Co-Ownership announces 2025 Community Fund recipients

Co-Ownership is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025/26 Community Fund, with two organisations each receiving £10,000 in support of projects that will make a real difference in communities across Northern Ireland.

Now in its eighth year, the Community Fund is part of Co-Ownership’s wider commitment to supporting community development and social wellbeing beyond housing. Each year, the fund supports not-for-profit organisations delivering impactful work in areas such as social inclusion, mental health, financial education, and wellbeing.

After a competitive application process, Rosie’s Trust and the Rural Circles project were selected as this year’s recipients.

Rosie’s Trust: ‘Life is Rosie’ Project

Operating across Northern Ireland, Rosie’s Trust is the region’s only charity solely focused on keeping people and their pets together during some of life’s most difficult moments, including cancer treatment, end-of-life care, and reduced mobility. The “Life is Rosie” project will help mark the charity’s 10th anniversary by expanding its volunteer network and raising awareness of its services among those who could benefit from them.

A major part of the project will focus on volunteer recruitment, with the charity also highlighting the many positive mental and emotional benefits of volunteering. The funding from Co-Ownership will support outreach and engagement activities, helping Rosie’s Trust grow its reach and impact in communities across Northern Ireland.

Rural Circles Project

The second award goes to the Rural Circles project, which tackles social isolation in rural areas in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council Area . The project will support older people, particularly those over 55 who are living alone or disconnected from family and community life, by offering a wide-ranging programme of events and activities designed to boost confidence, reduce loneliness, and improve wellbeing.

Activities will include arts and crafts, gardening, healthy eating workshops, woodwork, musical entertainment, and community day trips. By creating safe and welcoming spaces for social interaction, the project aims to reconnect individuals with their wider community and provide vital emotional and social support.

Gillian Hughes, Head of Governance at Co-Ownership, said “Our Community Fund is about supporting the people and projects that strengthen local communities, and this year’s recipients do exactly that. Both Rosie’s Trust and the Rural Circles project are delivering incredibly meaningful work, and we’re proud to help them reach more people, especially those at risk of isolation.”