£1.8million Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2025/2026 opens for applications

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DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA has today announced that a new £1.8million Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) will open for applications on Monday 15 September 2025.

Capital grants between £500 and £2,000 will be available to rural voluntary and community organisations and Social Economy Enterprises to fund projects tackling locally identified issues of poverty and/or social isolation. The Scheme is funded from DAERA’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme.

Projects must focus on one of the following themes:

  • Modernisation (of building(s) or assets)

  • Information Communication Technology (ICT)

  • Health and Wellbeing

  • Energy Efficiency or Environmental Improvements.

The scheme is being delivered by Rural Support Networks on behalf of DAERA. Applicants to the Scheme will be required to provide a minimum of 15% match-funding.

The Scheme closes for applications 12.00pm midday on Monday 20 October 2025.

For further information on the 2025/2026 Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme including revised registration requirements please contact the Rural Support Network in your local council area. More details from the DAERA website.