PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme – Support Hub
Supporting groups and organisations to submit strong, complete applications to the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme
WELCOME!
We are delighted that you’re planning to submit an application to the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme. Rural Action is part of the support partnership appointed to help groups and organisations access this funding. Co-operation Ireland leads this partnership and East Border Region is also involved as a support partner.
Taking the first steps toward funding can feel daunting, but you’re not doing it alone. We’ve created this support page to help you to submit a strong, complete application.
Completing a funding application can sometimes feel like navigating a maze, different requirements, multiple documents, and the pressure to get everything right. This page brings together the key mandatory requirements so you can move forward with clarity.
What You’ll Find Here
Below you’ll find all the required templates that must be uploaded with your application, along with sample versions to show you what a completed version looks like. These examples are designed to help you feel more assured at every stage.
SEUPB APPLICATION GUIDANCE DOCUMENT AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD HERE
REGISTER WITH JEMs
JEMs is the online application system through which all applications must be submitted. Ensure you choose the Change Makers version of this system, as opposed to the standard version.
LINK TO THE JEMS SYSTEM FOR CHANGE MAKERS
You must create an account on this system before you can apply.
When making an application please ensure you select the correct Investment Area to which you wish to apply to:
- Investment Area1.2 – cross community (within the same jurisdiction)
- Investment Area 6.2 – cross border (between Northern Ireland and the 6 Border Counties of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth)
SEUPB has created an offline application form for use prior to populating the online application form.
MANDATORY ATTACHMENTS AND TEMPLATES
Below is the full list of mandatory documents you must upload with your application to the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme, with links to the relevant templates available at the SEUPB PEACEPLUS Support Portal:
- Constitution/Governing Document
- Must be uploaded by Lead Partners and all budget holding project partners
- Authorisation Form
- Must be signed and uploaded by the Lead Partner only
- Declaration Form
- Must be completed, signed and uploaded by the Lead Partner
- Each subsequent budget holding project partner must complete and sign their individual copy and upload
- Non budget holding Associate partners do not have to complete
- Budget Template
- One excel spreadsheet must be uploaded for each project
- All supporting price checks/quotes
- Must be uploaded in an organised fashion to mirror each budget line on the budget template
Only applicable to those applications that include staffing costs within the budget template:
- Contract of Employment or Appointment Letter
APPLICATION AIDS
We have prepared 2 application aids to support groups through the process of devising your workplan and drafting your budget, as previous experience has shown these 2 areas can prove the most challenging.
Devising your Project work plan (Application Form Section C4)
This support document helps you complete the Work package section of your application. Only 1 work package is required and it will include your workplan of activities
- Workplan Aid — explains how to structure your activities, timelines, milestones, and outputs clearly.
Devising your Budget (completing the Budget Template)
- Budget Aid — step by step guidance on how to construct your budget, including price check requirements and value for money expectations.
PRICE CHECK REQUIREMENTS
Price checks are one of the most important, and most time consuming, parts of your application. They demonstrate value for money, which is a key assessment criterion. Your budget must include the correct number of price checks for every cost line:
- Under €5,000 → 2 price checks required (Online checks are acceptable where appropriate.)
- Over €5,000-€50,000 → 3 price checks required, plus copy of written specification shared with supplier or specification used in online searches
To ensure your checks are valid:
• Always compare like for like each supplier must be quoting for the same specification.
• Make sure specifications are clear and consistent across all quotes.
• Keep screenshots, PDFs, or written quotes as evidence.
Use this template RFQ (Request for Quote) to issue to all suppliers and ensure all received the same request.
You must submit all price check evidence and specification details at the time of application. Missing evidence is one of the most common reasons applications are delayed, returned or ineligible.
SAMPLE DOCUMENTS
See below worked examples to show what completed documents might look like. These are shown here for ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES only. Your application will reflect your own project, community, partnership, design and budget.
BUDGETING AND SUBMISSION WORKSHOPS
We know that sometimes you need more than written guidance, you need someone to talk you through the process. That’s why we run Budgeting and Submission Workshops at different intervals throughout the application window.
These sessions give you the chance to:
• Walk through the budgeting template step by step
• Ask questions in real time
• Understand what assessors look for
• Build confidence before submitting
If you’ve reviewed the guidance and have an initial draft of your budget, get in touch and we’ll let you know when the next workshop is taking place.
Email: changemakers@ruralaction.co
FINALLY
On the JEMs application form, remember to grant a project privilege to ‘changemakers@ruralaction.co’ to allow us to view and edit your application prior to submission. You will find this option on the left hand side menubar within JEMS.
