Rural Childcare Programme
Overview
The Rural Childcare Programme is for activity that is designed to provide care for children up to the age of 12 that allows parents/guardians to participate in the workplace or participate in training to enhance their employment prospects.
Applications will be accepted for pilot/demonstration projects that address the following priorities in a rural context:
- Access to Childcare Services
- Early Years Integration
- Quality and Safety of Provision
- Sustainability and Affordability
Applications are sought from community based organisations and NI wide representative bodies with a particular interest in quality Childcare.
Financial assistance will be available up to 95% of costs. The maximum grant for regional organisations covering all of Northern Ireland will not exceed £250,000. The grant for community based organisations will not exceed £100,000.
Applications will only be accepted for projects that are based in or will primarily benefit a rural area in NI. As in the NI Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2013, for the purposes of the Rural Childcare Programme, rural NI means all those areas outside the statutory development limits of those towns with a population in excess of 4,500 inhabitants plus the areas of Strathfoyle, Newbuildings and Culmore, in the Derry Urban area and Milltown, Helen's Bay, Crawfordsburn and Groomsport in the Belfast Metropolitan Urban area are eligible for funding.
The closing date for applications was 30 June 2009.
How to Apply
An application form and guidance notes are available from the Rural Childcare Programme Section and must be completed by the deadline.