The GIY Get Ireland Growing fund is a brand new community growing initiative, designed to encourage a wave of food growing projects around Ireland. Over 70 community food growing projects will be funded with grants of between €500 and €5,000 this year.
Developed by not-for-profit organisation GIY (Grow it Yourself), in partnership with AIB’s Add More Green programme, the Get Ireland Growing fund is now open to applications from community groups, schools and not-for-profit initiatives seeking to develop food growing projects.
The fund will provide financial support for community-based initiatives to develop sustainable projects to foster environmental education and action. It will support community groups that represent the most exciting energy in the local food movements, that are in many cases not being reached by traditional funders.
The GIY Get Ireland Growing fund is open to community groups and not-for-profits looking to develop a new community food-growing initiative; existing edible garden schemes (or allotments with a communal space) that wish to enhance their initiative through the development of a ‘green initiative’; and schools that wish to apply for training services or equipment that will allow students to grow their own fruit or vegetables.
GIY founder Michael Kelly says: “This fund will help to support the local food movement in Ireland, encourage community resilience and sustainability. It will also help us to introduce a whole generation of Irish people to the joys of locally grown food.”
Catherine Moroney, Head of Personal Banking AIB, says: “The Get Ireland Growing Fund will support community based environmental initiatives and create opportunities for grass roots not-for-profit organisations and local schools. AIB is delighted to partner with GIY Ireland on this new initiative, which provides the opportunity for AIB to support local clubs and communities around Ireland.”