Road safety grant scheme
The road safety (safe travel) grant scheme, administered by the Department for Infrastructure, aims to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on the roads and encourage active travel.
Who can apply
Individuals and groups from the voluntary and community sector can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to develop and run projects aimed at improving road safety or the take up of active travel in local communities. You can only apply as an individual if you’re working in partnership with a community group. The group must be involved in the application process.
To qualify, groups must be properly set up, have a bank account and be able to finish the project by 4 March 2022.
Applying for the 2021/ 22 scheme
If you’re eligible, you must fill in and return the application form to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) at:
DfI Safe & Accessible Travel Branch
Room 3.09
Clarence Court
10 - 18 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8GB
Telephone: 028 9054 0150
Or via email to: safeandaccessibletravel@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
The deadline for applications is 12.00 pm on 15 October 2021.
Projects that will be considered
The scheme supports achievement of the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy targets and the draft Programme for Government outcomes associated with increasing active travel, by funding community-based projects by not-for-profit community groups.
Increasing the number of people choosing to walk or cycle for short journeys and cutting the number of people killed or seriously injured on Northern Ireland roads are key priorities for DfI.
The scheme will not fund projects or people that have received a DfI road safety grant before, unless the scheme clearly relates to a different initiative.
Projects which duplicate work of DfI or capital projects to change roads or pavements, install traffic calming measures such as speed bumps or traffic lights, installation of cycle lanes or to procure assets will not be considered.
Tips to help you make an application
Look at Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy to 2020. Can your project help address some of the issues that the strategy highlights, such as:
- improving safety on rural roads
- addressing high risk or vulnerable road user groups, for example, young drivers and motorcyclists
- reducing inappropriate and illegal road user behaviours, including speeding, drink and drug driving, driver inattention and driver distraction
If you’re successful
If you’re successful you:
- will receive 30 per cent of your overall award on return of an official signed letter of offer and acceptance of the grant terms and conditions
- must fill in regular update reports, confirming project progress and expenditure
- will receive the remaining grant amount on return of satisfactory progress reports
- must give a final report showing the outcomes of the project to DfI by 4 March 2022
How funding has been used in the past
Projects funded through earlier schemes have addressed issues including:
- road traffic collision reasons such as driving while using drugs or alcohol
- the safe sharing of road space
- over representation of young people and those in rural areas in road collisions
- modifying cars safely
- promoting road safety through theatre in education
- being visible at night on the road
- motorcycling safety
- bike safety issues
- road safety education targeted at ethnic minority communities
- driver safety advice and training for younger and older drivers
- road safety awareness and independent travel for people with learning or physical disabilities
- children’s awareness of traffic danger