Kildare County Council Launches Community Fund to Support Tidy Towns and Local Environmental Action
Kildare County Council, in partnership with IPB Insurance and Local Government Ireland Community Fund, has launched the Local Environmental Action Fund, also known as LEAF, to support Tidy Towns groups, resident associations and community organisations engaged in environmental and climate action.
In County Kildare, €50,000 will be made available to local Tidy Towns groups, resident associations and voluntary community groups registered with the Public Participation Network. Funding will support community-led projects focused on environmental enhancement, biodiversity and climate action under the theme “Communities Working Together for Climate”.
The IPB Insurance & Local Government Ireland Community Fund is a national partnership between IPB Insurance and all 31 local authorities, representing a shared commitment to empowering communities to take practical action to improve their local environment. The initiative forms part of IPB Insurance’s centenary year, marking 100 years of partnering with local authorities in protecting and supporting communities across Ireland.
The fund will support a wide range of eligible projects including biodiversity conservation, pollinator-friendly planting, tree planting, urban greening, waste reduction, recycling initiatives, water conservation, renewable energy projects, climate resilience measures, and public education or awareness campaigns on sustainability.
A key focus of the fund is collaboration. Applicants are encouraged to work with local stakeholders such as schools, sports clubs, youth groups, Men’s Sheds, resident associations, community centres, local businesses and other community organisations.
Kildare County Council is particularly interested in applications that demonstrate strong environmental value, meaningful community engagement, realistic delivery plans and long-term sustainability. Projects will be assessed under four criteria: relevance to climate action and environmental enhancement; community engagement and impact; feasibility and sustainability; and innovation and creativity.
Grant awards may range from €1,000 up to €25,000, subject to the scale of the project, available funding and the quality of applications received. Applicants will be asked to provide a completed application form, evidence of PPN registration, a project proposal, a budget breakdown and any relevant supporting documents.
Applications must be submitted by 26 July. Successful applicants will be required to provide brief reporting after project completion, including information on activities delivered, expenditure, project outcomes and, where relevant, before and after photos and community feedback.
Speaking about the fund, Paula O’Rourke, Climate Action Coordinator, Kildare County Council said; “The Local Environmental Action Fund is an important opportunity to support communities across County Kildare to take practical local action for climate, biodiversity and environmental enhancement. Tidy Towns groups and voluntary community groups play a vital role in improving their local areas, and this fund will help enable projects that are locally led, collaborative and focused on lasting community benefit.”
John Hogan, Chair of IPB Insurance, highlighted the Fund’s importance within IPB’s Centenary Year saying, “As Ireland’s local government mutual insurer, IPB Insurance exists to protect our members who, every day, serve the public and their communities. Our mutual ethos goes beyond insurance, it’s about giving back and supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and enhance places. In our Centenary Year, this Fund represents a meaningful investment in the future of towns and communities across Ireland, delivered in partnership with the local authorities who founded IPB. I am particularly delighted to see the fund launching here today in County Kildare”
Application forms and guidance are available at: https://kildarecoco.ie/AllServices/ClimateAction/
