Community Climate Action Fund

Community Climate Action Programme Funding 

How does my community group apply?

Please access the application form here:

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Donegal County Council is delighted to announce applications for funding under the Community Climate Action Programme can now be made through the "Apply Now" button above. 

The Community Climate Action Programme (CCAP) is a new programme to support small and large, rural and urban communities to take climate action at a local level. Donegal County Council in association with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), will provide funding to local communities for projects that promote community climate action.

The objective of the CCAP is to build low carbon, sustainable communities, which will, in turn contribute to the national climate and energy targets. 

There are two strands of funding available:

• Strand 1: focuses on direct climate action building low carbon communities.
• Strand 1A: focuses on cross-border projects in partnership with communities and organisations in Northern Ireland.

About the CCAP

This funding is part of the Community Climate Action Programme, which supports projects and initiatives that facilitate climate action within local communities. The fund is open to not-for-profit community groups and clubs.

The CCAP can fund 100% of all eligible costs for the project and there are three project sizes eligible:

• Small scale projects < €20,000
• Medium scale projects €20,000 to €50,000
• Large scale projects €51,000 to €100,000

Projects must deliver a direct positive impact on climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or helping communities adapt to the consequences of climate change.  

The 5 themes of the programme are as follows with some examples of projects that may be applied for:

Theme 1: Community & Energy
LED community lighting, small renewable energy projects (solar / hydro / wind), rainwater harvesting, retrofitting community buildings (windows & doors, insulation, LED lighting, heat pumps).

Theme 2: Sustainable Travel
Cycle parking / racks, improving cycle way access, safe and active routes to schools, eCargo bikes, bike repair hubs.

Theme 3: Food and waste
Community composting facilities, community gardens / allotments, community fridges.

Theme 4: Shopping and recycling
Swap shops, water filling stations, single use plastics elimination, musical instrument reuse, paint recycling, toy library.

Theme 5: Local climate and environmental action
Climate resilience - measures to reduce harmful effects of extreme climate events such as planted mounds to slow flood water, constructed storm water wetlands. Mini forests, dispersed orchards (fruit trees), community gardens, roof gardens, pollinator projects.

Further Information

Please see CCAP Guidance Information for applicants.  

A series of public information sessions will be held by Donegal County Council as follows:

Community Climate Action Fund Presentation

The recording of the Online webinar from the 11th January held in conjunction with the SEAI SEC Mentor programme is now up on the ATU Contract Research Unit YouTube channel please see the link below:

https://youtu.be/tKXEcXiqIf8

Remaining in-person information sessions below:

*New dates rearranged from the recent postponements.

Eligibility Strand 1

• not-for-profit organisations / clubs
• located in operational area of Donegal County Council
• registered with Donegal Public Participation Network (PPN) or connected with other collectives e.g. The Wheel, Tidy Towns or a community group - Articles of Association or a Constitution - hold an AGM, approved minutes available.

PPN membership is not a requirement of this funding. However, it can be helpful for community organisations to join. The core membership benefit of the PPN is sharing information across members and to members. Information can vary from details of public consultations, training events, funding opportunities to member events. Further details on the PPN are available at www.donegalppn.net

        
NOT eligible:

• Private individuals
• Commercial undertakings (including sole traders)
• Schools 
• National community or environmental organisations

Eligibility Strand 1a – Shared Island Community Climate Action

• are a not-for-profit organisation
• are located in the operational area of the LA to which they are applying for funding
• submit a completed application form on or before the specified closing date and time
•  are registered with a PPN or connected with other collectives such as the Wheel, Tidy Towns and /or a community group with Articles of Association or a Constitution, which hold an AGM, and for which approved minutes are available.

Additionally:

• Strand 1a applications must be made by a lead organisation in ROI, with at least one partner organisation in Northern Ireland.

• Strand 1a applications will be submitted to the Local Authority in the jurisdiction in which the lead organisation is based.

•  Strand 1a applications must comprise a cross-border project in partnership with an organisation in Northern Ireland.

• Given the scope for all-island projects, national community and environmental organisations are eligible to apply under strand 1a.

• Partner organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation, a Local Authority, or a community or environmental organisation, registered in Northern Ireland.

The following are not eligible to act as the lead organisation or the Northern Ireland Partner:

• Private individuals

• Commercial undertakings (including sole traders).

The five programme themes

A project may comprise several of the suggested project types as set out in themes 1 to 5 above. While these themes provide suggestions for the types of projects which may be funded, applicants are not limited to selecting these project types and are encouraged to explore innovative projects that meet the objective of the Programme. 

Applications will open on 29^th December 2023 - 22^nd March 2024.

Any group considering making an application is advised to contact the Community Climate Action Officer at [email protected] in advance of making an application.