As a rural organisation we see the difficulties our location poses especially during the pandemic. Local residents and the wider community can all share stories about problems with deliveries, the hardship of getting things done and the isolation. That is why we appreciate so much these organisations which exist to help groups based in the countryside. We would like to thank the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for their support through the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme, and to the Northern Area Community Network for their support and assistance all year round and especially with funding programmes like this. 

They may be called micro grants but in terms of how needed and how well used they are there is nothing small about the results we see from them. They provide much needed equipment and are often the difference between success and failure for small rural groups.

Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme

The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme is one element of DAERA’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme and has been developed to provide rural, community-led, voluntary organisations with the opportunity to avail of financial assistance towards the purchase of equipment or completion of minor capital works (for example to improve community premises) that can contribute to alleviating poverty and / or social isolation.

Grant support of between £200 (minimum) and £1,500 (maximum) is available to eligible rural groups.  Projects must clearly address an issue of rural poverty and / or social isolation. The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme can provide up to 85% of the total cost of your project, up to a maximum grant of £1,500. This year we have been able to purchase much needed equipment to allow volunteers to work safely and well in a number of projects around the garden.