pooled their resources to fund community projects.
Communities can apply for up to £1000 for a project they think will benefit their area – and best of all, it is the local residents who decide which projects should go ahead!
WHO CAN APPLY?
The fund is open to everyone from
- Both constituted groups and non-constituted groups can apply for funding.
- There must be a minimum of three people per group.
- Children and young people aged eight and above can also form a group and apply for funding. If you are under 18, you will need an Adult Sponsor to support your application and to help develop and deliver your idea. You will also need a parent or guardian to sign your application form (More details on this below).
- If your group is not constituted, you will need to be sponsored by a constituted group or organisation.
- Only one application per organisation/umbrella group will be accepted. If more than one is received, you will be asked to select the one you want considered.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
You can apply for up to £1000 to pay for things such as online activities, equipment, events, tutors, venue hire, transport for trips and other innovative ideas. *
All ideas must be based around the ‘Take 5 Ways to Wellbeing’. These are five simple steps to help maintain and improve your wellbeing on a daily basis.
CONNECT
With the people around you, family, friends, colleagues and neighbours and spend time developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
BE ACTIVE
Go for a walk or run, cycle, play a game, garden or dance – even a short 10-minute walk can improve mental alertness and wellbeing.
TAKE NOTICE
Of the world around you, how you are feeling, what matters to you and reflect on your experiences.
KEEP LEARNING
Don’t be afraid to try something new, rediscover an old hobby or sign up for a course. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun.
GIVE
Do something nice for a friend or stranger, thank someone, smile, volunteer your time or consider joining a community group.
A PB Working Group of Community planning partners will review your ideas against the following criteria
- Safe
- Legal
- Feasible within budget and timeframe
- Will benefit people in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough
- In line with one or more of the Take 5 Ways to Wellbeing and in line with the overall ethos of Take 5.
Unfortunately, there are things we can’t fund such as personal payments, alcohol, political activities and things you are already funded to deliver. If you are unsure, please contact us.
STAGE ONE – ELIGIBILITY
HOW TO APPLY?
Applications open on Monday 13th April 2026 for four weeks and will close at midnight on Sunday 10th May 2026. To complete an application, click the APPLY NOW link below or by submitting a word version to
You can attend one of our information sessions which will be held over the coming weeks as listed below:
Information Sessions
In‑person sessions
- Tuesday 21st April – 7:00pm – 8:00pm, The Old Courthouse, 7 Main Street, Markethill
- Wednesday 22nd April – 10:30am – 11:30am, Sintons on the Bridge (Age Friendly Session)
- Wednesday 22nd April – 7:00pm – 8:00pm, Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre, Craigavon
- Thursday 23rd April – 7:00pm – 8:00pm, Bowling Pavilion, Lurgan Road, Dromore
Online (Zoom) sessions
- Thursday 16th April: Online via Zoom 7:00pm – 8:00pm
- Friday 17th April: Online via Zoom 10:30am – 11:30am
- Monday 20th April: Online via Zoom 2:30pm – 3:30pm
- Wednesday 29th April: Online via Zoom 4:00pm – 5:00pm
To register to attend a session complete the jotform or please email specifying which session you would like to attend.
Telephone support is also available by contacting a member of the PB working group, details outlined below.
Applicants need to ensure that they demonstrate through the application process that their project fits within the themes and eligibility criteria.
Projects must be submitted by the application deadline, those submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Your idea will be checked by the PB Working Group to make sure that it meets the criteria (safe, legal, feasible within budget and timeframe, will benefit the people in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, in line with one or more of the Take 5 Ways to Wellbeing and the overall ethos of Take 5).
If you meet the simple criteria, you will then move onto Stage Two, where you will be asked to attend the Market Stall and Decision-Making Event.
Groups will be asked to showcase their idea to the community by putting together a ‘market stall’ detailing their idea and asking for support. Everyone aged eight and over can vote to support the project ideas they want to see happen.
There will be three Market Stall and Decision-Making Events and voting will take place in person at each event listed below:
- Saturday 30 May 2026, 10am–2pm – South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon
- Saturday 6 June 2026, 10am–2pm – Banbridge Leisure Centre
- Saturday 13 June 2026, 10am–2pm – Armagh City Hotel
Voters will be given a specified number of votes – you can vote for your own project, but you must also use your full allocation of votes to choose other projects too. Otherwise, your vote will be null and void.
The projects with the most public votes will be awarded up to £1000 to make their idea happen!
Successful projects will be notified by a letter of offer as soon as possible after each Decision-Making event. Groups that are unsuccessful this time will get advice and support.
WHEN DO PROJECTS HAVE TO BE DELIVERED?
Successful projects must be delivered by 14th January 2027, and you will also be required to attend a community celebration event in March 2027. At this event, you will be asked to deliver a two-minute presentation to others at your table on how your project has benefitted your community. Please note, attendance at the celebration event is a condition of the funding.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
If you have any questions about applying for funding, would like more information or some help with your application, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by contacting a member of the PB working Group.
| Name | Organisation | Contact details |
| Alison Beattie | ABC Council | |
| Clive Bowles | Portadown Rugby Football Club | 02838330295/ 07709166333 |
| Debbie Smith | SHSCT | |
| Donna Stewart | Craigavon Banbridge Volunteer Bureau | |
| Elaine Devlin | ABC Council | 07771794988 |
| Emma O’Carroll | ABC Council | 07385083814 |
| Frances Haughey | ABC Council | 07500772905 |
| Jennie Dunlop | ABC Council | 07795257261 |
| Jude Meakin | Arbour Housing | |
| Karen Ross | PSNI | |
| Laura O’Hagan | ABC Council | 07436537846 |
| Mark Doran | ABC Council | 07502363534 |
| Michelle Hazlett | NIHE | |
| Michelle Markey | ABC Council | |
| Patrice McKeown | Arbour Housing | |
| Raquel Rodrigues Keenan | Volunteer Now | |
| Sarah Muldoon | Education Authority – Youth Services | |
| Adrian Hutchinson | Education Authority – Youth Services | |
| Kevin Quigley | Education Authority – Youth Services | |
| Stephanie Rock | ABC Council | 07825010630 |
| Stephen Fields | West Armagh Consortium | 07759949314 |
| Stephen Harland | Ark Housing | |
| Tracey Powell | SHSCT | tracey.powell@southerntrust.hscni.net ; or 028 37564495 |
| Vicki Titterington | Linking Generations | |
| Sarah Cargill (heritage related projects) | ABC-Heritage Places |
INFORMATION ON SPONSORS
Adult Sponsors
If you are under 18 years old, we ask you to nominate an Adult Sponsor – someone who can help you develop and deliver your idea and overcome any problems you may encounter. Your sponsor could be a family member, friend, teacher or youth worker.
If you agree to be an Adult Sponsor you are agreeing to support the young person’s application and give them any help and advice, they may need to make their idea a success.
We are here to help throughout the funding period should you or the young person you are sponsoring need any help, advice or support.
Group Sponsors
If your group is not constituted, we ask you to name a constituted group or organisation who will sponsor your project, as funds cannot be paid into a personal bank account.
If you agree to become a local sponsor you are agreeing to receive funds on their behalf and pass them to the successful group to enable them to deliver on their project.
Project supported by:
Tak£500+ is a project of Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Community Planning Partnership. Project partners include:
