SICAP 2024-2028 Supporting the expansion of Social Enterprises to address collective community needs

SICAP supports a range of disadvantaged and marginalised groups in society who are unable or unlikely to access mainstream supports. 

You might be eligible if:

•  you are an individual who is starting a business
• you are a business operating using a social enterprise model whereby your enterprise generates non-public funding by charging for goods and services delivered
• To be eligible for support, SEs supported under SICAP must provide services to one or more of the 12 named target groups, including provision of employment/training opportunities, and/or focus on addressing one or more of the programme’s eight thematic focus areas. 

The 12 Sicap target groups include: 

1. People living in disadvantaged communities
2. People impacted by educational disadvantage
3. People living in jobless households or households where the primary income source is low-paid and/or precarious
4. People who are long-term unemployed
5. People with a criminal history
6. Refugees
7. International Protection Applicants
8. Disabled People/People with Disabilities
9. Heads of One-parent Families
10. Travellers
11. Roma
12. Island residents

Local SEs should contact their nearest Programme Implementing (PI) organisation (available on the Pobal website) for further details and support.

• The Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provides small grants of a maximum of €2,500 to Social Enterprises (SE) (max one grant per year) and to Enterprise Start-ups (on a once-off basis)
• Match funding of 20% is required by the grantee, at least half of which must be paid in cash

• Grant funding can be used for projects that provide services to one or more of the 12 named Target Groups under SICAP, and/or focus on addressing one or more of the programme’s eight thematic focus areas