The Department of Rural and Community Development announced a second iteration of the Community Recognition Fund in January 2024. This fund, first established in 2023, was envisaged to recognise the contribution of communities across the country in welcoming new arrivals, specifically International Protection Applicants and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection to their locality and was designed to provide an injection of capital funds towards the development of cross community amenities.
This Fund strengthens Cork City Council's commitment, in collaboration with communities, to continue to deliver as a 'City of Welcomes.'
The Department of Rural and Community Development's criteria can be found
here
The proposed project should be of benefit to all members of the community. Proposed Projects should be capital in nature and deliver tangible benefits in the short term with long lasting benefit to the community.
Please note that receipts are required before money can be drawn down.
The 2024 Fund has changed from the 2023 fund by several features:
- The minimum fund allocation will be €50,000
- The maximum fund allocation will be €500,000
- Funding allocation will be prioritised with reference to the breakdown and distribution of new arrivals in a local authority area.
- The overall fund distribution will be spaced out over 3 funding periods, with 3 separate application deadlines
- 31st May 2024
- 30th September 2024
- 31st January 2025
- A minimum of 20% of overall fund allocation should be held back for the final tranche (January 2025).
Closing Date for Expressions of Interest is 10th January 2025 at 11.55 pm.
The group or association that is applying for either of these grants must be located within the administrative areas of Cork City Council.
Cork City Council has five local electoral areas, before applying you should ensure your group or association is based in one of these five areas. You can check this
HERE
- Work funded with Community Recognition Fund must be completed, fully drawn down and receipted before November 2025.
- Applicants must already have a finalised project proposal in place with quotes and tenders attached.
- It will be possible to combine funding from other sources.
- If the funding applications is for one element of the project, applicants will be required to provide documentary evidence of the availability of the balance of funds if requested.
- Applicants will be required to submit a copy of the minutes from the Community Associations last AGM and a copy of their audited accounts if requested.
- All information provided in respect of the application for a grant will be held electronically. Cork City Council reserves the right to publish a list of all grants awarded on its website.
General
Freedom of Information Act 2014
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, details contained in applications and supporting documents may, on request, be released to third parties. If there is information contained in your application which is sensitive or confidential in nature, please identify it and provide an explanation as to why it should not be disclosed. If a request to release sensitive information under the legislation is received, you will be consulted before a decision is made whether or not to release the information. However, in the absence of the identification of particular information as sensitive, it could be disclosed without any consultation with you.
How to Apply
Expression of Interest
The expression of interest form is detailed and is designed to ensure that it has the necessary information to evaluate each proposal accurately and fairly. Please ensure that you complete the expression of interest form in full.
Only projects that meet the criteria outlined above will be considered eligible.
PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE FORMS OR LATE FORMS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED.
Submission of false or misleading information at any stage is treated very seriously. Any organisation that does not comply with the terms and conditions of the Programme may be subject to inspection, have their grant withdrawn, be required to repay all or part of a grant and/or be barred from making applications for a period of time. All serious breaches of the terms and conditions of the Programme will be notified to An Garda Síochána.
For any queries please email: michelle_considine@corkcity.ie