2024 LEADER Call for Applications

2024 LEADER Call for Applications

Call Title:         Traditional Skills Training Supports

Call Overview: Training supports will be offered to communities to promote traditional and lost skills locally such as hedge laying, thatching, boat building, dry stone wall construction, wood carving, and ironmongery as well as general re-use, repair and recycling skills.

Call Type:                                      Targeted Call

Timeline:                                       Expressions of Interest to be received by January 31^st, 2025. CLDC will hold an online info session on Tuesday 7th Jan     at 6pm.  Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83440504642?pwd=T3yTtzSY5X6KyiepY0ItHoVlcq0tKb.1
Meeting ID: 834 4050 4642
Passcode: 204672                               

LDS Theme:                                 3. Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and      Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

LDS Sub Themes:                     3b. Climate Change Capacity Building

LDS Objectives:                        Best Practice in Sustainable Development

Call Allocation:                         €80,000

Maximum Funding:                 €30,000 per project

Minimum Funding:                  €5,000 per project

Rate of Aid:                            Training up to 100%

Target Geographic Area:      County Clare

Overview:

This call has been designed to encourage community organisations to develop training programmes locally that will equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to empower them to contribute to sustainable development in their communities.

Eligible Applicants:

Community development organisations, local environmental groups, tidy towns, men’s/women’s sheds.

Eligible Activities:

The nature of this call is to support the upskilling of communities with lost traditional skills which could have an impact on sustainable development activities locally. The types of traditional skills required would allow further building, making and mending activities in local communities.

This is an example of the types of practical skills training projects that are eligible in this call:

hedge laying, thatching, boat building, dry stone wall construction, wood carving/woodturning, and ironmongery, basket weaving, soap making, sewing skills, blacksmithing and tapestry weaving, white washing, gate making – any general crafts.

Support to Make an Application:

Advice, mentoring, support will be available to applicants from LEADER staff to complete an EOI. Applicants who have their EOI approved at Phase 1 and are eligible to proceed with a full application to Phase 2, will be invited to complete the full application form – support will be provided with the application process.

Call Process  

This will be a two-stage process.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest

Applicants will initially complete an Expression of Interest form. This will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Does the project comply with eligibility criteria as set out in the Local Development Strategy?
• Does the project comply with eligibility criteria as set out in the LEADER Operating Rules?
• Does the project comply with the Call Criteria?

If deemed eligible, applicants will be invited to Stage 2 to submit a Full Application.

Stage 2:            Full Application

Projects will be evaluated by the Independent Evaluation Committee following submission of fully completed applications, accompanied by all supporting documentation as required for the project. Full applications will be evaluated based on the following scoring criteria – projects must received a minimum score of 65.

In making final decisions on funding, the LAG will give priority to the projects that can demonstrate strong potential for positive environmental and social inclusion impacts.

Should there be more projects that score above the minimum evaluation criteria set out, the projects will be ranked in order of their overall score until the funding is allocated.

This is a competitive application process with a limited fund. Projects that score above the minimum score criteria will not be guaranteed funding. Subject to Departmental approval, LEADER grant offers will be issued following the final decision of approval by the LAG. There will be an appeals process for unsuccessful applicants.

Further queries contact Leader@cldc.ie

Clare’s First Social Enterprise Expo- Join Us

Funding Support to Restore & Protect Water Quality & Biodiversity

Join  us for an  information session for Community Groups on Wednesday night 30^th Oct @ 7pm) n the Clare Local Development Company (Ennis) with the CLDC and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).

The Information Session is designed to help Tidy Town Groups and Community Groups who wish to undertake work / projects focused on restoring and protecting their local water body, improve water quality and enhance local biodiversity.

The event will outline the work of the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and the Funding Support Available To Community Groups From LAWPRO and LEADER.  It will help you:

• Learn about the work of LAWPRO and its role in supporting communities to protect and enhance local water bodies.
• Gain insights into local and national water quality and discover how your community can use various approaches, incl. Nature-Based Solutions, to improve local streams, rivers and lakes, coastal areas, and support local biodiversity.
• Explore the funding opportunities available to community groups for water and biodiversity related projects from LAWPRO and LEADER and a range of other bodies.

During the session, you’ll have the chance to meet with LAWPRO and LEADER staff to discuss project ideas and get expert guidance on how to make a positive impact in your local community for water quality and biodiversity.

There will also be opportunities to network with other community groups, share ideas, and collaborate on potential projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for community groups passionate about enhancing their local water bodies and supporting biodiversity:

Where:            Clare Local Development Company, Westgate Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis, V95 PXY3

When:             Wednesday, 30^th October @ 7pm 

Free Event       All Welcome