Clann Credo - Community Loan Finance

27/05/2026

Big opportunity for community groups this week!

The 2026 Community Centre Investment Fund – Refurbishment Grant opens for applications on Thursday, 29th May.

There's €25 million available, with grants from €10,000 up to €100,000 to help upgrade and refurbish community centres across Ireland.

If you're thinking of applying, register via https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/services/community-centres-investment-fund/ -centres-investment-fund-2026-refurbishment-grant

The deadline is 13th July.

Your community centre matters. It's where people come together for sport, for support, for everything in between. We see it every day in the communities we work with.

And here's the thing, grant aid is a brilliant start, but most projects need more than one funding source to get across the line.

At Clann Credo, we help communities put the full picture together through our Dynamic Funding Model, where grant aid, social finance, philanthropy, and earned income work together.

Need a bridging loan to get started while you wait for grant drawdown? Or a term loan to cover the rest? We make social finance accessible and easy because your community's ambition deserves to become a reality.

[email protected]

27/04/2026

We’re starting something new — and it’s a big moment for us.

As we begin our 30th anniversary year, we’re proud to share our new Clann Credo identity.

This new look is built around Spirited Empowerment — removing barriers, fuelling momentum and helping communities turn purpose into positive impact.

At the heart of it is a symbol that represents community action in motion. It shows people coming together, building energy, and moving projects forward — from idea to reality.

The open, spiralling shape reflects how we work — accessible, supportive, and focused on making things happen. And the colours bring a sense of optimism, energy and progress that we see across communities every day.

For nearly 30 years, we’ve worked alongside communities across Ireland — helping bring projects to life and supporting local ambition.

That hasn’t changed.

What’s new is where we’re going next.

We’ve lots more to share in the weeks and months ahead.

09/03/2026

Social innovation often begins with an idea that needs the right support to take shape.

The New Solutions Pilot Grants scheme is a two-year fund designed to help organisations trial or test new products, services, practices, or models that aim to improve social inclusion.

The fund focuses on initiatives that deliver better outcomes in areas such as:

• Increasing access to employment for disadvantaged groups
• Increasing access to education for disadvantaged groups
• Supporting the personal and social development of young people most at risk of poverty and social exclusion
• Harnessing the potential of sport to promote social development and inclusion

For the purposes of the scheme, disadvantaged groups refers to people who may experience barriers to opportunity or participation, including people with disabilities, the long-term unemployed, migrants and refugees, ethnic minorities including Travellers and Roma, those experiencing poverty or homelessness, single-parent families, people recovering from addiction, individuals with a criminal history, those who are educationally disadvantaged, and people living in rural or remote communities.

Initiatives that address these challenges often require the space to test new ideas and approaches before they can scale. Funding schemes like this can play an important role in enabling organisations to pilot solutions that may lead to lasting social impact.

At Clann Credo, we see every day how innovative community and social enterprise projects can strengthen communities when they have the right support and resources behind them. Opportunities like the New Solutions Pilot Grants help create the conditions for those ideas to take shape.

https://www.new-solutions.ie/pilotgrants

04/03/2026

At its recent AGM, the Killeigh CommunityCentre committee reflected on a busy year of activity while outlining plans to expand programmes and events in 2026.

The centre, which opened in April 2024 following the redevelopment of the former Macra Hall, has recently completed a second phase of works that transformed the front of the building into a dual-purpose car park and farmers’ market space to support community gatherings and outdoor events.

The project was delivered through a combination of funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht through the Town and Village Renewal (TVR) scheme, Offaly County Council and KCCDA’s own fundraising, alongside finance from Clann Credo under our Next Generation Loan Fund.

The committee worked closely with Clann Credo’s Martina O'Moore to progress the development, which is already enabling more markets, activities, and community events to take place at the centre.

Killeigh Community Centre Committee recently held its AGM, bringing together the committee, the board of directors, and members of the local community to look back on what's been a busy year for the centre and to outline plans for 2026.

20/02/2026

Clann Credo is honoured to support the Club Awards as part of the Federation of Irish Sport Volunteers in Sport Awards, recognising the people and clubs who give so much to their communities.

Our involvement has been driven by our Regional Manager, Cork-based Tony Marshall, whose longstanding commitment to community sport reflects the very spirit of these awards. Tony is again serving as one of the award judges, contributing his experience and insight to ensure the impact of local clubs and volunteers is properly recognised.

Volunteers and community clubs are central to the social fabric of towns and villages across Ireland. Through our work, Clann Credo supports these organisations with the finance they need to improve facilities, expand their reach, and continue providing inclusive spaces for participation and connection.

We look forward to seeing the achievements of this year’s recipients recognised and to continuing our support for community sport nationwide.

Only 7 days to go until we come together to honour our incredible Volunteers in Sport for 2025! 🙌

Next Thursday, at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Blanchardstown, we will welcome our 32 County award recipients and their nominators for a very special celebration. They will be joined by guests from our member National Governing Bodies, representatives from the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships, and key stakeholders from across the sporting community.

It promises to be an inspiring occasion as we shine a light on the dedication, passion and countless hours our volunteers give to sport in communities nationwide. We can’t wait to recognise their outstanding contribution🏅

We will also celebrate the Club award winners in association with Clann Credo - Community Loan Finance and reveal this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award winner on the day!

28/01/2026

This coming Friday sees the inaugural meeting of the Co. Monaghan Social Enterprise Network. Social enterprises play a vital role in strengthening communities — blending purpose with practical action by trading sustainably and reinvesting for social impact.

Clann Credo's Tracey Hannon will join John Logue - CEO of SERIreland , Martin McDevitt, Community Development Manager, DLDC , Johnny Sheehan, Member Engagement Manager, The Wheel , as guest speakers. The panel will offer practical insights for social enterprises and community organisations at every stage, from early ideas to established impact.

If your organisation is mission-led, independent, and focused on making a difference, this is a great opportunity to connect with others, share learning, and build lasting collaboration.

https://midl.ie/2026/01/social-enterprise-network/

If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time — get in touch with the organisers (details below) and be part of it.

22/01/2026

A great turnout last week at the Galway Rural Development SICAP event, with over 150 community and voluntary organisations coming together to hear about the range of supports available across the county.

It was encouraging to see contributions from across the ecosystem – including the LEADER Programme, Healthy Ireland, Galway Sports Partnership , Galway TechnicalInstitute -GRETB, Galway County Council and the HSE Ireland – all outlining practical ways they support local groups on the ground.

Delighted that Tracey Hannon had the opportunity to speak about social finance, with a particular focus on the Acorn Investment Fund – designed to support new and emerging community organisations that often struggle to access traditional funding.

Events like this highlight the importance of collaboration between community groups, statutory bodies, and social finance providers in helping good ideas take root and g

19/01/2026

We were delighted to welcome members of theCouncil of Europe Development Bank, including Maria Sigüenza, to join us alongside colleagues from across Ireland’s social finance sector for visits to Tallaght Football Club and Newbridge Football Club with whom we have worked closely over the years.

The visits provided a powerful glimpse into how social finance supports communities in practical, tangible ways. Through the lens of sport, both clubs show what happens when long-term investment meets local ambition – stronger facilities, greater inclusion, and spaces where communities can thrive.

From grassroots participation to youth development and wider community engagement, Tallaght FC and Newbridge FC are strong examples of how sport can act as a catalyst for social impact when backed by patient, purpose-driven finance.

A valuable opportunity to share perspectives, learn from one another, and highlight the real-world outcomes of social finance in action.

Thanks so much to Emmett O'Hara O’Hara, Head of Credit, and Martina O'Moore O’Moore, Regional Manager.

16/01/2026

Some events leave a lasting impression well beyond the day itself.

As we closed out 2025, it was great to participate in a winter plenary in Leitrim, organised by Leitrim PPN (Public Participation Network) under the coordination of Mary McKeon and the PPN secretariat. We had the opportunity to pause, listen, and reflect.

Guest speaker Ruairí McKiernan, social innovator and founder of SpunOut.ie shared insights that cut across mental health, community resilience, and social connection — themes that remain deeply relevant for communities and organisations alike.

It was also a valuable opportunity to connect with new and existing community groups and the support organisations we work closely alongside, including Leitrim Development Company (with thanks to Brian Smyth) andLeitrim County Council

We were represented by Tracey Hannon, Regional Manager at Clann Credo, whose presence reinforced the importance of collaboration between community finance, local development, and grassroots initiatives.

Events like this are a reminder that strong communities are built through shared insight, lived experience, and partnership — across voluntary, public, and social enterprise sectors.

We look forward to more of this in 2026 !

21/12/2025