Terms and Conditions

Introduction

Circular.ie is delighted to launch the Circular Communication Grants. The aim of these grants is to support community led initiatives to better tell their circular story, enabling improved communications right across the ecosystem. 

The Circular Communication Grants are administered by Circular.ie through funding from the Government of Ireland, under the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. 

What is Circular.ie 

Circular.ie, a project of The Rediscovery Centre, is Ireland’s national hub for circular innovation, action, and solutions. We empower people activists and organisations across the country to share their circular economy stories more effectively and inspire change.

We do this through:

  • Awards: The Full Circle Awards celebrate and recognise circular activities undertaken by people all across the country.  

  • Grants: Circular.ie will provide grants for organisations through calls for proposals like this to improve communications across the ecosystem. 

  • Sharing Success Stories: We provide a platform for sharing best practices, case studies, and inspiring stories in Ireland

  • Research: We produce cutting-edge research on barriers, enablers, and opportunities in communications around Ireland’s transition to a circular economy

What is the Circular Economy?

Instead of constantly using and throwing away products, a circular economy keeps them in use for as long as possible, maximising their value while minimising, or preventing entirely, the generation of waste and pollution. In the circular economy, products are designed to last, to be repaired, reused, remanufactured and recycled or made available through new business models such as sharing, renting or providing products as a service. The circular economy can create significant positive impacts for our economy, our society and our environment.


Circular Communication Grant

The aim of the Circular Communication Grant (CCG) is to support and enable community organisations to expand and improve their communications activities with the community on the circular activities they are carrying out. 

The objectives of this funding are 

  • Make the Circular Economy Easy to Understand
    Help people get what circular living means and why it matters.

  • Inspire Everyday Action
    Use stories, messages or media to get people reusing, repairing and wasting less.

  • Support Creative Voices
    Back community groups and creatives to spread circular ideas in fresh, engaging ways.

There are two categories of grants available Circular Communications Core and Circular Communications Connections

  • Circular Communications Core 

Grants of €1,000 under the Core category are available for development and execution of communications and marketing projects around Circular activities.

  • Circular Communication Connections 

Grants of €5,000 under the Connections category are available for development and execution of communications and marketing projects around Circular activities. In addition to the financial grant of €5,000, successful awardees will receive strategic advisory support in marketing and communications. Initial advice will be provided prior to delivery of the communications activities and will support and inform awardees in how best to communicate. 

Eligibility Criteria 

The Circular Communication Grant is open to a wide range of organisations and projects. 

  • Organisation Eligibility 

    • Only one application per organisation per funding cycle is permitted.

    • Applications must be submitted by organisations based in the Republic of Ireland, however organisations may partner with groups internationally.

    • Organisation type may include 

      • Non‑profit organisations

      • Community groups

      • Social Enterprises

      • Small Businesses with community focus,

    • Organisations availing of a grant must be formally established and must produce a Constitution. 

    • Bank accounts must be in the name of the group.

    • Applicants will be required to provide the below information to confirm eligibility:

      • A Irish Revenue Tax Registration Number is required. As a requirement of the Revenue Commissioners, if an organisation does not have a TRN, the Voluntary Non-Profit Making Organisations Registration Form must be completed by the group and returned to the Revenue Commissioners. 

      • A copy of the group’s Audited Accounts or Bank Statements for the previous 3 months must be submitted with the application. 

      • Confirmation of PPN (Public Participation Network) or equivalent community-level endorsement, if applicable;

      • Signed declaration by Chairperson, Secretary, or Treasurer stating accuracy of information

      • Evidence of adequate insurance must be produced and The Rediscovery Centre must be indemnified.

  • Project Eligibility

    • The Circular Communication Grant must be exclusively used for marketing/communications costs related to circular economy promotion, or activities. Marketing and Communications costs  include, but are not limited to;

      • Content production, digital marketing, website or brand development

      • Event promotion, signage, accessibility services (e.g. ISL interpretation, captions)

      • Training, software, capacity-building activities

Application Process

  • Applications for the Circular Communication Grant must be made on the official online application form on Circular.ie

  • The deadline for applications is the XXXXXXXXXX. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered

  • The online grant application should be completed in full, with all information requested supplied.

  • Please note: Applications will not be assessed and will be returned to the group if all relevant documentation has not been submitted.

  • The application must be submitted before expenditure is incurred. 

    • All spending must be directly related to the communications aims of the funded project.

    • Receipts and documentation are required for all claimed costs.

Eligible Costs

Content creation (e.g. video, photography, graphic design)

Digital marketing and social media ads (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)

Website development or improvement

Copywriting, messaging development, branding strategy

Event promotion materials (flyers, signage, newspaper ads)

Communications training or workshops (e.g. social media, media training, storytelling)

Software subscriptions (e.g. Canva, Mailchimp)

Accessibility services (e.g. captioning, Irish Sign Language interpretation)

Promotional signage (temporary or permanent)

Professional communications services (e.g. designers, consultants, trainers)

Ineligible Costs

Staff salaries or wages (unless for specific communications delivery)

Rent, utilities, broadband, or general overhead costs

Equipment purchase (e.g. laptops, printers, phones)

Capital works or building refurbishment

Fundraising costs or commercial revenue activities

Political or religious campaigning

Food, catering, or hospitality (unless pre-approved for public events)

Costs incurred before the grant approval date

Personal benefit (e.g. purchasing personal devices)

Unreceipted, undocumented, or untraceable cash payments

Assessment Criteria 

Applications for the Circular Communication Grant will be assessed against the following criteria. 

