This Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs under the Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme and is being delivered in the Fermanagh and Omagh area by and Fermanagh Rural Community Network (FRCN) and Omagh Forum for Rural Associations (OFRA)

Key objectives

The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2024/2025 has been designed to:

• Help rural community-led, voluntary groups to address local issues of access poverty, financial poverty and social isolation;

• Improve the lives of rural communities, and in particular the wellbeing of isolated individuals; and,

• In line with the draft Green Growth Strategy for Northern Ireland provide opportunity to community-led, voluntary groups to implement energy efficiency measures / environmental improvements.

The Grant Scheme

Micro Capital grants between £500 and £2,000 are available to rural community-led, voluntary organisations for projects tackling issues of local poverty and / or social isolation, and / or implementing energy efficiency measures / environmental improvements. 

Projects must focus on one of the following four themes:

• Modernistaion (of building(s) / assets).

• Information Communication Technology (ICT).

• Health and Wellbeing.

• Energy Efficiency* / Environment Improvement**.

The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme can offer grant aid from 50% up to 85% of the total eligible cost of your project. 

NB: The total project cost must not exceed £4,000 and the minimum project cost is £588.24 **You can purchase whatever number of items you require to meet your groups needs, provided the total cost does not exceed £4,000. And you can purchase items from multiple suppliers.**

Match funding for your contribution of at least 15% must be in the form of a ‘cash’ contribution. Labour or ‘in-kind’ contributions will not be accepted.

In order to ensure that as many groups as possible get the opportunity to benefit from this Scheme, organisations can only make one application to the Scheme.

*To encourage local communities to implement energy efficiency / environmental improvements eligible costs may include, e.g., draft proofing, double glazed windows, change of lighting to LED, light sensors/timers, insulation, replace kettles with a water boiler.

**Environmental improvements eligible costs may include the purchase of 100% gardening equipment, e.g. tunnel kits, pots, spades, hoes and raised beds. A maximum 15% of the overall project costs may be used to purchase plants, trees, hedges, flowers etc. (Plants / shrubs / flowers must be perennial, i.e. plants that live multiple seasons).

Guidance Notes

A copy of the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) 2024/2025 Guidance Notes for 

Applicants are available by clicking on the box below. 

Please read these Guidance Notes fully, before starting your groups grant application as there are a number of changes from previous schemes. 

Online Application Form Link

Further Information and the Online Application Form are available at the following link:

https://digitalapps2.daera-ni.gov.uk/RMCGS/StartPage

When registering for the Rural Micro Capital Grants Scheme 2024/2025 please use the nidirect government services tab: https://identity.nidirect.gov.uk/

Pre-Application Information and Clarification Sessions Presentation

Fermanagh Rural Community Network (FRCN) and Omagh Forum for Rural Associations (OFRA) have delivered a number of Pre-application Information Sessions and a copy of a presentation given at these is available by clicking on the box below   

If you require any information or advice on making an application to the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2024/2025, please do not hesitate to contact us in Fermanagh Rural Community Network on 028 6632 7006 or by email: info@fermanaghrcn.org