Council opens up 2021 Community Fund Scheme
COMMUNITY groups, sporting bodies and local organisations across Cork have been invited to apply for funding under an initiative that provides financial support for locally based projects.
Following on from what has been, by any measure, a challenging year for the voluntary and community sector, Cork County Council has set aside a pot of more than €1.8 million under its annual Community Fund Scheme.
Administered locally by each of the authority’s eight Municipal District’s, the scheme provides financial support to help offset the cost of specific projects under three distinct streams.
The Capital Fund Scheme is for infrastructural projects costing up to €20,000 that will improve the range and quality of community based facilities in an area. The allocation can be used to help fund new community or sports facilities or to upgrade existing ones.
The Amenity Fund element provides funding for schemes costing under €20,000, which can be used for a variety of initiatives such as Tidy Towns projects, festivals, the provision and upgrading of local amenities, the purchase of equipment and improvements to non-commercial buildings.
The Community Contracts element of the initiative offers local Tidy Towns groups an opportunity to work with the authority on projects with a minimum contact value of
€1,500 up to €20,000.
Applications under all three elements will be appraised using strict criteria, including its social/economic development potential, its strategic nature and relevance to local area plans and value for money.
Each proposal must also demonstrate a clear purpose and show the difference it will make to the local community.
Cork County Council chief executive Tim Lucey pointed out that this was the seventh year in succession that the Community Fund Scheme has been rolled out.
“I am delighted to confirm that, despite the challenges of Covid-19, we are able to continue to provide significant financial support to our communities this year and in doing so, a welcome boost for our towns and villages,” said Mr Lucey.
The Mayor of County Cork also welcomed the return of the initiative, saying that communities across Cork had demonstrated “huge resilience and innovation” in overcoming the obstacles placed in front of them during 2020.
“I am continually impressed by the works carried out by community groups under this scheme. This year’s fund will be a lifeline to many groups, following the many challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has posed for our communities.”
Application details and guidelines for the scheme are available online at www.yourcouncil.ie, with the deadlines for submissions expiring on Friday, February 19.