10/11/2020

New Rural Social Enterprises Capital Grant Scheme Announced

A new £300,000 capital grant scheme to aid emerging and established rural social enterprises to increase their capacity, potential profitability and sustainability, has been announced by Rural Affairs Minster Edwin Poots.

The Rural Social Economy Investment Scheme aims to improve rural social enterprise sustainability; to strengthen rural communities; to improve the economic circumstances of rural communities; and to work in partnership with others.

Announcing the grant scheme, Minister Poots said: "It is vital that we support our rural social enterprises to sustain and grow. The social enterprise sector exerts a significant positive impact on the Northern Ireland economy. However social enterprise activity is predominately concentrated in urban centres.

"The Rural Social Economy Investment Scheme demonstrates my Department's commitment to helping rural communities and will provide an opportunity for rural social enterprises, emerging and established, to apply for a grant of between £25,000 and £50,000 to increase their capacity, potential profitability and sustainability, whilst supporting those who live in rural areas. This will be achieved primarily through capital investment on expenditure related to non-agricultural activity."

DAERA has appointed Rural Action in partnership with the Rural Community Network (RCN) to carry out animation and pre-application support activities. Assistance for potential applicants includes virtual assistance and a number of online pre-applications workshops.

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 April 2002
Trimble launches Lisburn rural development strategy
"Northern Ireland’s rural communities are an essential part of our way of life and must be encouraged and assisted," according to the First Minister, David Trimble.
17 October 2024
Grant Scheme To Boost Rural Businesses In Northern Ireland
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has announced the launch of the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme. This initiative aims to provide financial support to micro businesses located in rural areas across Northern Ireland.
23 September 2024
New Rural Crime Awareness Campaign Launched
A new digital awareness campaign to support rural communities across Northern Ireland has been launched by the PSNI and the Rural Crime Partnership group to mark Rural Crime Week NI 2024 – Monday 23rd to Friday 27th September.
06 October 2022
Poots Welcomes New Bangor Social Farm
Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, has welcomed the launch of a new social farm in Bangor funded by his department's Rural Social Economy Investment Scheme. Behind the Stable Door Ltd is a social farm that provides those with a disability or illness the opportunity to participate and work on a farm.
19 September 2024
DAERA Minister Announces £1.5m In Grants For Rural Community Groups
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister, Andrew Muir MLA, today announced that his Department's 2024 Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) has awarded just over £1.5 million in grant aid to 915 rural voluntary and community sector organizations.