Small Capital Grants Programme launched

Date published: 20 July 2020

The Programme, which has a total fund of £800,000, is aimed at assisting voluntary and community organisations purchase items of equipment to enhance and sustain the activities and services they provide to the community.

It provides grants of between £1,500 and £5,000 towards the purchase of items such as IT equipment, sporting equipment, catering equipment and material to support arts and cultural activities within the voluntary and community sector. Applications are invited from constituted organisations that have an annual income of no more than £100,000.

Launching this years’ Programme, Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín said:

“My Department is committed to ensuring voluntary and community organisations have the necessary support to allow them to provide the vital services required by the local community. This is particularly important as we emerge from the period of lockdown and will help to minimise any disruption to the services that people rely so heavily upon.

“Many of these organisations operate with the help of volunteers and on very small budgets, so the support provided through the Small Capital Grants Programme is vital to ensure they can continue to meet the needs of society.”

Co-operation Ireland administer the Programme on behalf of the Department. Speaking from today’s launch, Peter Sheridan, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland, said: “The Small Capital Grants Programme has directly impacted communities across Northern Ireland in a positive way and Co-operation Ireland is proud to have been able to assist in the delivery of the scheme.

"We are delighted the Programme is moving into another round of funding and look forward to continuing our relationship with the Department for Communities and the hundreds of community groups who will benefit from this fantastic programme.”

Further details on how to apply are available on the Co-operation Ireland website at: Cooperation Ireland