Call for Applications: Community Recognition Fund (Ireland)

The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants (‘new arrivals’) including towns identified for the rapid build homes programme. The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

Funding Information

• The minimum level of funding for an individual project is €50,000 with a maximum of €500,000. Smaller projects cannot be artificially combined to meet the minimum threshold of €50,000. While the 2023 scheme provided funding for small-scale investment in clubs and communities (for example, for small-scale equipment), the focus of the 2024 scheme is on projects of greater scale and impact.

Eligible Projects

• The type of projects eligible for funding are:
  • development, enhancement or refurbishment of community or cultural facilities including play areas, walkways, parks, community/sensory gardens, allotments, and recreational areas;
  • development, enhancement or refurbishment of local club and sports facilities including facilities such as community swimming pools, changing rooms, toilets, digital aids such as score/information boards etc.;
  • enhancement to school/parish facilities which are open to use by all of the community after school hours;
  • purchase of equipment for local clubs, festivals, community events and organisations e.g. music, arts or sports equipment;
  • transport infrastructure such as the purchase of community vehicles, bus shelters and attendant information boards; (any vehicle funded must be in good condition and not more than 5 years old)
  • projects that help address dereliction and/or wider local economic and community development objectives;
  • purchase and refurbishment of vacant or derelict buildings for community use where a clear need is identified.
  • Purchase of land and associated works for the development of community facilities such as play areas/MUGAs or town parks/ community gardens, recreational areas etc. (purchases must only be administered by the local authority).

Eligibility Criteria

• Funding is targeted at, and specifically invested in, those communities, villages and towns where the highest level of new arrivals are located and where there is a clear need for investment identified. Projects situated in areas that do not have high levels of new arrivals will not be deemed eligible.
• Projects to be funded will be capital in nature, and deliver medium-to-long-term benefits for the communities in which they are located. They must also be capable of being delivered over the course of 2025 and 2026. A minimum spend of 50% of the allocation must be incurred in 2025. Eligible projects will receive funding for capital costs, but not for any ongoing operational or running costs.

For more information, visit Longford County Council.