Deadline: 14-Jul-22
The Community Centres Investment Fund is offering grants for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres in both urban and rural areas.
The Department of Rural and Community Development recognise the vital role that Community Centres play at the heart of each community in bringing people together, engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged, and building stronger, more coherent communities.
The Fund will invest €15 million in capital improvement projects for Community Centres across Ireland. Priority for this programme will be given to:
- Community Centres providing services in a disadvantaged area or to disadvantaged people in the community.
- Projects that have involved and consulted the local community in their development, design and delivery.
Funding Information
The total budget for the Community Centres Investment Fund is €15 million. This is broken down into three Categories of funding. Applicants will only be able to submit one application form to the programme.
- Category 1
- These grants are for a minimum of €10,000 and up to a maximum of €25,000.
- Approximately €8.52 million has been allocated to grants in this category, which is expected to fund approximately 450 projects nationally.
- No match funding is required for grants in this category.
- Category 2
- These grants are for a minimum of €25,001 and up to a maximum of €100,000.
- Approximately €2.48 million has been allocated to grants in this category which is expected to fund a maximum of 31 projects (one per local authority area).
- Grants in this Category will require 5% of the total budget to be contributed as match funding from the applicant.
- Category 3
- These grants are for a minimum of €100,001 and up to a maximum of €300,000.
- Approximately €4 million has been allocated to grants in this category which is expected to fund a maximum of 16 projects nationally.
- Grants in this category will require 5% of the total budget to be contributed as match funding from the applicant.
Activities
The following list is non-exhaustive and other activities suggested by grantees are welcome:
- Projects which improve access for all to community facilities.
- Projects that bring community facilities in line with documented fire safety regulations.
- Improvements to buildings that improve the usability of the facility e.g. kitchen and toilet upgrades.
- Improvements that will assist the applicant in providing additional or better services to the community for example additional facilities, or repurposing existing space.
- Retrofitting/energy upgrade projects that improve the usability or longevity of the facility and reduce energy bills.
- Essential Maintenance works.
Who can apply?
- Applications can be from not-for-profit charities, community and voluntary organisations for the purposes of improving Community Centres.
- For the purposes of the fund, a Community Centre can be defined as a building that is community owned and is primarily used for community activity/events/recreation.
- They are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes.
- Category 1: Organisations may apply, regardless whether they are legally incorporated or not.
- Categories 2 and 3: Organisations must have a legal status in Ireland, i.e. company limited by guarantee or a registered charity.
Who is not eligible to apply?
- Community owned enterprise centres/social enterprises
- Community owned childcare facilities
- Statutory Bodies – however such bodies may participate in and support community and voluntary based initiatives in the project or as partners
- Private commercial companies and for-profit organisations, including sole traders
- Training providers
- Sports facilities
- Private Trusts or Foundations
- Private Individuals
- Schools or facilities that primarily provide a statutory education service
- Organisations who cannot provide evidence that the facility is utilised by the community in its location.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.ie/en/service/fec91-community-centres-investment-fund/