What We Do
RiSE is a PEACEPLUS-funded
initiative developed to spark rural
innovation and strengthen social
enterprise across Northern Ireland
and the Border Counties.
About the project
RiSE (Rural Innovation & Social Enterprise) aims to unlock the potential of rural innovation & social enterprise within NI and the border counties.
The project seeks to create the conditions for rural communities, schools, and youth organisations, on each side of the border, and from diverse communities (Unionists and Nationalists, Other and New), to come together around the shared challenge of rural sustainability and the opportunities presented by social enterprise in support of this.
The programme intends to foster a more cohesive and peaceful society by supporting rural organisations engaging in, or wishing to engage in, social enterprise so they can thrive and reach their full potential by: (i) Increasing capacity through the delivery of training and mentoring (workshops, cluster events and study visits), and (ii) Fostering collaboration across communities and borders to unlock the power of shared learning and experience.
The project brings together a multi-stakeholder partnership comprising Rural Action (Lead Partner), and project partners, Irish Rural Link (IRL); Scotland Social Enterprise Academy (SEA); Social Enterprise NI (SENI) and associate partner Community Finance Ireland (CFI).
RiSE is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
What DOES RIse Involve?
The RiSE PEACEPLUS Programme was established to support rural communities to thrive and reach their full potential as inclusive places to live, work and access services. The programme intends to foster a more cohesive and peaceful society by increasing the capacity of rural organisations to engage in social enterprise collaboratively. It aims to inspire the next generation of young social entrepreneurs by working on a cross-community/border basis to enhance the potential of shared learning and experiences.
The programme will target 60 rural groups engaging in or wishing to engage in social enterprise activities.
There will be three cohorts of groups. Groups accepted onto the
programme will participate in collaborative learning support.
RiSE comprises three thematic strands:
- Strand 1: Social Enterprise Leadership & Development
This is a 10-month programme of support aiming to increase the capacity & confidence of rural organisations engaging in or wishing to engage in social enterprise activities
(20 Groups, 40 Participants, 3 Years)
- Strand 2: Making it Happen
This is a 10-month programme of support to advance ideas into action and support the development of new rural social enterprise developments/expansions (products or services )
(Enabling support of up to £5000 to 48 Groups) (20 Groups, 40 Participants, 3 Years)
- Strand 3: Youth Social Enterprise
This involves a youth-led programme supporting young people aged 14-25 to identify the social or environmental issue they want to solve and create a social action to make that change happen.
(10 Social Enterprise Actions enabling support of up to £3000) (6-7 Schools/Organisations per year)
Outputs: By Sept 2029, RiSE will have made significant impacts in at least 60 rural areas in NI/border counties, working with a minimum of 120 participants, 20 youth organisations/schools and 200 young people. It will have supported the development of at least 48 rural enterprises providing access to new rural social enterprises/community services for at least 7,200 participants, and upskilled 20 practitioners in the facilitation of training.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
The RiSE (Rural Innovation & Social Enterprise) project recieved funding of €3,971,440 through the PEACEPLUS initiative. The project is targeting rural areas in Northern Ireland and the border region.
In Strands 1 and 2, the project will work with rural organisations located in areas with a settlement size of 5,000 or fewer (NI) and 10,000 or fewer (the border region of Ireland). For Strand 3, schools may be located in larger settlements (of up to 18,000) and attended by rural young people.
Eligible Organisations
Types of organisations that can apply:
- Charity
- Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Constituted Group
Governing Document
The governing document must show:
- Social purpose/objectives of the organisation
- Appropriate dissolution clauses
- No personal/private gain from profits generated
Eligibility Criteria
- Demonstrate that they meet the definition of a social enterprise and are a bona fide group (meets the eligible organisation criteria), have a governing document and have a bank account in the name of organisation with 2 signatories (unrelated)
- Have the commitment of the Management Committee to fully engage in the programme and engage on a cross-community
and cross-border basis. - Identify at least 2 core participants that will attend all cluster &
networking events - Have the commitment from the Management Committee to fully support any identified staff or volunteer engagement
HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in applying to the programme, click the link below to submit an Expression of Interest form.
The first intake for completed forms will be accepted up to Friday, 27 March 2026
For further information on the RiSE project:
Contact [email protected] or phone
Brendan 00353 87 4955 821 or Sharon 00353 87 4955 809
Further information is also available on the Rural Action website
To find out more about the RiSE project,
contact: [email protected]
Project Documents
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