July 24, 2026

Small SICAP grants making a big difference in Clare communities

Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), has awarded grants to 26 community organisations across County Clare under its 2026 Community Organisation Grant Scheme, which closed on 3rd June.


The scheme offered small but strategic grants of between €500 and €2,500 to support local community groups, social enterprises and community gardens working with SICAP target groups to strengthen their services and increase participation in community life.

Backing local groups, gardens and social enterprises

Funding was awarded under three strands – local community groups, community gardens and social enterprises – with priority given to projects that promote social inclusion, wellbeing and participation among people experiencing disadvantage or marginalisation.


Across these strands, the grants are helping volunteer-led organisations to upgrade equipment, run inclusive activities, and invest in small-scale improvements that have a big impact at local level.

Examples of the types of initiatives supported include:

  • Living hedges and biodiversity planting to create welcoming, nature-friendly shared spaces where people can come together and connect.
  • Chair-based exercise, arts, and wellbeing activities that reduce isolation for older people and those with health or mobility challenges.
  • Skills-based workshops and creative programmes – from traditional crafts to sewing and repair – that help people build confidence, learn new skills and explore income-generating opportunities.
  • Upgrades to sound, digital and meeting-room equipment to make community halls, centres and social enterprises more inclusive, accessible and fit for purpose.


    While the grants are modest in size, they often unlock activity that would otherwise be out of reach for small organisations relying largely on volunteers.

Supporting inclusion, wellbeing and participation

Through this year’s scheme, SICAP-backed organisations are:

  • Creating safe, welcoming spaces for people who may be isolated because of age, disability, caring responsibilities, bereavement, low income or rural location.
  • Enabling community-led responses to issues such as mental health, loneliness, gender inequality, migration and climate action.
  • Strengthening local capacity by supporting governance, volunteer development and practical infrastructure in grassroots groups and social enterprises.

Several projects focus on intergenerational and community-building activities – for example, community gardens designed as hubs where schoolchildren, older people, day-care users, youth groups and local volunteers can work side by side. Others concentrate on improving digital access and communication so that more people can hear about local supports, connect with activities and have their voices heard in community decision-making.

A county-wide effort under SICAP

The SICAP Community Organisation Grant Scheme is one of the ways CLDC delivers the national SICAP programme locally for the period 2024–2028, targeting support at groups and communities most affected by poverty and social exclusion.


To be eligible, organisations must be based in County Clare, registered with SICAP and able to show how their work supports SICAP target groups; social enterprises and community gardens must also meet additional criteria under CLDC’s networks.

Successful applicants in 2026 first submitted an Expression of Interest, with eligible groups then invited to complete a full application setting out how the grant would support SICAP aims, target groups and measurable outcomes.
All funded organisations must complete their projects by 30 September 2026 and provide receipts, a short report and evidence of acknowledging SICAP and CLDC support as part of their final paperwork.

“Quietly everywhere” in Clare communities

CLDC SICAP staff work alongside local volunteers and community leaders across Clare, providing one-to-one support, mentoring and training as well as grant funding. The Community Organisation Grant Scheme sits alongside other SICAP supports for individuals and groups, helping to ensure that people of all ages and backgrounds can take part in community life and shape the future of their local area.

CLDC SICAP is proud to support the outstanding work of community organisations throughout Clare and recognises the vital role they play in promoting social inclusion, community wellbeing and sustainable local development.

By backing small, focused projects right across the county, the 2026 Community Organisation Grant Scheme shows how targeted SICAP funding can help local initiatives grow, adapt and continue to respond to the needs of the people they serve.