Community Awards Scheme 2023

About the Scheme

The purpose of the Wicklow County Councils Community Award Scheme is to assist local community and voluntary groups, including sporting, arts and cultural organisations that would benefit from small scale or once-off funding to support the groups’ activities i.e. running costs or to develop a particular project.  The Award Scheme gives the County Council the opportunity to recognise and value the voluntary contribution made by local groups in their own localities.

Applications will not be accepted from statutory bodies.   Proposals from individuals will not qualify.

Download the Application Form:

Community Awards 2023 Application Form (2)

Aims of the Community Award Scheme

The aim of this Fund is to support community and voluntary groups in County Wicklow who wish to undertake projects that will:

• Carry out a service or activity that makes a contribution to the quality of life in their local community.
• Increase voluntary activity,
• Target the socially excluded and increase their opportunities and particularly those who target anti-racism and accessibility issues.
• Recognise the valuable contribution of community and voluntary organisations in Wicklow in some way.

The maximum grant available is €500 per organisation – one application only per organisation.

Social inclusion is a central theme of the Programme – Social Inclusion is about focusing on the needs of marginalised and disadvantaged groups such as people with disabilities, the unemployed/low income groups, travellers, homeless, lone parents, gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender community, older people, children/young people, rurally isolated etc.

 Appraisal and decision process

A small appraisal committee including representation from the Municipal Districts will consider all applications made under the Community Awards Scheme.

Key considerations in assessing applications will include:

• Group contributes to the general wellbeing and quality of life of the local community
• The strength of the application – it is very important to supply all

information requested on the form

• Social inclusion and anti-racism projects
• Sports participation opportunities for disadvantaged
• The ability of the group to carry out the project
• The impact, scope and inclusiveness of the project.
• Sustainability
• Beneficial if the group adheres to the Governance Code
• Beneficial if your group is a member of the Public Participation Network (PPN)

When will grants be paid?

The grants will be paid out to successful applicants via Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) to the receiving organisation’s bank account by the end of June 2023, subject to timely receipt of financial details.

Closing Date

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 4.00 p.m. on Friday 24^th February 2023.  Late applications will not be considered.

Applications should be sent to Community Awards Scheme 2023, Community Cultural & Social Development, Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Whitegates, Wicklow, A67 FW96 or scanned and emailed to ccsdadmin@wicklowcoco.ie to arrive before the deadline.

Application Process

Please do not submit multiple applications as only one application per organisation will be considered.

Application for a grant should be made by downloading the form on Wicklow County Council’s website www.wicklow.ie

Queries should be directed to Community, Cultural & Social Development. Tel. (0404) 20208 or email: ccsdadmin@wicklowcoco.ie

Download the Application Form:

Community Awards 2023 Application Form (2)