The Local Authority Waters Programme Catchment Support Fund 2024 is open for applications.

The LAWPRO Catchment Support Fund aims to build the capacity of non- governmental organisations working in the area of water quality in Ireland by providing funding towards their core costs.

This funding would provide support to:

• develop and strengthen the skills, processes, and resources that catchment organisations need to survive, adapt, and thrive.
• water quality focused organisations who play a key role in the protection and restoration of the river and stream network of Ireland and help in achieving the objectives of national policy and plans

Who can apply?

The scheme is open to not-for-profit non-governmental water focused organisations with demonstrated catchment relevance.

Ineligible Organisations: Private companies, individuals, public bodies or organisations controlled either directly or indirectly by any state or other body are not eligible to apply for funding under this scheme

Funding Available
The LAWPRO Catchment Support Fund is divided into two strands; Strands 1 and Strand 2.
Organisations can apply for Strand 1 or Strand 2 or both strands together.

Strand 1: This fund will support costs such as; insurance associated with catchment management, statutory and/or legal responsibilities, accounting, auditing, organisational promotional material and website costs, group development activities (e.g., Development of group plan/strategy; group management; governance assistance). We envisage grant offers will range from €500 – €5,000.

Strand 2: This fund will support the organisation’s core costs. We envisage the average grant offers for strand 2 to be in the region of €20,000 – €40,000. Applications above this will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Funding will be allocated on a competitive basis. This will be in line with the assessment criteria set out below.

What we can Fund (Strand 1)
The following cost are eligible under strand 1:

• Statutory and/or legal responsibilities
• Insurance, associated with catchment management
• Auditing/accounting
• Website annual support cost
• Organisation promotional materials
• Group development activities (e.g., Development of group plan/strategy; group management; governance assistance).

What we can Fund (Strand 2)
Strand 1 costs plus:

• Funding towards your organisation’s core costs. Core costs include existing
  staff salaries, rent, rates
• Coststo help your organisation be more resilient in the future, for example,
  adapting business plans, corporate governance improvements, risk
  management reviews and piloting new ways of working
• Training and skills development costs.
• Hiring of new or contract staff to help deliver the organisations work programme A clear job description for the post must be provided with your application

Guidelines and applications are available at the link below:

https://consult.watersandcommunities.ie/…/lawpro…

How and when to apply
You must apply through LAWPRO’s online grants system located on our website www.lawaters.ie.

We only accept forms submitted online. We do not provide or accept paper forms.

To consider your application, we must receive your online application along with supporting documents by: Tuesday, 16th April 2024 at 5pm.

Applications, or additional information will not be accepted after this time. We will let you know, in
writing, whether your application is successful or not within four weeks of the deadline.