Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme 2025-2026
Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme 2025-2026
Omagh Forum for Rural Associations and Fermanagh Rural Community Network are delighted to let you know that the Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme 2025-2026 is now open for applications, closing at noon on Monday 20th October 2025
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.
Guidance and Online Application Form Links are available here https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/rural-micro-capital-grants-scheme-rmcgs-20252026
Key objectives
The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2025-2026 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://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/rural-micro-capital-grants-scheme-rmcgs-20252026
Omagh Forum for Rural Associations and Fermanagh Rural Community Network are hosting “Zoom” and “Face-to-face” information sessions during the application period.
These are not essential however we would strongly advise 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 18th September @ 8pm
Join FRCN Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86490283148?pwd=TsXowRrgRYXTQqbyn9NzEpbba8NwVU.1
Meeting ID: 864 9028 3148
Passcode: 420234
Friday 19th September @ 12.30pm
Join OFRA Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89288105702?pwd=64hnfsThOX5QA61QWITOU5u4dawYgN.1
Meeting ID: 892 8810 5702
Passcode: 727747
Tuesday 23rd September @ 7pm
Join OFRA Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84918195484?pwd=AeJvuOApIYqCybdVJc6vYaXEMxc0BQ.1
Meeting ID: 849 1819 5484
Passcode: 583143
Friday 26th September @ 1pm
Join FRCN Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87670677166?pwd=wfFT7BVQ9IbQa2WIXADOYBA2Szm3no.1
Meeting ID: 876 7067 7166
Passcode: 882789
Tuesday 7th October @ 7pm
Join OFRA Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82113214247?pwd=QCBHlGQ72xJXRFe2OrO7AvmOJok8Mp.1
Meeting ID: 821 1321 4247
Passcode: 082723
- 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!