DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed a £1.65 million investment from his department, distributed to 1,029 rural voluntary and community sector organisations through the 2025/26 Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS).

The scheme provides capital grants ranging from £500 to £2,000, allowing rural organisations to purchase equipment or carry out minor works. These projects are specifically designed to tackle locally identified issues such as poverty and social isolation.

Minister Muir visited the Glens Red Squirrel Group, a community-led initiative dedicated to protecting red squirrel populations in the Glens of Antrim, to see the funding in action. Since 2015, the group has received more than £11,500 through the scheme to fund environmental improvements, wildlife protection equipment, and community engagement efforts. Commenting on the investment, Minister Muir said: "I am delighted that over 1,000 rural voluntary and community organisations have benefitted from funding totalling £1.65million from the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (2025/2026). This scheme is a key initiative delivered through my Department's Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework that supports rural community-led, voluntary organisations in identifying and implementing projects that address locally identified poverty, isolation, loneliness and health and wellbeing issues."

Regarding his visit to the conservation group, the Minister added: "It was great to meet the volunteers today from Glens Red Squirrel Group and hear how the scheme is supporting their work to protect and help maintain the native red squirrel in the Glens of Antrim, as well as raising public awareness of the plight of the red squirrel and encouraging young people in supporting conservation. I express my sincere gratitude to all voluntary and community organisations for their commitment to providing a wide range of opportunities through the scheme for their local rural communities."

The RMCGS is administered by Rural Support Networks on behalf of DAERA. Breige Conway, Manager of the Northern Area Community Network (NACN), also spoke at the event, noting: "The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme has helped community and voluntary groups deliver practical, locally driven projects that make a real difference in tackling rural isolation and disadvantage. The funding has supported groups to build capacity, improve shared spaces and create more opportunities for people in rural communities to stay connected."