Ministers Humphreys, McGrath and O’Brien announce €10 million in COVID Stability funding for community and voluntary groups
- Funding targeted at organisations which have suffered due to Pandemic
A €10 million fund is to be established to assist community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises, which have suffered as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The funding was jointly announced today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, and Minister of State with special responsibility for Charities and Community Development, Joe O’Brien TD.
The €10m investment builds on the €45 million COVID-19 Stability Fund which, in 2020, supported over 600 organisations to continue delivering vital services to the most vulnerable in our communities.
The new funding, agreed as part of the Government’s Resilience and Recovery Plan, is targeted at organisations that have seen their trading and/or fundraising income drop significantly as a result of the Pandemic.
The funding will be administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Details of the online application process will be published shortly.
Welcoming the €10m funding, Minister Humphreys said:
“Our community and voluntary groups, as well as our charities and social enterprises, have played a crucial role during the Pandemic.
“They have continued to provide critical services to our elderly and most vulnerable citizens even at the height of Level Five restrictions.
“Many of these groups are now struggling financially due to for example a significant drop in income through fundraising.
“That’s why Government has decided to step in and provide this €10 million fund, which is on top of the €45 million provided in 2020.
“I intend to make a further announcement in the coming weeks regarding the application process, and would encourage all potentially eligible charities, social enterprises and community and voluntary organisations to fully engage with the application process when it opens.”
Minister McGrath stated:
“Without doubt, this Pandemic has shown us the real meaning of ‘community’.
“I am therefore very pleased to provide €10 million in funding through the COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises.
“I know from listening to organisations on the ground the difficulties they have faced in recent months, and the impact of restrictions on their ability to generate income.
“I am committed to assisting these organisations in whatever way possible to ensure that the valuable services they provide to the most vulnerable, who have been so deeply impacted by the public health crisis, continue on into the future.”
Minister O’Brien continued:
“I am very pleased to join with Ministers Humphreys and McGrath in announcing the 2021 round of the COVID Stability Fund.
“When the scheme was initially established in 2020, it was believed that social restrictions would be with us for a short period.
“With the evolving situation, it became necessary to examine the continuing impact of public health measures on the ability of community and voluntary organisations to generate income and deliver basic services.
“I understand the difficulties charities may have in accessing other supports and I’m delighted that the fund will reopen to support potentially eligible organisations who have not been supported in other ways, who have tried to weather the storm themselves but who now need some help.
“We want to ensure vital services continue and that we in Government do our part to help the organisations to do this.
“I commend the resilience and adaptability organisations have shown in trying to make up the shortfall through online fundraising and I am always inspired by the innovation shown in a sector filled with determined change-makers and activists. I again extend my most heartfelt thanks to you all for the vital work you do.”