Omagh Forum for Rural Associations and Fermanagh Rural Community Network are delighted to let you know that the Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme 2024/2025 Tranche 2 is now open for applications, closing at noon on Thursday 5th December 2024.
This Scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs under the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme and is being delivered in the Fermanagh and Omagh area by Omagh Forum for Rural Associations and Fermanagh Rural Community Network.
Key objectives
The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2024/2025 Tranche 2 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.
The 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:
- Modernisation(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. Match funding for your contribution of at least 15% must be in the form of a ‘cash’ contribution. Labour or ‘in-kind’ contributions will not be accepted.
In order to ensure that as many groups as possible get the opportunity to benefit from this Scheme, organisations can only make one application to the Scheme.
*To encourage local communities to implement energy efficiency / environmental improvements eligible costs may include, e.g., draught proofing, double glazed windows, change of lighting to LED, light sensors/timers, insulation, replace kettles with a water boiler.
**Environmental improvements eligible costs may include the purchase of 100% gardening equipment, e.g. tunnel kits, pots, spades, hoes and raised beds. A maximum 15% of the overall project costs may be used to purchase plants, trees, hedges, flowers etc. (Plants / shrubs / flowers must be perennial, i.e. plants that live multiple seasons).
Application form and guidelines are available by registering at the following link:
https://digitalapps2.daera-ni.gov.uk/RMCGS/StartPage
Omagh Forum for Rural Associations and Fermanagh Rural Community Network are hosting “Zoom” and “Face-to-face” information sessions during the application period.
We would strongly advise all groups to take part in a pre-application information session so that your organisation has all the latest information on the programme and the application process including how to register as a new user and navigate the online application process.
Information Sessions:
Thursday 14th November @ 7pm
Join OFRA Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84545372930?pwd=KWZh5Lnqlamnksj6g0oznPDLk0DYzA.1
Meeting ID: 845 4537 2930
Passcode: 738987
Friday 15th November @ 12:30pm
Join FRCN Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87174148526?pwd=Tvyh7qW3nRAuU13rYFSmrJKHjBgxd7.1
Meeting ID: 871 7414 8526
Passcode: 452748
Monday 18th November (face to face) @ 7pm
Omagh Community House
2 Drumragh Avenue
Omagh
BT78 1DP
Tuesday 19th November @ 12 noon
Join OFRA Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84667458906?pwd=q0v0PVlz6E9ddTmzuc3xI7n9wdYCRH.1
Meeting ID: 846 6745 8906
Passcode: 762676
Tuesday 19th November (Face to face) @ 7.30pm
Devenish Room,
Lakeland Forum,
Broadmeadow,
Enniskillen
BT74 7EF
Thursday 21st November @ 7:30pm
Join FRCN Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84517380642?pwd=zedJSK7nzgCgtjmiK7jDpOGCXhzRJk.1
Meeting ID: 845 1738 0642
Passcode: 116709
- If you applied for the grant over the Summer, you may apply for the current scheme also. Therefore, everyone can apply again for this one.
- As the window for this grant is extremely tight, 12 noon 5th December, could all applicants please commence preparation on their application ASAP
- Both Omagh Forum (02882251559) and FRCN (02866327006) are always available to answer any queries you have on the application process.
- Finally, it is always advisable to attend an information session, you always learn something!
