Community Funding

There are two separate funding streams available

1. LCDC Local Enhancement Programme

2. LCDC Local Enhancement Programme Women's Groups

The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) provides funding to support community groups across Ireland. The LEP is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by Cork City Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), to ensure funding is targeted appropriately towards addressing disadvantage in the areas that need it most. It is important to note that other agencies and departments also invest in disadvantaged areas, For example, the Department of Education and Skills in DEIS schools and community liaison officers, HSE in community care services, DSP in Intreo and through the Local Employment Service etc. The Department of Rural and Community Development also operates the SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme) to assist individuals and groups from disadvantaged communities.

The LEP will support groups:

To carry out necessary repairs and improvements of a capital nature to their facilities and /or purchase equipment for e.g. such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment etc.

• The funding may also be used but not limited to improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and; improving energy efficiency of community facilities.

• The Community Support Fund Women’s Women’s Groups is a capital grant to provide funding towards necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities and purchase of equipment.

These funding streams are about giving a helping hand to our communities, local groups, and clubs. The Department has recommended that LCDCs ring-fence a percentage of allocated funding from the Community Support Fund to provide small grants of €1,000 or less. Ring-fencing funding at this level will allow a larger volume of those with limited resources to receive some funding. These programmes can also fund or partially fund larger scale projects to address disadvantage. Applications should relate to one or more key priority areas identified in their LCDC’s Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) in order to be eligible for consideration.

Please Click Here, for a press release on the launch of the Local Enhancement Programme at national level by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD.

Closing date for applications is Tuesday 27th of February 2024 at 5pm.

Please note that incomplete applications or late applications cannot be considered.
Full Terms and Conditions are detailed in the Guidelines with the application form on Submit.com

ITM-X and ITM-Y Co-ordinates
To facilitate the identification of the location of the projects/work, a new field has been introduced in the form requesting the ITM-X and ITM-Y co-ordinates of the project/work.

These co-ordinates can be found on the website irish.gridreferencefinder.com. For a guide to help applicants find their co-ordinates for an application, please click here.

If you have any queries or problems with the application process, please contact sarah_ocallaghan@corkcity.ie or phone 021 492 4748.

**Applications for this grant are now closed**