Community Support Fund

The Community Support Fund, with a national fund of €10m, is being provided by the Government to support a wide and diverse range of local community groups with energy bills and running costs.

This fund was launched by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD

The Community Support Fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas

With their non-pay running costs for example energy costs (electricity costs, refuse charges, heating charges) or other non-pay operating costs for example rental/lease costs, insurance bills.
Groups will also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities, purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment etc.
An element of the funding has been ring fenced for award to Women’s Sheds for operating/running costs

This funding will help communities, community groups and committees, allowing them to continue to provide valuable services to the people in their area, and in the process strengthen the bonds that tie communities together.

It has been devised to support groups with energy costs who may not have been deemed eligible under previous Government Schemes eg

Pobal Community & Voluntary Energy Support Scheme
Revenue Temporary Business Energy Scheme
Sports Ireland Energy Support Scheme
Arts Council Energy Scheme
Department of Health Section 38 or 39 Organisations scheme

Donegal LCDC will administer the Programme on behalf of the Department and have €360,000 available for award under the Scheme as follows:-

Rules

Community Suppport Programme funding for 2022 is open for application under three categories as follows:

1. Large Grant

Grant for Purchase of equipment or upgrade works

2. Small Grant

(a) Grant towards Operating/Running Costs

(b) Grant for Purchase of equipment/maintenance or upgrade works

3. Small Grant for Womens Sheds

Grant towards Operating/Running Costs

Groups must apply for funding to the Local Authority in which they are based, and applicants in Donegal can use the application form provided at the link below

Match-funding from other sources is not required in order to be approved for a grant

See Community Support Fund - Guidelines for further details.

Applicant groups must provide the following when submitting their application for funding:

Tax Registration (Charitable Status No, Tax Reference No or Tax Clearance Access No)
Bank or Credit Union Account Details (copy of recent Statement)

If your group is new or has any queries re Tax Registration or Bank/Credit Union Account status which may affect drawdown of grant should your application be successful, please contact [email protected] with your query before submitting your application.

The application form requires applicants to provide the co-ordinates of their proposed work/project. A guide to assist you with sourcing co-ordinates is appended in the documents section of the webpage.

Applicants applying for the large grant are required to state the key priority area(s) in the LECP that their application relates to. A summary of the LECP Goals and Strategic Themes is appended in the Documents section of the webpage.

Rates

The Programme will offer two levels of grant aid:-

Small Grants from €500 up to a maximum of €1,000 per project
Large Grants from €5,000 up to a maximum of €10,000 per project

How to apply

Your group must submit a completed Community Support Fund - Application Form or Community Support Fund - Women's Shed Application Form to Donegal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) with the necessary supporting documentation to the following address:-

Community Enhancement Programme

Community Development

Donegal County Council

Station Island

Lifford

F93 X7PK

Co Donegal

Applications can be left at Reception in Donegal Town, Dungloe, Carndonagh, or Letterkenny Public Service Centres during normal working hours.

Emailed applications can be sent to [email protected] but a hard copy of the form and supporting documentation must be submitted.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 3.30 pm on Thursday, 9^thMarch 2023.

Applications received after this time will not be considered.

Application Forms/Supporting Documentation: