Tuesday, June 30, 2026
A WORLD OF SUPPORT
Advice for Groups
Where to find free advice, volunteers, free training, awards – and much more.
Finding Volunteers
Use any or all of the following, noting that all provide their services for free:
Public Participation Network
Contact your local PPN which can connect you with many other community groups in your area.
Finding Free Professional Advice & Support
Before we name the main programmes that support community groups at local level, let us first look at whose door to knock on in your county or local area. You could also ask an existing local group for advice — your local FRC, Men’s Shed, or another group you know — about how they got started.
Your local library
Since 2018, the country’s 330 public libraries have been promoted as “community hubs”. Ask them for advice and support.
Local Development Companies
49 LDCs spread around the country — especially useful, informed and resourced to be supportive to individuals and community groups. They deliver around 20 national programmes at ground level, including SICAP.
Department of Rural & Community Development & the Gaeltacht
The main government department responsible for supporting communities. Civil servants are always willing to help members of the public with direct enquiries.
SICAP for Community Groups
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme supports individuals, groups and communities at large. Won a UN Public Service Award in 2022.
Islands Development
Around 30 islands off the coast of Ireland have permanent year-round populations. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has responsibility for supporting island communities.
Activelink’s Irish Links Directory
1,500 notable local and national non-profit and community organisations, across 26 categories including disability, education, environment, housing, race & ethnicity and more.
Coming Soon
More to come on programmes from other government departments, and information on issue-focused groups (Climate Justice, Food Poverty, Equality, Human Rights, Disability, Migrants, Health Equity).
Government Support to Communities — Policy & Strategy
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017 and in June 2025 the Gaeltacht was added to its functions and name.
The mission of the now Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht is to: “Support the development of sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities throughout Ireland, including in rural, urban, island and Gaeltacht areas, embracing their unique cultural, linguistic and environmental features.”
The Department’s Statement of Strategy 2025 – 2028 gives a summary of its work and ambitions.
Since 2017, the Department has led out in developing new policy and strategy to support communities:
2018 / 2023
National Public Library Strategy
In 2018 an ambitious new libraries strategy was launched which re-imagined the country’s 330 public libraries as “community hubs”. It envisaged libraries being open from early until late, 365 days of the year, with fines a thing of the past.
Read the strategy →In 2023, the successor five-year strategy called ‘The Library is the Place: Information, Recreation, Inspiration’ committed to 66 strategic actions to support the sustainable development of the public library service.
Read the strategy →
2019
Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities
The Government launched ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024’ in 2019. It is soon to be replaced with an updated strategy.
Read the strategy →
2019 & 2024
National Social Enterprise Policy
The first National Social Enterprise Policy was launched in 2019.
Read more →In 2024, a follow-up strategy called ‘Trading for Impact National Social Enterprise Policy 2024–2027’ was launched.
Read the policy →
2020
National Volunteering Strategy 2021–2025
The State's first National Volunteering Strategy launched in late 2020 — recognising, supporting and promoting the value and contribution of volunteers to Irish society. Soon to be replaced.
Read the policy →
2021
Our Rural Future (2021–2025) and OECD Review (2026)
The Our Rural Future Rural (2021-2025) development policy made 150 commitments focused on revitalising town centres, rural jobs, adventure tourism, a green economy, island development and much more. While well regarded, it had critics — for instance research published in 2022 by Clare Public Participation Network highlighted a continuing scarcity of rural supports and services.
Read our summary →In early 2026, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a comprehensive 277-page rural policy review for Ireland. The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht had contracted the OECD to undertake the review to aid the development of the new Our Rural Future Policy. The review is available on the OECD’s website:
Read the review →
2022
Values & Principles for Working with the C&V Sector
This seven-page document outlines agreed values and principles for central and local government, as well as state bodies, when working with community and voluntary sector groups.
Read our coverage →
2023
Our Living Islands
Launched in 2023, this 10-year national policy for off-shore islands aims to ensure that sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live and thrive on offshore islands.
