Deadline: 08-Jul-24
Submissions are now open for the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS).
This Scheme is funded under the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme.
Key Objectives
The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2024/2025 has been designed to:
- Help rural community-led, voluntary groups to address local issues of access poverty, financial poverty and social isolation;
- Improve the lives of rural communities, and in particular the wellbeing of isolated individuals; and,
- In line with the draft Green Growth Strategy for Northern Ireland provide opportunity to community-led, voluntary groups to implement energy efficiency measures / environmental improvements.
Grant Scheme
- Micro Capital grants between £500 and £2,000 are available to rural community-led, voluntary organisations for projects tackling issues of local poverty and / or social isolation, and / or implementing energy efficiency measures / environmental improvements. Projects must focus on one of the following four themes:
- Modernistaion (of building(s) / assets).
- Information Communication Technology (ICT).
- Health and Wellbeing.
- Energy Efficiency / Environment Improvement.
- The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme can offer grant aid from 50% up to 85% of the total eligible cost of your project. NB: The total project cost must not exceed £4,000.
Who can apply?
You can apply for a Micro Capital grant if:
- you are a rural community or voluntary organisation or Social Economy Enterprise who requires funding for a project tackling a local issue of poverty and / or social isolation. NB: Evidence will be required from the group constitution and accounts to prove all the criterion is met;
- the organisation is based in a rural area.
- you have a formal Constitution or governing documents;
- you have a minimum of three people on your management committee;
- your organisation can deliver the project, pay the supplier(s) and submit a grant claim 25 October 2024 (including reimbursement of credit cards / loans);
For more information, visit Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.