Inishowen community and voluntary groups urged to apply for Small Grants Fund
The Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme Small Grants Fund supports community and voluntary groups and smaller social enterprises to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through engagement and collaboration
Community organisations in Inishowen are being invited to apply for the 2024 Small Grants Fund to help “contribute towards building a more sustainable, inclusive and empowered community”.
This year’s new Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) Small Grants Fund supports community and voluntary groups and smaller social enterprises with fewer than 10 staff to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through engagement and collaboration.
In particular, local groups that are supporting initiatives that prioritise the new focus areas under this recently launched national SICAP programme, such as people aged over 65, isolation, refugee and migrant rights, integration, climate action, addiction, homelessness, LGBTQI+, youth, and gender.
The Small Grants Fund is managed locally by Inishowen Development Partnership in Buncrana and all applications will go through their community development team.
SICAP community development team lead, Denise McCool, says for local groups in Inishowen, the grant is an opportunity to support actions that respond to local needs.
“There is such an active Community and Voluntary sector in Inishowen and as a result we always get a great range of applications for the SICAP small grants programme,” says Denise.
“The grant supports actions that respond to local needs identified by the community groups. It works to address a wide range of issues and challenges, supporting the community to come together to make a difference. The small grant can contribute to this good work on the ground.”
A range of actions and supports can be applied for under the grant, including creating community plans, training, environmental projects, small capital costs, running events, to name a few.
“All expenditure must be vouched and short reports on the actions are required. But the process is straight-forward with a short application form and guidance provided,” added Denise.
The Community Development team at IDP are available to answer any questions groups may have regarding the grants programme and can be reached via the email below or through our IDP Buncrana Office line 074 9362218.
The closing date is Friday, April 4 at 4pm. Applications and guidelines can be downloaded through www.inishowen.ie/latest-news or by emailing [email protected].
A full list of priority target groups within the programme is listed within the application guidelines. Social enterprises wishing to apply under the new programme must be “microenterprises” with fewer than 10 staff.