Sligo County Council & IPB Insurance Launch €100,000 Local Fund to Support “Communities Working Together for Climate”
Sligo County Council Launches Major Community Fund to Support Tidy Towns and Local Environmental Action
Staff of the Environment and Community Sections of Sligo County Council at the launch of LEAF
The largest-ever coordinated community fund of its kind in Ireland has been launched locally today by Sligo County Council, as part of a nationwide initiative of over €3 million supporting Tidy Towns groups, residents’ associations and community organisations engaged in environmental action.
The IPB Insurance & Local Government Ireland Community Fund, also known as the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF), is a national partnership between IPB Insurance and all 31 local authorities. In Sligo, approximately €100,000 will be made available to support Tidy Towns groups, residents’ associations and similar organisations undertaking community-led projects focused on environmental enhancement, biodiversity and climate action.
The initiative forms part of IPB Insurance’s centenary year, marking 100 years of partnership with local authorities in protecting and supporting communities across Ireland. Delivered in partnership with Local Government Ireland, the Fund reflects a shared commitment to empower communities to take practical action to improve their local environment.
The Fund will support Tidy Towns committees, Residents’ Associations and voluntary groups registered with the Public Participation Network (PPN), and actively encourages collaboration with schools, sports clubs and other local organisations under the theme “Communities Working Together for Climate.”
Funding in Sligo will be delivered through a matched funding model, combining IPB Insurance contributions with existing local authority supports and environmental funding programmes.
Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Dónal Gilroy, commended the fund saying:
“This funding is a welcome boost for communities across Sligo who consistently go above and beyond to improve their local areas.
The commitment and energy of our volunteers is at the heart of everything that makes our towns and villages vibrant, sustainable and inclusive places to live. I would strongly encourage all eligible groups to engage with this Fund and take advantage of the opportunity to further enhance their local environment”.
Martin Lydon, Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, added:
“We are delighted to launch this significant Community Fund in Sligo, which recognises and strengthens the invaluable work being carried out by our Tidy Towns groups and community organisations.
Across the county, these groups play a vital role in enhancing our environment, supporting biodiversity and fostering a strong sense of pride and place. This funding will help to scale up that work by enabling practical, locally driven projects that deliver visible improvements in our towns, villages and rural communities.
It also demonstrates the strength of collaboration between local government and IPB Insurance, ensuring that meaningful investment reaches the communities where it can make the greatest impact.”
John Hogan, Chair of IPB Insurance, highlighted the Fund’s importance within IPB’s Centenary Year saying:
“As Ireland’s local government mutual insurer, IPB Insurance exists to protect our Members who, every day, serve the public and their communities. Our mutual ethos goes beyond insurance; it’s about giving back and supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and enhance places. In our Centenary Year, this Fund represents a meaningful investment in the future of towns and communities across Ireland, delivered in partnership with the local authorities who founded IPB. I am particularly delighted to see the fund launching here today in Sligo.”
The IPB Insurance and Local Government Ireland LEAF initiative builds on the strength and legacy of the Tidy Towns movement and community volunteers nationwide, whose contributions play a key role in enhancing quality of life and supporting Ireland’s climate and biodiversity goals. It also marks the first anniversary of the Tidy Towns Insurance Scheme partnership, which has helped remove insurance barriers for eligible groups.