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Community Climate Action Fund

Community Climate Action Programme

Community Climate Action Programme – outline

The Community Climate Action Programme aims to support and empower local community groups to build low-carbon communities in a planned way and contribute to national climate and energy targets.

  • As part of the national Climate Action Fund, the Climate Action Programme – Strand 1 – has been allocated €24 million to fund and build low-carbon communities.
  • Round 1 was awarded in 2024, in which €646,000 was allocated to County Wicklow. Currently, the successful groups are in the delivery phase of Round 1.
  • Round 2 will open for applications on 20th October 2025
  • Groups can apply by registering with the Community Climate Action Officer in the first instance: jsammiller@wicklowcoco.ie  . All supporting documentation is listed below.
  • A recorded webinar can be viewed below to support groups who wish to make an application.
  • The application window runs from 8 am, 20th October to 5.00 pm, 15th December (8 weeks).

Eligibility

Eligible groups are those which are:

  • Not-for-profit organisations located within County Wicklow
  • Groups registered with the Public Participation Network (PPN)
  • Groups which are members of a collective, such as a national sporting organisation, Tidy Towns or other
  • Groups which have an Articles of Association or Memorandum document
  • Groups which have held an AGM with approved minutes available

5 themes under which to apply

The Community Climate Action Programme invites community groups to submit an application under one of the five thematic areas of the programme. Groups that can address more than one theme in their application will rank higher in the evaluation process to determine which projects receive funding.

The five themes are:

  • Community & Energy
  • Food & Waste
  • Travel
  • Shopping & Recycling

Local Climate and Environmental Action

Community and Energy

The aim is to reduce the climate impact of community buildings by using less energy/renewable energy and avoiding heat loss.

  • Potentially, relevant projects could include:
  • LED community lighting
  • Small renewable energy projects – Solar / Hydro / Wind
  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Retrofitting community buildings – it is advisable to have an Energy Audit or Energy Master Plan to help identify your requirements, e.g.
  • heat pumps
  • insulation (wall/attic)
  • LED lighting
  • windows & doors
  • solar PV panels

Food and Waste

The aim is to reduce food waste. Consider the following:

  • Community gardens - local food production
  • Community composting facilities
  • Community supported farming - local business food pledges
  • Community fridges - reduce GHG and redistribute food

Travel

The aim is the reduction in travel related emissions. Consider the following:

  • Cycle parking/racks
  • Improving cycle way access
  • Safe and active routes to school
  • Community ebikes
  • Bike repair hub/cafe

Shopping and Recycling

The aim is to increase the variety and number of recycling facilities as well as increasing the number of reduce/reuse/recycle initiatives.

Consider the following:

  • Water refill stations
  • Elimination of single-use plastics/cups by local groups
  • Musical instrument reuse
  • Swap shops
  • Sports clothes/equipment reuse
  • Toy libraries

Local Climate and Environmental Action

Take a holistic approach to managing the local environment and taking climate action.

Potentially relevant projects might include:

  • How to ‘slow the flow’ of water in many different contexts, ask CCAO or contact a LAWPRO officer
  • Rainwater gardens
  • Community gardens
  • Mini forests/woodlands
  • Fruit tree/nut tree planting

What Types of Projects /initiatives are eligible?

  • Projects which reduce or support the reduction of greenhouse gases
  • Projects which increase the production of renewable energy
  • A project which improves energy efficiency
  • Projects which improve climate resilience
  • Projects which are nature-based, enhance biodiversity and provide climate resilience.
  • Projects which provide innovative solutions to climate change

How much funding is available for projects?

  • Projects less than €20,000 in value
  • Projectst between €20,000 and €50,000
  • Projects between €50,000 and €100,000

Projects can apply for 100% funding up to a maximum of €100,000

Considerations for the application form:

Preparation:

  • Contact the Community Climate Action Officer, Julie Sammiller, on 087 4084441, or jsammiller@wicklowcoco.ie
  • Discuss your project idea and why it is needed
  • Clarify the project objectives
  • Does your group own the land/building? If not, Does your group need to secure a license agreement? (Min 5 years required)
  • Check if your project neeeds planning permission?

Costs:

  • Have a clear understanding of what is eligible.
  • Prepare a realistic budget.
  • Ask around and seek 3 to 5 quotes for the work to be undertaken (depending on the size of the project)
  • Consider if your group will require bridging finance? Speak to CCAO about options.
  • Is the project good value for money?
  • Have you considered green procurement?
  • Does your group hold good governance structures to manage finances, and/or can you demonstrate a previous track record of managing funds?

