Upcoming Grant Schemes 2024

Welcome to Cork Sports Partnership’s Grant Scheme update for 2024. 

There are a number of different funding opportunities open to clubs, groups and organisations across Cork City and County over the coming months. The Cork Sports Partnership (CSP) team has compiled information on different funding streams confirmed for 2024 and included details and links to same below. 

For city-based groups and organisations, CSP has teamed up with Cork City Council to coordinate a new Physical Activity Amenity Scheme to enhance community facilities for increased physical activity use.

Cork City Council is also running a number of additional Community Development Funding Schemes which may also be of interest to different clubs, groups and organisations in the city. 

Cork County Council recently launched 3 different Community Funding Schemes for the county which will be administered through their Municipal District offices. These funds will support a range of projects and initiatives, including supporting the work of Tidy Towns groups and community associations, infrastructural works, and sports and leisure facilities.

For older adult groups, the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme which aims to assist in the implementation of locally developed, well-planned initiatives designed to increase participation in recreational sport and physical activity by older people will open in February with grants to support groups with providing increased physical activity opportunities.

Bike Week Cork has been confirmed for 2024 and is scheduled to take place from May 11th – 19th. Cork Sports Partnership will again be working with Cork City Council and Cork County Council to coordinate an event support scheme for clubs, schools, groups and organisations across Cork. Last year, over 14,000 people took part in the 185 events organised as part of the week-long celebration. 

Check out the details of these schemes, eligibility criteria, timelines and application form links where available below. 

Keep up to date on these schemes and other opportunities throughout the year by following Cork Sports Partnership on any of our social media accounts below. 

Cork City Council and Cork Sports Partnership are coordinating a new City Physical Activity Amenity Scheme to support community groups and organisations who want to introduce or improve their facilities so that they can used more for physical activity.

The scheme will look to build the capacity of community facilities and amenities to increase access and provide more opportunities for physical activity across Cork City. 

These non-commercial community facilities will provide opportunities for their respective communities to be active through physical activity and cannot have received funding for items included in their application from any other scheme to date.

Eligibility – Who Can Apply and Criteria:

• Community organisations providing specific wider community-based activity programmes will be considered as part of this scheme. e.g., a community facility hosting Men/Women on the Move, physical activity classes/sessions, non-member activities/classes, older adult activities, social and inclusive physical activities etc.
• Community Groups providing opportunities for people in the community to get active. i.e. Active Retirement groups, Men’s Sheds, Family Resource Centres, Walking Groups, Scouts, Girl Guides, Youth Clubs etc.
• Non-commercial community-based facilities providing community physical activity opportunities for the community.
• Community facilities looking to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to engage in physical activity opportunities.

Eligible Items:

• Small-scale equipment such as spinning bikes, rowing machines, treadmills, weights, non-personal playing equipment etc.
• Capital works to enhance opportunities for more of the community to engage in physical activity in the community.

Closing date for receipt of applications for the Scheme is 5 pm, Friday 26th January 2024.

Applications for Community Development Grants for Community Groups and Associations 2024 are now open. Community Development Grants for Groups and Associations are for works of a capital or building maintenance nature and for once off small scale programme activities. 

The Community Development Grants are provided through the following two streams:

• Community Associations Capital Grants 2024
• Cork City Council Small Programme Grant 2024

Eligibility
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.

Closing Date:
Closing date for applications is Friday 2nd of February 2024 at 5 pm.

Cork County Council has announced funding to the value of over €1.8million to support local communities in 2024. This is the County Council’s tenth year providing the Community Fund Scheme which has assisted in delivering a host of valuable community initiatives right across Cork County every year. 

These funds support a range of projects and initiatives, including supporting the work of Tidy Towns groups and community associations, infrastructural works, and sports and leisure facilities.

This scheme is administered by the 8 Municipal District Offices around County Cork and there are three separate funding streams depending on the nature and cost of your proposal. 

• Capital Fund Scheme 
• Community Contracts
• Amenity Fund Scheme

Eligibility – Who Can Apply:
The scheme provides financial assistance to a range of different community, sporting and voluntary organisations under three distinctive fund types:

Closing Date:
Closing date for receipt of applications for the Scheme is 4 pm, Tuesday the 13th of February 2024.

The Active National Grant Scheme aims to assist in the implementation of locally-developed, well-planned initiatives designed to increase participation in recreational sport and physical activity by older people. In particular, the scheme is aimed at:

• Supporting the work of Age & Opportunity’s Active Programme including the network of PALs (Physical Activity Leaders)and CarePALs, and the development of Go for Life Games and other initiatives;
• Assisting local clubs/organisations/care settings to enhance existing opportunities for their members in recreational sport and physical activity;
• Assisting local clubs/organisations/care settings to start new initiatives geared at involving older people in recreational sport and physical activity;
• Encouraging all sports clubs to provide new initiatives within their clubs aimed at getting older people back to their sport;
• Assisting those working in care settings (both nursing homes and day care settings) to introduce more initiatives to increase physical activity levels of those in their care.

Eligibility – Who Can Apply:
Grants are available to all eligible local clubs, groups, care settings and organisations that promote increased participation in recreational sport or physical activity for older people as a main element of their activities. Funding for sports clubs will only be considered if the application specifically relates to older people. 

Any Cork clubs or groups looking for ideas or needing support with making an application, please contact Tim Burke, Community Sports Development Officer, Cork Sports Partnership at tburke@corksports.ie

Application Timelines:
The application process for the 2024 Active National Grant Scheme is expected to open in February. 

Bike Week Cork has been confirmed for 2024 and is scheduled to take place from May 11th – 19th. Cork Sports Partnership will again be working with Cork City Council and Cork County Council to coordinate an event support scheme for clubs, schools, groups and organisations across Cork. Last year, over 14,000 people took part in the 185 events organised as part of the week-long celebration.

Clubs, Schools, Community Groups and Organisations will be invited to apply for funding to host and organise their own FREE Bike Week event as part of this year’s celebration. This is an ideal opportunity to promote cycling and create additional awareness of your club/group/organisation in your local community.

The scale and scope of events is up to each applicant. However, applications that focus on the following event criteria will be more positively received and prioritised:

Event Criteria:

• The event MUST take place during Bike Week (11th – 19th May 2024)
• The Event must be FREE to take part in.
• Events should be non-competitive/recreational and have a focus on including the community, non-members, the lapsed cyclist, families, youth, people with disabilities, disadvantaged groups, children or beginners.

Funding Availability:
The maximum amount of funding available per Community Group/Organisation is €400 or €200 for School applications. Organisations should not feel that they have to apply for the full amount to be considered for support. Successful applicants will be required to complete and submit a brief report of the event including photos and a short video at the end of National Bike Week. Report forms will be provided to successful applicants.

Event Support Scheme Timelines:
Applications for 2024 Bike Week Cork – Event Support will open as soon as funding for Cork is confirmed by the National Transport Authority for 2024. This is expected to be confirmed in February.