About the scheme
The scheme aims to encourage local groups to implement projects that will result in greater social and economic activity. Projects should enhance the quality of citizens’ lives and lead to the sustainability of the local area.
What types of projects can be funded?
The following types of projects may qualify for grants (subject to available funding and meeting the conditions below).
· Provision of small scale amenity projects
· Provision of equipment
· Community led projects involved in heritage and cultural based tourism.
· Assistance to community based youth facilities, for example, materials, courses etc.
· Tidy Towns/Residents Associations planting/painting projects
· Technical assistance for groups to explore the potential of project proposals particularly those which can develop the Social and Economic potential of the area.
· Cultural development projects.
· Seeding support for the formation of new and emerging groups particularly those which target social exclusion.
Please read the guidelines for this scheme before completing an application. Cavan County Council will only consider projects that meet the criteria of the scheme. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
We will not fund applicants who have received a Community Grant for the previous three years in succession.
We will pay the grant when the work is completed. We will not pay the grant until copies of all paid invoices, bank statements/receipts, insurance and evidence such as before and after photos (where applicable) are provided.
You can save your application at any time (using the "Save and Quit" button at the bottom right-hand side of the screen) and continue it at a later date.
This form can only be completed by the Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer or the group /organisation
General Conditions
1. Your group must have:
· An acceptable constitution of set of rules governing its membership, operations and management.
· Proper procedures and policies in place
· A Child Protection Policy including a vetting procedure (where activity includes children and young people under 18)
· A reasonable expectation of continuity.
2. Your group must be non-political and non-sectarian.
3. Before we pay a grant, you must provide us with:
· Satisfactory evidence of title in the property (where relevant)
· Details of the source and amount of all grants available to your group.
· Bank Statement Header signed by Treasurer of Group for EFT Payments
· Copy of an up to date Insurance Policy with Specific Indemnity for Cavan County Council if applicable to project
4. The Freedom of Information Act applies to all records held by Cavan County Council.
5. All information provided in respect of the application for a Community Grant may be made available to other Cavan County Council Departments as appropriate.
6. It is recommended that Groups should be registered with the Cavan Public Participation Network. Online registration form available here.
7 Please attach the following information to your application form:-
A copy of minutes of a meeting held by your group within the past six months
· An estimate of the cost of the proposed works. (Cost estimates should be as accurate and realistic as possible)
· Two quotations (only where projects propose to buy equipment valued in excess of €500).
8. The scheme will not fund:
· Ongoing running costs.
· Servicing of debt repayments.
· Activities where adequate statutory funding is clearly available
· Festivals (there is a separate Festivals Grant Scheme)
9. The Scheme will not fund groups that have received a grant for the previous three
years in succession.
10. Grants are paid retrospectively and only paid against eligible expenditure. Any unspent grant monies must be returned to Cavan County Council.
11. Any work to be carried out must be in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Development) if applicable.
12. The attached sheet on insurance must be read, understood and accepted as forming part of the conditions of the grant scheme.
Selection Criteria
Municipal District Members will assess the applications and will consider the following points:
· How your proposed actions relate to an identified need in the community.
· Complementarity with Cavan Local Economic and Community Plan
· The total cost of the project.
· The quality of the application.
· The number & type of applications received in the Municipal District
Approval and Payment:
Municipal District members will assess grant applications against these guidelines. The Chief Executive will approve grants after they have been evaluated by the relevant Municipal Districts.
Grants will only be paid to the trustees of the organisation. Payments will be made directly to the bank or financial institution where your group holds an account by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). We will pay grants in arrears after you produce evidence of expenditure (invoices, bank statements/receipts and ‘before and after’ photos of work). A Bank Statement Header must be signed by the treasurer/signatory on account and submitted with application.
If we award a grant to any particular project, it does not mean we are authorising the provision of the project or the carrying out of works.
Cavan County Council may choose to review, change, or cancel this scheme at any time.
The total level of grant will be based on an annual allocation by Cavan County Council. Grants will not normally exceed €1,000 per project, per year. We will try to ensure that funding is distributed equally between the three Municipal District areas. The level of funding is determined on the number and type of applications received in the Municipal District Area.