Deadline: 14-Feb-25
The Waterways Ireland is pleased to announce the Community Heritage and Biodiversity Grant Programme to support projects that complement the delivery of the Waterways Ireland Heritage and Biodiversity Plan.
Objectives
- Applications will be considered from communities seeking assistance for projects that help support the Objectives of the Heritage & Biodiversity Plan 2030:
- Objective 1 (developing high quality and accessible waterways heritage knowledge), the grant scheme could prioritise funding for community-led research and survey projects that document local heritage features, collect oral histories, or conduct biodiversity monitoring along the waterways. Funded projects would need to commit to making their findings publicly available through Waterways Ireland’s digital platforms and archives, helping build an open knowledge base about waterway heritage. This could include supporting citizen science initiatives where communities help gather data about wildlife, water quality, or heritage features.
- Objective 2 (ensuring integrated management aligned with UN SDGs), grants could support projects that demonstrate clear linkages between heritage protection and sustainable development goals. For example, funding could go to initiatives that ensure heritage building restoration, or projects that enhance both biodiversity and community wellbeing through heritage-focused environmental improvements. Applicants would be encouraged to show how their projects contribute to specific SDGs.
- Objective 3 (strengthening inspiring heritage experiences), the grant scheme could fund creative and engaging community projects that bring waterway heritage to life for diverse audiences. This might include supporting heritage festivals, educational programmes, arts projects, or digital interpretation projects that help people connect with waterway heritage in meaningful ways.
Funding Information
- Waterways Ireland has allocated a total fund of €20,000 to this scheme in 2025. Grants up to €1,500/£1,350 are available for individual projects. Only one grant per individual/organisation is permitted.
Community Participation and Project Support
- Waterways Ireland recognises that successful heritage projects thrive through local knowledge, enthusiasm and volunteer effort. While this grant scheme provides funding only for external goods and services, they value the time, skills and dedication that community members bring to these projects.
- When completing your application, you are welcome to describe how volunteers will contribute to your project through activities such as:
- Project coordination and planning
- Local historical research
- Community outreach and event organisation
- Environmental monitoring and surveys
- Photography
- Project promotion and communications
- Practical conservation work (where appropriately skilled and supervised)
Eligibility Criteria
- The scheme is open to individuals, community groups and organisations along the inland waterways within Waterways Ireland’s remit:
- The Lower Bann
- The Grand Canal
- The Royal Canal
- The Barrow Navigation
- The Shannon Navigation
- The Shannon Erne Waterway
- The Erne System
- The Ulster Canal (Upper Lough Erne to Clones)
Ineligibility Criteria
- This grant scheme cannot support:
- Projects benefiting an individual rather than the wider community
- School staff costs or teaching time
- General equipment or tools unrelated to the specific project
- Administration fees
- Insurance
- Membership fees
For more information, visit Waterways Ireland.