Grants available for social enterprises
BRAY Area Partnership is inviting applications from local social enterprises operating in the Bray and North Wicklow area for the Small Capital Grants Scheme.
The scheme will provide grants of between €2,000 and €15,000 for equipment, repairs or refurbishments, which will enable social enterprises to improve their service.
Social enterprises aim to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact by trading through the provision of goods or services and reinvesting surpluses back into achieving social objectives.
The scheme is an initiative under the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2018-2022, which the Minister for Community & Rural Affairs published in July, and will be administered through Local Development Companies such as Bray Area Partnership.
CEO of Bray Area Partnership, Peter Brennan, said “Our staff have been supporting social enterprises through SICAP and other programmes for many years and this new fund will give the sector a significant boost, particularly by assisting early stage projects that have huge capacity for positive social impact.”
Announcing the scheme, Minister Ring said: ‘One of the main objectives of the National Social Enterprise Policy is to grow and strengthen social enterprises. The new small capital grants scheme will support over 100 social enterprises through funding of €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund and will be of particular interest to smaller or start-up social enterprises which do not necessarily have the capacity to compete for larger grants.
‘I am pleased that the Local Development Companies have agreed to partner with my Department to deliver this scheme. The Local Development Companies provide grassroots support to social enterprises all around the country and are well placed to administer the fund.’
TO apply, go to brayareapartnership.ie, or call 01 2868266. Bray Area Partnership can provide assistance with the application process to any group that wishes to apply.
All applications must be received by Bray Area Partnership by 3 p.m. on Monday, November 11. While Bray Area Partnership will administer the fund, all decisions on grant awards will be made by the Department of Rural & Community Development. It is expected that applicants will be notified of the results of their application by the Department of Rural and Community Development by December 11.