Ministers Humphreys, McGrath, and O’Brien launch €10m Community Fund - €10 million Covid Stability Fund to support community and voluntary groups, charities, and social enterprises.
Applications have opened for a €10 million fund designed to support community and voluntary groups, charities, and social enterprises, which have suffered as a result of the pandemic.
The Covid Stability Fund 2021 was launched jointly 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 Fund is targeted at organisations that deliver critical services to vulnerable people within their community but which now face closure or a loss of service due to the impact of the pandemic.
Priority will be given to organisations that have not previously received State support since the onset of the Pandemic.
Examples of the organisations that can apply include those that provide:
Family supports and supports for the elderly
Domestic Abuse and addiction services
Mental health and disability supports
Education supports in disadvantaged communities
Community centres that provide social services
The €10 million investment builds on the €45 million Covid Stability Fund 2020, which supported almost 600 organisations across the country.
Announcing the call for applications, Minister Humphreys said:
“I am really pleased to invite applications for this new €10 million fund today. Our community and voluntary groups, charities, and social enterprises deliver vital services right across the country and I want to ensure they receive the support necessary to help them get back on their feet post-Covid.
Also announcing the Stability Fund today, Minister McGrath said:
“Throughout this pandemic, our voluntary and community groups, charities, and social enterprises, have played a critical role. The objective of the Stability fund is to provide an immediate, targeted cash injection that will not have to be repaid. "
Also speaking, Minister O’Brien said:
“As we work towards reopening Irish society, it is critical that organisations supporting our communities are provided with the resources necessary to allow them to continue their vital services particularly to those most marginalised which is why I, along with my colleagues, am very pleased to provide this additional €10 million funding for the scheme. "
More information about this fund is available on the Pobal website
Separately, the Department intends to launch the 2021 Community Enhancement Programme over the coming days.
That programme may be more relevant to smaller community groups and it is recommended that they monitor the Department’s website or stay in touch with their Local Community Development Committee, who will be administering the programme in their area, for further details.
Key Timelines
Thursday, 6 May 2021 to Tuesday, 25 May 2021
Help and support available
Thursday, 6 May, 2021 to Thursday, 27 May 2021
The online application form opens
Thursday, 20 May 2021
The online application form closes
Thursday, 27 May 2021 at 3.00 pm (15:00 hrs)
If organisation has a Community Services Programme (CSP) contract with Pobal and if you choose to apply for the COVID-19 Stability Fund 2021 you can register for the COVID-19 Stability Fund 2021 portal in one of the following ways:
If you or your organisation already have a portal account for C&V Stability Scheme 2020, you can use your existing username and password to access the COVID-19 Stability Fund 2021 portal. You do not need to register your organisation’s details again.
or
If you or your organisation has another Pobal portal account, you must activate your COVID-19 Stability Fund 2021 portal account by emailing stabilityscheme@pobal.ie quoting your Pobal Unique Reference Number (URN) referenced at the start of this email. You do not need to create a new portal account. If you do so, you will receive an error message and will be unable to proceed any further. To ensure that there are no delays in setting up your account, please contact stabilityscheme@pobal.ie as early in May 2021 as possible.
All details on the COVID-19 Stability Fund 2021 can be found on the Pobal website. If you have any further queries on the Fund, please email stabilityscheme@pobal.ie.
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