Important Funding notice for all Clubs in disadvantaged rural and urban areas.

Attention Clubs (ROI only) 

Have you registered with your local Community Development Committee? 

Ministers Humphreys and O’Brien announce €6 million Department of Rural & Community Development Local Enhancement Programme 2024  

Applications are open for the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024, which will provide small scale capital funding to support community groups across Ireland. Closing date for applications is Thursday, 15 February 2024. 

There is a separate ring-fenced fund available to Women’s Groups under the Programme. 

This funding will provide capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas. 

The funding is administered on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. Applications for funding can be made to the relevant LCDC. Contact details for LCDCs are available.   Click here for Press release 

While this particular tranche of capital funding may not be suitable for your club at this time we would recommend that all clubs contact or look up the LCDC’s in their county or city and see what other funding might be available. There are other funding schemes announced from time to time.  

If you have project that is raising awareness of and improve health issues such as obesity, smoking, alcohol and drug misuse, increase public participation in physical activity and address areas of health inequality. For example, you may wish to partner with a local youth initiative to introduce Table Tennis as an affordable alternative physical activity or work with a local women’s shed to introduce a bat and chat programme.  

Please note that individual LCDC’s will have different criteria and eligibility rules as well as different types of funding opportunities. For example sports clubs maybe excluded, however if clubs are developing an initiative that is for wider community benefit then the club may well be eligible. The key message here is to make clubs aware of potential funding opportunities locally. It will be up to the club to explore further with the relevant county or city council.

If you have any questions relating to this please don’t hesitate to drop us an e mail at [email protected]