Newry, Mourne and Down District Council: Community Capital Minor Items

Overview

• Threshold: Grants are between £500 minimum and £5,000 maximum. Indicative budget for the theme is £75,000. Please note this is subject to change. 
• Latest project end date: All project activity MUST be completed no later than 31st March 2026. 
• Please note: Claims must be submitted within six-weeks of the chosen project end date, or the letter of offer will automatically be withdrawn, and the funds redistributed.

Aim:

Contributions of up to 100% of the costs, towards funding of Community Facilities Minor Capital Items for constituted Community Associations* who own or manage community facilities.

Objectives:

To provide contributions of up to 100% of the costs (maximum £5,000) to constituted community associations, towards funding of Minor Capital Items to assist with the running of a community facility or technical assistance to develop or enhance a community facility.

The Facility should be managed by a constituted community association. Please furnish evidence you manage a facility; this can be evidence of a freehold or leasehold interest in the facility, a facility management agreement or evidence that rates and utilities bills are paid by the applicant group. 

A community facility is a building which is open to the public where the community can gather for a diverse range of social, cultural, educational, recreational, training and information activities. The facility will normally provide a minimum of three of these diverse activities. The activities must be regular weekly activities and not one-off events or social events for the associations e.g. Christmas, Halloween, Birthday Parties, Funeral Gatherings & other seasonal activities are not deemed suffice. 

A community facility will have independent accounting procedures and will produce its own annual Income and Expenditure accounts separate from any associate or parent organisation. The facility should be managed by a constituted Community Association*. 

The governing rules of the facility must not restrict any section of the community from using the building or restrict any type of activity, other than, for reasons of insurance

*A Community Association is established to promote for the benefit of the inhabitants’ area and its immediate environs without distinction of age, sex, race, political or other opinions, by associating with statutory authorities, voluntary organisations, institutions, business and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare, health, recreation and leisure activities, with the objective of improving conditions of life for the inhabitants.
 

Eligible Expenditure

Minor capital funding can be used to purchase assets or equipment, either new or the significant refurbishment of existing. The assets/equipment are expected to have “wider community benefit” and to have an expected lifespan of at least 5 years.

Equipment:

• Maintenance – relating to the managing of a community facility (both internal and external £300 or over per item) e.g. power washer, buffers, hoovers, steamers, trolleys, etc. 
• Required to enhance the Centre for potential bookings (£300 or over per item) e.g. Fixed PA system, fixed projector, whiteboard, internal storage units, large sporting equipment e.g. 5-a-side posts, bowling mat, table tennis table etc. 
• New hearing loop systems 
• Broadband routers, cabling and installation - ongoing costs are not eligible. 
• Creation of new websites/online booking systems (to further promote your organisation or benefit wider community) 

Technical Assistance: 

Economic Appraisals / Business cases to assist with the preparation for future capital applications e.g. flood risk assessment or environmental impact assessment.