During this challenging period, many community and sporting groups have stepped up to provide critical support to vulnerable people across the county. In recognising this effort, the Department of Rural and Community Development has set aside funding to assist such groups and the local Authorities has been charged with administering the scheme.
Grants of up to €1,000 will provide capital and revenue funding to groups that are directly involved in the Community Call response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant is designed to help such groups purchase necessary equipment that might include storage items for delivery, purchase of Personal Protective Equipment for volunteers, kitchen equipment, kitchen supplies, and the purchase of a dedicated phone that may be passed to the lead volunteer on a roster, IT and other office equipment to coordinate the efforts.
The grant can also be used for projects or other efforts designed to reduce social isolation such as; compilation of exercise videos that would be available online, sound recording of books for people with reduced visibility (subject to compliance with copyright), efforts to support education, online bingo etc.
Groups are also encouraged to think of when we re-emerge from COVID-19 restrictions. The Taoiseach has made it clear that there will be a slow unwinding of restrictions and that certain measures will remain in place until there is a Covid 19 vaccine. In this regard, the grant may be used for measures to prepare for emerging from the Covid-19 Pandemic while maintaining best practise around hygiene, social distancing etc. This might include additional seating and additional tables to maintain social distancing, boilers to ensure good hand washing practices with adequate hot water, signage around distancing (or distance indicators) on walking tracks, side lines etc, dishwashers to ensure cutlery and crockery is washed appropriately replacement cutlery, crockery.etc.
In order to be eligible the group must be registered with Tipperary PPN and the Volunteer centre prior to the closing date for receipt of applications (that is the 15th of May 2020).
The application form and guideline details are available on Tipperary County Council’s Website, Tipperary PPN’s website and the Tipperary Volunteer website.
If you have any queries on how the grant may support your community effort, please contact the local authority Community Call Team on 0761 06 5000 or covid19emergencyfund@tipperarycoco.ie.
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