Community Funding
LCDC Community Support Fund 2023 in Partnership with Cork City Council's Community Development Grants 2023
This funding stream will be open for applications on Monday 13th February 2023.
There are four separate funding streams available
- LCDC Community Support Fund
- LCDC Community Support Fund Women's Sheds
- Cork City Council Community Associations Capital Grants
- Cork City Council Small Scale Programme Grants
The Community Support Fund (CSF) provides funding to support community groups across Ireland. The CSF is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in each Local Authority area, 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 CSF will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas
- With their non-pay running costs such as energy costs (electricity costs, refuse charges, heating charges) or other non-pay operating costs for e.g. rental/lease costs, insurance bills. Groups will also be able to use the funding 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 Community Support Fund Women’s Sheds is a small scale grant to provide funding towards the operation and running costs of women sheds e.g. electricity/heating/insurance.
The Community Associations Capital Grant is a Capital Grant for Community Associations in Cork City for works of a capital or major building maintenance nature. The Small Scale Programme Grant is for Community Groups in the Cork City area for once off, small scale programme activities. The Community Development Grants are funded by Cork City Council, administered by the Community Section, and recommended for approval at a full Council meeting through the Community Culture and Placemaking SCP.
The partnership between the Community Support Fund and the Community Development Grants will operate in a complementary manner to add value to other front-line schemes and programmes, being operated in communities.
Community Groups, Organisations and Associations can apply for funding from the following grants.
Please note that while there are two separate Capital Grants outlined, applicants are only eligible to apply for one capital funding stream.
- LCDC Community Support Fund 2023 Non Pay Running Costs
With non-pay running costs for example utility bills (electricity costs, refuse charges, heating charges) or other non-pay operating costs for example rental/lease costs, insurance bills. Any funding awarded will generally be for €1000 or less. Depending on number of applicants and total allocatable funding available, cost greater than €1000 could also be considered.
- LCDC Community Support Fund 2023 Capital Costs
Funding to carry out necessary repairs and improvements to their facilities, purchase equipment, e.g., such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment etc. Funding will be awarded towards large scale Capital Grants between a minimum of €5,000 and a maximum €35,000. Approved grants are usually between €5,000 to €10,000.
- LCDC Community Support Fund 2023 Women's Shed
This is a small scale grant to provide funding towards the operation and running costs of women sheds e.g. electric/heating/insurance costs. The maximum grant that can be applied for will be €1000. However, please note most grants awarded are closer to €300 to €500
- Community Associations Capital Grants 2023
For recognised Community Associations in Cork City for works of a capital or major building maintenance nature. Funding will be awarded towards large scale Capital Grants between a minimum of €5,000. and a maximum €35,000. Approved grants are usually between €5,000 to €10,000
- Cork City Council Small Scale Programme Grant 2023
For Community Groups in the Cork City area this is for once off, small scale programme activities, excluding arts and sports activities. The maximum grant that can be applied for will be €2,500. However, please note most grants awarded are closer to €500.
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.
The Community Support Fund is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Please
click here for a press release on the launch of the Community Support Fund 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 Monday 06th of March 2023 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 francis_freyne@corkcity.ie or phone 021 492 4045.
