Funding for rural women's sector

To ensure equitable distribution across rural Northern Ireland, the maximum grant a group can receive is £7,500. The figure cannot amount t more than 75% of the total project costs.

Women's Sectoral Programme Aims

• To support at all stages of development of rural women's organisations and promote the active involvement of rural women in rural development and wider policy.
• To support the development of rural women's projects throughout rural Northern Ireland, and to specifically focus on areas where there is little or no activity.
• To develop a number of social/economic/environmental projects with, for and by rural women that contribute to the regeneration of local communities.
• To identify the development needs of rural women and through a multi-agency approach provide appropriate responses.
• To ensure that women from all traditions of rural Northern Ireland are actively engaged in the process and the management of the process.

Criteria:

• projects must benefit rural women and/or rural women who are involved in the planning and management of the project.
• Projects will only be deemed eligible if they meet at least one of the aims of the Women's Sectoral Programme.
• This programme is open to any constituted community group/organisation working with or for rural women.
• A limit of 10% of funding can be used for wages.
• Confirmation of the additional 25% funding will be required before a project will receive funding.
• All projects must be completed by 31 May 2007.

How to Apply

First call for applications opens on 7 November 2005 and closes on 31 January 2005. Depending on demand there may be a second call opening on 1 June 2006 and closing on 31 July 2006.

A copy of the application form and guidelines can be obtained from the contact.

Rosaleen McElhone, Rural Community Network, 38a Oldtown Road, Cookstown, BT80 8EF, Tel 028 8676 6670,rosaleen@ruralcommunitynetwork.org