£3.3million Voluntary, Community and Social Economy Sector Covid Recovery Fund launched

The fund has an allocation of £2.5m to assist with the safe reopening of the VCSE sector and additional funds of £800,000 to provide IT and digital devices to VCSE groups which need to move services to an online platform.

The VCSE Covid Recovery Fund Fund has a total value of over £3 million and aims to:

1. Provide additional funding to VCSE organisations to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other items to enable the re-opening and continued delivery of vital community services.
2. Support VCSE organisations to move services online and increase digital connectivity for organisations delivering mental health supports and/or providing services to young people, older people, those who are medically isolated, the disabled and women. 

Groups can apply for awards up to £5,000 for both past expenditure (for purchases in the period 13 August 2020 to 11 November 2020) and future needs.

The fund opens for applications from today, Thursday 12 November 2020 to Friday 11th December 2020 (4.00p.m.) and will be distributed by Co-operation Ireland in partnership with Rural Community Network.

It is expected that the VCSE Covid Recovery Fund will attract considerable interest across the sector and result in a high volume of applications to the Fund. Potential applicants are therefore advised to submit their applications as early as possible. 

NB Queries about the Fund or the application and management processes should be directed in the first instance to [email protected] They will endeavour to respond to your enquiry as quickly as possible. 

Find further information and to apply via the Cooperation Ireland website here.