The Wheel, in collaboration with EU experts Access Europe, will be running a series of short and useful information sessions outlining EU grants available to Irish civil society groups and local authorities.

Our ‘Demystifying EU Funds’ events series will be held around the country throughout October and November, helping you to unpack:

• Overall EU financial and policy background for 2015-2010

• Funding Opportunities per EU Programme (Horizon2020, ESF, Interreg, Creative Europe etc). 
• The Europe for Citizens Programme
• How to assess your potential to access EU funding
• Training and Support Resources Available.

Events are targeted towards statutory fundraisers and staff from local authorities and will be held in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny and Galway. 

The ‘Demystifying EU Funding’ events are FREE but require registration on The Wheel’s website.

Learn more here...

It's exciting to think of the opportunities for funding under a scheme like Europe for Citizens, but what is the likelihood?  

This depends on the kind of activity you're looking to propose and which 'strand' and subsequent 'measure' it falls into.  Here are the grants that are estimated to be distributed in 2016:

European Remembrance

• 42 project grants
• 7 specific annual operating grants

Democratic engagement and civic participation

• 312 town twinning projects
• 42 networks of towns
• 33 civil society projects
• 29 operating grants

So, 'operating grants' are particularly competitive category while the town twinning and project grants could be lucrative. Watch this space for more insights or visit the EACEA's official website

Here at The Wheel we are proud to be the National Contact Point in Ireland for the ‘Europe for Citizens Programme’.  As part of this important role, we have recruited a dedicated resource to  provide information and support to organisations considering making an application to the Europe for Citizens Programme.

In August we were delighted to welcome Deirdre Finlay to the team who is our new Europe for Citizens Programme Officer. Deirdre comes with over 11 years’ experience in communications and institutional funding. You can contact her today by emailing the official email address for the programme: europeforcitizens@wheel.ie. 

The Wheel and the Department of the Taoiseach today launched a new information service to promote awareness of the EU funded, Europe for Citizens Programme, and to facilitate access to funding for activities such as town twinning, town networks and civil society projects that are currently funded through this pan-European initiative.

The information service can be accessed online at www.europeforcitizens.ie, through Twitter (@EU4citizens) and LinkedIn, or by contacting The Wheel at europeforcitizens@wheel.ie. Events will also be held across the country to promote participation in the Europe for Citizens Programme. 

The service is being funded by the Department of the Taoiseach and will be operated by The Wheel, a national network representing 1,150 non-profit organisations. 

The Department of the Taoiseach and The Wheel will be co-hosting the official launch of Europe for Citizens Programme on 1 July in Dublin. 

The aim of this programme is to promote the Europe for Citizens (EfC) programme in Ireland, including available funding opportunities that many different sectors and stakeholders can apply for.

(Please note that this event is now fully booked and is no longer open to registration).

Speakers for this event will include:

• Dara Murphy TD, Minister of State at the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs with Special Responsibility for European Affairs and Data Protection.
  
  
• Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament (2002 - 2004), TD (1992 - 1994), MEP (1989 - 2004) and current affairs broadcaster.
  
  
• Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland since October 2010.

The Wheel will be working with the Department of the Taoiseach to encourage as much engagement and participation with the programme as possible over the coming years. This process will include training opportunities, regular news updates and other dedicated supports. 

Stay tuned to this website for full programme details. Or, sign up to our mailing list here for ongoing updates.