Read the policy →
2023
Ireland's First National Philanthropy Policy (2024–2028)
Launched in 2024, this policy seeks to deepen understanding and knowledge of philanthropy in Ireland, while creating an enabling environment it. The policy contains 21 actions.
Read the policy →Rural Development Supports
Since 2017, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht has led in developing new policy, strategies and funding programmes that are specifically aimed at supporting rural communities.
For the longlist and full details visit the Department’s website. Some of the main supports include:
Our Rural Future
Government’s flagship rural development policy from 2021–2025. Soon to be replaced. See above.
Rural Regeneration & Development Fund
As part of the Government’s As part of Project Ireland 2040 the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund (RRDF) commits to providing €1 billion from 2019 to 2027 to revitalise rural areas and address de-population.
The RRDF funds projects that make towns and villages more attractive and vibrant places to live, work and visit. It focuses on:
- Economic and social regeneration
- Community facilities
- Recreational and outdoor amenities
Town & Village Renewal Scheme
Launched in 2016 the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has seen over €210 million in funding approved for over 1,900 projects across the state. It is geared mainly towards towns and villages with a population of under 10,000. The scheme is managed by local authorities on behalf of the Dept. of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
covers a range of projects to support and promote rural areas.
LEADER Programme
LEADER has played a central role in supporting rural innovation, social inclusion, and enterprise development across Ireland for the past 35 years.
LEADER takes a community-led approach to local development and the programme is internationally recognised as a best‑practice model for community‑led rural development.
€250 million has been made available for LEADER for the period 2021 to 2027.
CLÁR Funding
CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) funding is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that funds small infrastructural projects in areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population and/or socio-economic disadvantage and geographic remoteness.
Remote Working Hubs
The Department has established a national network of Remote Working Hubs with a central booking platform for people to book and pay for desks, meeting rooms and related business services in remote working hubs.
Western Development Commission
Operating under the aegis of the Department, the Western Development Commission, established in 1998, promotes economic and social development in the Western Region.
Outdoor Recreation Strategy
The National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023–2027 supports recreation infrastructure and initiatives.
Broadband Connection Points
300 BCPs in all 26 counties — including 11 on offshore islands and 13 in Gaeltacht areas.
Tidy Towns
A roaring success for towns, villages and urban areas – not just in terms of visual appeal, but also in supporting biodiversity, accessibility and much more.
The annual SuperValu TidyTowns Competition has been running since 1958.
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Its prime responsibility is to develop the Gaeltacht in order to preserve and enrich the Irish language. It was established in 1980 to pursue industrial, regional and human resources development, as well as community, cultural and language development activities.
Rural Development Organisations
Non-governmental national representative organisations also support development in rural Ireland. Here are three prominent examples:
Local Development Companies (LDCs)
Together, the 49 LDCs support over 150,000 people and 6,000 community groups annually. They champion bottom-up, community-led local development in urban and rural areas.
They help deliver dozens of national programmes at local level and here are three rural-relevant examples: LEADER, the Rural Social Scheme and the Care and Repair Services.
You can find your nearest Local Development Company here.
Irish Rural Link
Irish Rural Link highlights rural issues and campaigns for change with people marginalised by rural poverty, exclusion and isolation. It advocates for sustainable communities where ideally everyone has meaningful work, adequate income and social services.
It supports Meals on Wheels, the Community Wetlands Forum and the CAP Network Ireland – among other initiatives.
Macra na Feirme
Macra na Feirme is a voluntary organisation representing 10,000 young people aged 17–35 from rural Ireland. Nurtures members in a fun, inclusive and supportive environment and advocates on rural issues.
It was founded in 1944 by a dozen agricultural advisers, rural science teachers and farmers.
Social Enterprise Supports
Social Enterprise is defined in Ireland as an enterprise whose objective is to achieve a social or environmental impact, rather than maximising profit for its owners or shareholders. There are a number of national representative umbrella bodies for social enterprises.
Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland
Practitioner-led, collaborative and globally engaged. Conducted the 2026 Social Enterprise Census commissioned by the DRCDG.
Local Development Companies Network
The LDCN is the umbrella organisation for Local Development Companies. It supports social enterprises in various ways, including through a Social Enterprise Managers Network.
