The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has launched a new £400,000 Rural Challenge Programme. The programme invites community/voluntary groups to identify a local need and propose an initiative that will address poverty and social exclusion within their rural community. This programme was developed as a direct response to issues identified in the Rural Anti-Poverty and Social Exclusion Framework developed during 2008/2009.

Grant assistance, up to a maximum of £5,000, will be made available to 80 community/voluntary groups to address the issues identified. Projects must focus on one of the eight target groups identified when developing the programme. These are:-

Children & Young People;

Lone Parents;

Unemployed;

Disabled;

Carers;

Elderly;

Ethnic Minorities; and

Low Paid Workers

Preliminary research also indicated that the following themes are most relevant to those experiencing poverty and social exclusion:-

Health & Well Being

Education

Housing Issues

Transport & Access

Employment

Low Pay

Social & Recreational Opportunities (linked to Health and Well Being)

Enabling delivery of local services in conjunction with service providers.

Full details of the Rural Challenge programme are outlined in the application packs which are available from:-

http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/grants-and-funding/rural-development-funding/

rural-development-funding-rural-challenge-programme.htm