DAERA Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme 2024/2025 are OPEN NOW

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 and Fermanagh Rural Community Network (FRCN) and Omagh Forum for Rural Associations (OFRA)

Fermanagh Rural Community Network (FRCN) and Omagh Forum for Rural Associations (OFRA) are hosting “Zoom” and “Face-to-face” Pre-Application Information Sessions over the next two weeks.

Fermanagh Rural Community Network (FRCN) and Omagh Forum for Rural Associations (OFRA) strongly advise all groups to take part in a pre-application information session so that your organisation has all the latest information on the application process. 

Pre-Application Information Sessions Timetable:

Tuesday 18th June @ 7.30pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86753959502?pwd=ENbMea1ANIuzaa3wVs0kBstYrs16Re.1

Meeting ID: 867 5395 9502 

Passcode: 334848 

Wednesday 19th June @ 7.30pm (face to face)

Lakeland Community Care

1 Lattone Road

Belcoo

BT93 5AQ

Thursday 20th June @ 7.30pm

Join Zoom Meeting 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81576796515?pwd=1HVYgSfjGAA5YlQJHaGxCCa9AbZKtC.1

Meeting ID: 815 7679 6515 

Passcode: 548477 

Monday 24th June @ 12.00 noon

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81932698430?pwd=PEff1hNSCg5e2v5R14AvTbkMWvHxSD.1

Meeting ID: 819 3269 8430 

Passcode: 739201 

Tuesday 25th June @ 7.30pm (Face to Face)

The Bawnacre Centre,

35 Castle Street,

Irvinestown

BT94 1EE

Thursday 27th June @ 7.30pm (Face to Face)

Oak Healthy Living Centre

LITE House Building,

Cross Street, 

Lisnaskea, 

BT92 1JE

Thursday 27th June @ 7.30pm (Face to Face)

Omagh Community House, 

2 Drumragh Avenue, 

OMAGH, 

BT78 1DP

Key objectives

The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2024/2025 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:

• Modernistaion (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., draft 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).

Online Application Form Link

Guidance Notes and the Online Application Form are available at the following link:

https://digitalapps2.daera-ni.gov.uk/RMCGS/StartPage

When registering for the Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme 2024/2025 please use the nidirect government services tab: https://identity.nidirect.gov.uk/

If you require any information or advice please contact us in Fermanagh Rural Community Network on 028 6632 7006 or by email: info@fermanaghrcn.org