  • Clarity of Purpose and Communication Objectives

  • The project goal is clearly defined.

  • The proposed communications or marketing activities are aligned with the group’s mission.

  • There is a clear plan to reach and engage a defined audience through communication efforts.

  • Community Benefit and Impact

  • The project delivers identifiable social, environmental, cultural, or civic benefits.

  • The communications activity is designed to raise awareness, amplify community voices, or strengthen participation and inclusion.

  • The expected outcomes are tangible, measurable, or clearly beneficial to the wider community.

  • Feasibility and Value for Money

  • The proposed budget is realistic and appropriate for the project’s scale and scope.

  • The activities are achievable within the funding limits and timeframe.

  • All costs are clearly justified and align with the list of eligible expenditures.

  • Capacity and Readiness to Deliver

  • The applicant has demonstrated capacity, partnerships, or resources to implement the project successfully.

  • The group has relevant experience or has set out a strong and credible delivery plan.

  • Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.

  • Innovation and Creativity

  • The proposal introduces creative or original ways of engaging the public.

  • The communication approach is accessible, inclusive, or uses novel formats or platforms.

  • The project shows potential to inspire or be replicated by others.

  • Commitment to Learning and Evaluation

  • The group has outlined how they will evaluate the effectiveness of the project.

  • There is a willingness to report on impact and share learning with the funder and wider community.

The assessment panel may also consider geographical spread, diversity of applicant types, and funding availability when making final decisions.

Following the assessment process all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email.

Successful Applicants

Successful applicants will receive a notification email outlining that they have been approved for funding, specifying the amount and requesting the relevant signature on the acceptance letter, confirming adherence to the Grant Terms and Conditions. Please allow approximately three weeks from the submission of the signed certification to the date of payment.

If no response is received to notification of grant, one reminder notification will be issued. If no response is received ten days after the final reminder, then a further notification is sent stating that the grant has been forfeited.  

Grant Terms and Conditions

The Circular Communication Grants are administered by The Rediscovery Centre, through funding from the Government of Ireland, under the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. These Terms and Conditions apply to all recipients of the Circular Communication Grant from The Rediscovery Centre. By accepting the submitting an application you agree to the following:

Publicity and Acknowledgment

  • Awardees agree that Circular.ie may use their name, logo, project description, and selected campaign materials for promotional, informational, or evaluation purposes. This may include featuring your project on the Circular.ie website, newsletters, reports, or social media.

  • All public communications (such as social media posts, press releases, signage, or other materials) related to your grant-funded project must acknowledge support from Circular.ie. This helps to raise awareness of circular activities across communities.

  • Awardees may be requested to provide photographs or short video clips that demonstrate the impact of the funding—such as improved communication, new engagement activities, or community responses.

  • If you are sharing your project on social media, please tag @circular.ie and use any relevant campaign hashtags.

  • Awardees agree to be listed on the Circular Economy Map on Circular.ie and may be contacted for updates or further collaboration in the future.

Reporting and Accountability

A short final report (template will be provided) must be submitted within XXXXX of completing your project. This should include:

  • A brief summary of what you did

  • A breakdown of how the grant money was used

  • Any supporting materials such as visuals, links, or stories.

We may request copies of receipts or invoices, and occasionally follow up for further insights or feedback to help us understand what worked and share learnings across the network.

Appropriate Use of Funds

  • The grant must only be used for the specific communications or marketing activities outlined in your application and approved by The Rediscovery Centre.

  • Any changes to your plan or how you intend to spend the funding must be approved by us in advance.

  • The grant cannot be used for general operational costs (like rent or utilities), capital purchases (like computers), fundraising, political or religious activities, or costs incurred before receiving grant approval. Please refer to the full list of eligible and ineligible costs in the guidelines.

Non-Compliance and Recovery of Funding

  • The Rediscovery Centre reserves the right to pause, revoke, or request the return of grant funds if they are used for purposes outside the agreed scope, if reporting is not submitted, if false or misleading information is provided, or if any other term is not met.

  • Failure to comply with these Terms, including those in your offer letter or approved application, may result in suspension or repayment of the grant.

  • Prior to recovery, you will be given the opportunity to address any identified issues, except in cases of serious misconduct.

Tax and Legal Responsibilities

  • Awardees are responsible for understanding and fulfilling any tax, accounting, or regulatory obligations linked to receiving the grant. The Rediscovery Centre does not offer legal or tax advice and is not liable for how the grant is handled in this respect.

  • Grants are not transferable to other organisations or individuals, and must be used solely for the approved project.

  • Where applicable, recipients must comply with all relevant Irish law.

Data Protection and Privacy

All personal information collected through the grant process will be handled in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Your data will be used only for managing the grant process and may be shared with partner organisations involved in evaluating or administering the scheme. You have the right to access, correct, or request removal of your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Freedom of Information

Applications and funding may be subject to Ireland’s Freedom of Information legislation. Where requested, we may release project reports or organisation-level information, subject to legal exemptions for personal data or commercially sensitive material.

Changes to the Terms

The Rediscovery Centre reserves the right to revise these terms if required by law or policy. We will notify you of any significant changes that affect current grant agreements.

If you have questions or need help with any aspect of the grant or reporting process, get in touch with us at info@circular.ie