Completing the application form

Round 2 will open on the 20th October and the window for applications will close on the 15th December 2025. When filling in the form, consider the following:

  • Look again at the programme’s objectives; your project must align with the aims of the programme.
  • Consider any supporting documentation you might require eg. License agreement documents/AGM minutes ...
  • Is your project achievable and does your group have capacity to deliver it? Demonstrate in the application that you have the project management skills to deliver, achieve and measure outputs.
  • Communicate clearly the climate and environmental benefits of your project
  • Consider how your group will measure success/impacts of the project?
  • How will your project contribute to Ireland’s climate and energy targets?
  • Is your project something that could be replicated elsewhere as a good example of a community developing climate resilience at local level?

Wicklow projects which received an allocation under round 1 of the programme were:

Small Projects

  • Ballinacor Comm Park - Community Building/Park Project: supply and install of PV Panels, LED Lighting (replacement and testing), Mini-digger hire, garden materials, rainwater harvester - €19,000.00
  • Baltinglass TT - Solar/Compost/Water Harvesting Project: Solar panels and battery installation, Community composter, Solarpowered water butt, 2no. Water Butts at parish community centre - €15,000.00
  • Blessington TT - Planting project: Rowan trees, Stakes, Tree Ties, Apple Trees, Compost and Soil conditioner - €4,000.00
  • Wicklow TT - Water Refill Station Project: 2 refill stations and associated costs - €16,189.00
  • Rathnew Community - Solar PV & EV Project: Solar PV System and 1no. EV Charger - €16,223.00
  • Kildbride GAA - Cycling /Water Refill & 2 Go Cup Project: Bike rack and shelter; bike repair stand; water refill station; 2-Go reusable cups - €13,704.00
  • Kilcoole Mens Shed - Water Harvesting/Orchard/Pollinator Project: Dispersed Orchard and A number of water Butts - €10,320.00

Medium Projects 

  • Kiltegan GAA Development Plan Project: Solar PV on club house, Water Refill Station x 1no., Outdoor Recycling Station, Indoor Recycling Station, Boot/Gear Swap Trolley, Reusable Cups, Bike Rack - € 35,229.09
  • Arklow TT - Polytunnel; rainwater harversting system; weed scrubber; install solar powered LED lighting to dog park - € 34,536.14
  • Newcastle Biodiversity - Community Bicycle Stands & Dispersed Orchard Project: Wall Mounted Water Station, Bicycle Stands, 100no. Heritage Apple Trees, 100no. Tree Stakes & Tree Ties - € 21,310.16
  • Arklow United FC - Climate Action Project: Water Bottle Refill Station, Down pipe Rainwater Butts x 5no., 15Kw Solar PV System, LED Lighting, Water Saving Taps/Smart Urinal/Cistern Bags - € 35,035.69
  • Rewild Wicklow - Native Tree Nursery Project: Water irrigation system, used storage container, commercial standard polytunnel, solar power panels and battery, label printer, organic compost, seed compost, horse manure, enriched topsoil, propagation equipment, timber, welded mesh wire and staples - € 30,000.00
  • Coolkenno Sports - Low Carbon Community Project: Solar PV Panels on new build community gym, Bike Rack, Swap Shop for used sports equipment, Pollinator Project - € 27,261.42
  • Signal Arts Centre - Insulation Project: Attic roof rigid insulation, first floor rigid insulation, attic room gable wall warm board insulation, plasterboard, inspection and report on damp proofing - € 29,554.83

Large Projects

  • Donard Community - Donard Community Hall Project: Electric Bikes (2no.), Bike Storage, Compost Tumbler, Wall Insulation, Roof Insulation/Plywood Over Cladding, Solar PV & EV Charger - € 72,952.00
  • Wicklow Town Team SEC - De La Salle Pastoral Center Project with Solar PV, Heating Controls, rainwater garden; Attic Insulation, Wall Insulation, Community Chiller and Bike Rack - € 74,913.00
  • Carnew Community Care SEC - Day Care Centre Project: Solar PV System, Heat Pump Water Heater, Insulation Works, EV Charger, Gardening,Sewing Circle - € 54,591.00
  • East Wicklow Rivers Trust - Upland Gully Woodland Planting Project: Project Forester, Project Ecologist, Planting Team, Volunteer Supervision & Training, Certified Native Trees -Tree Cage, Deer Fence, Equipment for Volunteers, Travel & Transport to remote site - € 88,821.00
  • Eirog GAA - Sustainability Programme Project: Clubhouse/Dressing Room Lights & Motion Sensor, LED Upgrade Car Park Floodlights, LED Upgrade Training Pitch Floodlights, Pipe Insulation Domestic Hot Water, Internal recycling Bins x 2no., Crookery Cups, Hot Water Dispenser, Water Bottle Refilling Station, Bike Racks - € 72,114.00

Further queries can be made by email to ccap@wicklowcoco.ie