Northern Ireland - Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme
/Grants are available for rural community-led, voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland to support projects that address issues of local poverty and social isolation, and to implement energy efficiency measures or environmental improvements.
Background
The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), with funding provided from the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) programme.
Objectives of Fund
The funding is intended to support projects 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.
In line with the draft Green Growth Strategy for Northern Ireland, provide opportunity to community-led, voluntary groups to implement energy efficiency measures and environmental improvements.
Value Notes
Grants of between £500 and £2,000 are available, to fund up to 85% of total project costs.
Total project costs must not exceed £4,000.
Match Funding Restrictions
Applicants must provide match funding of at least 15%, in the form of a cash contribution.
Labour or in-kind contributions will not be accepted.
Who Can Apply
Applications will be accepted from rural community or voluntary organisations or social economy enterprises located in Northern Ireland.
To be eligible, applicants must:
Have a formal constitution or governing documents.
Have a minimum of three people on their management committee.
Have a bank or building society account in the name of the group, which requires at least two signatures for each withdrawal.
Enclose a copy of their most recent accounts or a signed financial statement.
Be the sole applicant and owner or lessee of the building for which the application is being made.
Be appropriately insured or prepared to obtain appropriate insurance if awarded a grant (building or contents insurance as appropriate).
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
Organisations based in urban areas.
Individuals, sole traders and/or commercial trading companies.
Companies that exist to distribute a profit.
Statutory Authorities or organisations governed by Statutory Authorities.
Appeals or charities set up to support statutory bodies.
Organisations with an income in excess of £80,000 (not including in-year restricted funds, eg non-business/grant income).
More than one application to modernise a building.
Costs already incurred.
Grants to be used to match another funder's project.
Projects where the value of match funding is greater than the value of grant.
Second-hand equipment.
Training.
Hospitality, food, drink.
Clothing, uniforms
Motorised vehicles.
Running costs.
Consumables eg ink cartridges, paper.
Staff/volunteer expenses.
Labour costs not directly associated with purchased capital works/items.
Feasibility studies/reports.
Eligible Expenditure
Projects must focus on one of the following themes:
Modernisation (of premises/assets).
Information Communication Technology.
Health and Wellbeing.
Energy Efficiency/Environmental Improvements.
Grants can be used to purchase capital equipment, improve an asset, or extend the usable life of a capital asset.
Funding can also be used by organisations to implement energy efficiency measures and/or environmental improvements to their premises.
All projects must be completed and claims for grants submitted by 25 March 2025.
Location
Northern Ireland
How To Apply
The deadline for applications to the second 2024/25 funding round is 5 December 2024 (noon).
Applications must be completed online through the Rural Micro Capital Scheme portal.
Applicants are advised to contact their local Rural Support Network for further information.
Documents & links
Contacts
For further information on how to obtain this fund, please contact the following:
Enquiries
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Ballymiscaw
Belfast
BT4 3SB
Tel: 0300 200 7852
Email: daera.helpline@daera-ni.gov.uk