The Wheel
National membership organisation representing community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises.
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
Established 2004 — has supported more than 600 social entrepreneurs across the island of Ireland.
Rethink Ireland
Supports social enterprises with cash grants, tailored business supports, and accelerator programmes.
Community Resources Network Ireland
Representative body specifically for community-based reuse, repair, and recycling organisations.
Think-Tanks
There are a number of independent think-tanks in Ireland that focus on social inclusion.
Social Justice Ireland
Independent social justice think tank providing social analysis and evidence-based policy proposals.
TASC
Independent think-tank addressing inequality and sustaining democracy. Works on equality, democracy, social inclusion and climate justice.
EAPN Ireland
European Anti-Poverty Network — established 1990 — putting the eradication of poverty at the top of the Irish and European policy agenda.
Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI)
Founded 1960 — long-established independent non-profit producing high-quality research to inform policies that support a healthy economy and promote social progress.
Research, Evaluation & Maps
Pobal Maps
Includes the Pobal HP Deprivation Index — a free online mapping tool showing the deprivation score for geographic units such as county, constituency, electoral division or small area. Very useful for community groups.
Pobal Community Research
Reports focused on effective programme design and management — useful for people implementing programmes at local level. Includes case studies from SICAP.
Universities Across Ireland
Frequently produce studies of interest to community groups.
Centre for Co-operative Studies, UCC
Founded 1980 — the only centre of its kind in Ireland. Provides information and advice to those wishing to establish co-ops. Engages in research on Credit Unions, financial inclusion, housing co-ops and more.
Centre for Effective Services
All-island not-for-profit supporting progress in public service and social impact organisations. Produces research, evaluation findings, policy papers, training and more.
Governance Advice, Resources & Bodies
The Wheel
Provides specialised nationwide training and webinars (fees apply) for managing non-profits. Publishes resources such as “Getting to Grips with Governance”.
The Carmichael Centre
Dublin-based — provides training, support and resources, including policy templates and a podcast with advice and tips.
The Charities Regulator
Provides the official Charities Governance Code setting out minimum standards for compliance, accountability, and transparency.
Boardmatch
Helps match volunteers with non-profit boards seeking to recruit new members.
DRCDG Guidance Documents
Assessments of training needs for Boards of Charitable Organisations and small community/voluntary organisations, plus the “Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making”.
Private Sector Consultants
Provide a full range of supports and advice to community groups — often hired to assist with large funding applications.
Apply for an Award
Nominations are invited for various awards at national level. These are among the best known:
Pride of Place Awards
SINCE 2003 · ALL-IRELAND
Truly all-Ireland awards — up to 500 people attend the awards ceremony.
Volunteer Ireland Awards
SINCE 2008
Annual awards recognising the contribution of volunteers across Ireland.
Community & Council Awards
SINCE 2006 · LAMA
Organised by the Local Authorities Members Association.
Good Governance Awards
CARMICHAEL CENTRE
Showcases examples of best practice in annual report writing and governance.
Tidy Towns Competition
NATIONAL · MANY CATEGORIES
Awards allocated for many more categories than you may be aware of.
National Traveller Pride Awards
ANNUALLY · MAY
Recognises those who make an impact through leadership, education, creativity, enterprise or advocacy.
The GALAS
SINCE 2009 · LGBT+
Honours individuals and organisations creating a more inclusive Ireland. Held around October.
CRAOL Achievement Awards
COMMUNITY RADIO · OCTOBER
Celebrates community radio, social benefits, inclusiveness, contribution to democracy.
At local level, many local authorities, newspapers and radio stations also run award competitions. Public Participation Networks help to keep people informed about these.
Celebrate Community!
Street Feast
A national neighbourhood street party event to celebrate community — running since 2010. Street Feast helps communities organise an annual weekend of street parties & community lunches every May.
You might like to start a Street Feast in your area.
Start a Street Feast →The Neighbourhood Network
A community development charity organisation that came from the team behind Street Feast.
It focuses on reducing loneliness and social isolation by running projects that promote neighbourliness, social inclusion, volunteerism and creativity.
Get involved →
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