Funding boost for Kilkenny community groups

Kilkenny community groups have been alloacted almost €300,000 in funding.

The money is part of the Community Activities Fund (CAF), which provides grants to community groups to help with running costs such as utility bills, purchase equipment and to pay for repairs and improvements to facilities.

Kilkenny Local Community Development Committee received an allocation of €272,638 under the fund.

A spokesperson for Kilkenny County Counci l said 30% of the funding was ring-fenced for small grants of €1,000 or less, 70% was ring- fenced for medium grants to a maximum of €5,000 and large grants to a maximum of €20,000.

A total of 62 projects across the county will benefit from the funding.  These include:

• Contribution towards utility bills, insurance costs;
• Purchase training equipment;
• Additional lighting for outdoor recreational areas;
• Construction of an outdoor enclosed space at Bishop Birch Place;
• Redesign of refuge garden and playground at Amber Women’s Refuge Centre;
• Repair works at Windgap grotto;
• Upgrade works at SPA Development Community Hall Project.

LCDC chairperson Declan Gibbons said of the funding: “The CEP grant, both small and medium, has made significant impact for communities in providing crucial services, facilities, programmes and supports that they would otherwise not be able to provide.”