David Stanton encourages application for COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organisations

Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice & Equality, David Stanton, is encouraging local community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises to apply for funding through the Department for Rural and Community Development’s €35 million COVID-19 Stability Fund.

The Stability Fund will provide a once-off grant through the Dormant Accounts Fund to qualifying organisations which provide critical services to those most vulnerable in society. The Department has confirmed that the online application process is now open and will be prioritised for organisations that have seen their trading and/or fundraising income drop significantly during the health crisis. The fund will focus on organisations providing supports and services in the following sectors:

• Health and Social Care (including addiction, disability and mental health)
• Child and Family Services (including counselling/therapies)
• Domestic/Sexual/Gender based violence
• Housing and Homelessness
• Community Services (including meals on wheels, befriending services, old age support groups, vulnerable people support groups)
• Community Education Sector

Speaking after the opening of the application process, David Stanton said: “I would encourage all local charities, social enterprises and community and voluntary organisations in Cork East to apply for funding assistance through the Stability Fund. These services are of vital importance to local communities and this has become particularly evident during the current crisis. Support is therefore invaluable to allow these services to be maintained as part of the wider community response effort in East Cork.

“Those wishing to apply will be required to demonstrate the impact of the current health crisis on their services and applications will be prioritised according to need. Applications to the fund can only be submitted online and further information on the Stability Fund and the application process is available on the Pobal https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/covid-19-cv-stability-scheme/ and Government of Ireland websites https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b1a7b9-covid-19-community-voluntary-charity-and-social-enterprise/. Given the urgency for funding support, the window for applications to the fund is short with the process set to close at 5pm on Wednesday, 20 May”, concluded David Stanton.