Department for Communities (Via Co-Operation Ireland): Small Capital Grant

Overview

Who can apply?

Applications must include a minimum of 2 organisations. Those applying must nominate a lead partner to whom the whole of the grant will be paid. The Lead Partner should complete the application form.

The amount of grant available will be dependent on the number of partners within the application:

• 2 partner groups = can apply for up to £1,500
• 3 – 4 partner groups = can apply for up to £3,500
• 5+ partner groups = can apply for up to maximum £5,000

To be eligible for grant assistance (grants between £1,500 – £5,000), applicants must be constituted voluntary or community sector organisations located in Northern Ireland, with an annual unrestricted income of less than £100,000 per year. (“Unrestricted” income relates to funds that the non-profit organisation may use for any purpose. “Restricted” income relates to funds whose use is restricted by a particular purpose and must be used in a specified period e.g. grant offer from a Funding Body).

Applicant groups need to have been established for at least one year and submit annual accounts with application form

Applicants must deliver the project, pay supplier(s) and submit a grant claim by 31st March 2022.

What can you apply for?

Partners can apply for a wide range of capital items, such as office equipment, furniture, sports goods, kitchen fittings and minor capital works to improve premises. Please note that consumables are ineligible e.g. ink, paper, etc.

Please note that applications for capital works e.g. works involving construction activities, will only be accepted from either the owner or leaseholder of the property concerned

Programme objectives

Applicants must ensure that their application meets ALL of the programme objectives:

• Objective 1 – Range and quality of services

• Objective 2 – Partnership and collaboration

• Objective 3 – Enhanced good relations

• Objective 4 – Enhanced capacity to deliver services:

Outcome benefits have been established for each objective and applications will be competitively scored against these outcome benefits - applicants should therefore detail how their project meets each individual outcome benefit.

Objective 1 – Range and quality of services:

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal will help improve the range and quality of services for the local community. The anticipated outcome benefits of this objective are:

• Improved range of services on offer to the local community;

• Improved quality of services on offer to the local community

• Improved accessibility to services.

Objective 2 – Partnership and collaboration:

Applicants must detail how their organisation works in partnership and collaborates with other groups. A Partnership/Consortium Agreement form is attached to the application form and this must be completed and signed by each organisation and returned with the application form.

The anticipated outcome benefits of this objective are:

• Increased connectivity within the local Community and Voluntary sector; and

• Improved understanding of the local services available within a given locality.

Objective 3 – Enhanced good relations:

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal will tackle obstacles to good relations within and/or between local communities. The anticipated outcome benefits of this objective are:

• Increased collaborative working between groups from different community backgrounds;

and

• Improved effective cross community and cross cultural partnerships designed to adopt a pragmatic approach to shared evidenced need.

Objective 4 – Enhanced capacity to deliver services:

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal will lead to enhanced capacity to deliver services in their local community. The anticipated outcome benefits of this objective are:

• Improved opportunities to increase the skills, knowledge and confidence of voluntary organisations in delivering local services; and

• Increased capacity within organisations to access public funding.

N.B. If the programme is over-subscribed, Co-operation Ireland reserves the right to adopt additional assessment critieria