Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Programme – Investment Area 4.2

Deadline: 23-May-24

The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has launched applications for the PEACEPLUS programme, Investment Area 4.2 – Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Programme to support social, economic and environmental projects which contribute to the creation of healthy communities in rural areas.

By adopting a strengths-based approach, the programme will contribute to the creation of a more balanced Programme Area, in which the rural communities thrive and reach their full potential through health and wellbeing focused solutions, while also tackling social isolation and promoting enhanced social inclusion, creating healthy and inclusive rural communities.

PEACEPLUS is funded in partnership by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

The PEACEPLUS Programme is making a call for an application under Theme 4: Healthy and Inclusive Communities- Investment Area 4.2 Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion.

Objectives

• This objective will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services in rural areas.
• It will result in strategic investment designed to allow rural communities to thrive and reach their full economic, social and environmental potential.

PEACEPLUS Programme Thematic Areas

• Theme 1: Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities
• Theme 2: Delivering Economic Regeneration and Transformation
• Theme 3: Empowering and Investing in Young People
• Theme 4: Healthy and Inclusive Communities
• Theme 5: Supporting a Sustainable and Better Connected Future
• Theme 6: Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration

Funding Information

• The total value of €50m million is available under this call. This consists of €40 million ERDF and UK ERDF equivalent funding and €10 million governmental match provided by the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Anticipated Actions 

• It is anticipated that the Programme will support the following types of actions:
  • Collaborative community development initiatives and services, including those related to health and wellbeing: 
    • Deployment of human resources to coordinate collaborative (cross-community and cross-border) approaches; progress key strategic projects; and deliver core community services, including those related to health and wellbeing, across designated rural area boundaries;
    • Development of centralised facilities to support the provision of key family support services, ranging from early years to older people, in a setting which will facilitate increased levels of cross-community contact; and
    • Development of green infrastructure to promote active lifestyles and support enterprise and tourism within rural areas (including those on a cross-border basis) and the interconnection of rural and urban areas.
  • Agricultural diversification support programmes: 
    • Deployment of resources to support diversification in the agricultural sector and the development of social farms (including collaborative approaches) for social and economic benefit.
  • Social enterprise support programmes:
    • Development and delivery of rural specific social enterprise support programmes including those focused on increasing health and wellbeing. This will incorporate support for: volunteer recruitment and development; product and or service development; awareness, promotion and sectoral marketing; funding mechanisms; and capital assets required for service delivery and expansion.

Who can apply?

• National, regional and local authorities;
• Regional and local development agencies, chambers of commerce;
• Universities, colleges, higher education, research institutions;
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
• Sectoral agencies and business support organisations;
• Voluntary sector organisations;
• Other relevant public-like organisations contributing to the development of the programme area;
• Private sector – specifically micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies
• The programme area for the PEACEPLUS Programme is:
  • Northern Ireland; and
  • The border counties of Ireland (Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo).

For more information, visit SEUPB.