Grants are available to 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.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has announced that the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) is open for the 2025/26 round. Applicants to the scheme can apply for a minimum grant of £500 up to a maximum grant of £2,000, with a minimum of 15% match funding required. The scheme is being delivered by Rural Support Networks on behalf of DAERA.

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 to implement energy efficiency measures and/or environmental improvements to their premises.

All projects must be completed and claims for grants submitted by 26 February 2026.

The deadline for applications is 20 October 2025 (noon). For more information, please visit Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme (RMCGS) 2025/2026 | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs