Community organisations in Inishowen are being invited to apply for the 2024 Small Grants Fund to help ‘contribute towards building a more sustainable, inclusive and empowered community’.
This year’s new SICAP [Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme] Small Grants Fund supports community/voluntary groups and smaller social enterprises [with less than 10 staff] to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through engagement and collaboration.
In particular, local groups that are supporting initiatives that prioritise the new focus areas under this recently launched national SICAP programme, such as older people (aged 65+ Years) in isolation, Refugee and Migrant rights, integration, climate action, addiction, homelessness, LGBTQI+, youth, and gender.
The Small Grants Fund is managed locally by Inishowen Development Partnership in Buncrana and all applications will go through their community development team.
SICAP Community Development Team Lead, Denise McCool, says for local groups in Inishowen, the grant is an opportunity to support actions that respond to local needs.
“There is such an active Community and Voluntary sector in Inishowen and as a result we always get a great range of applications for the SICAP small grants programme,” says Denise.
“The grant supports actions that respond to local needs identified by the community groups. It works to address a wide range of issues and challenges, supporting the community to come together to make a difference. The small grant can contribute to this good work on the ground.”
A range of actions and supports can be applied for under the grant, including creating community plans, training, environmental projects, small capital costs, running events, to name a few.
“All expenditure must be vouched and short reports on the actions are required. But the process is straight-forward with a short application form and guidance provided,” added Denise.
The Community Development team at IDP are available to answer any questions groups may have regarding the grants programme and can be reached via the email below or through our IDP Buncrana Office line 074 9362218.
The closing date is Friday, April 4th at 4pm. Applications and guidelines can be download through our website at https://inishowen.ie/latest-news/idp-sicap-small-grants-programme-opens-for-2025/
A full list of priority target groups within the programme are listed within the application guidelines.
