From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minster for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today allocated €1 million to 51 projects across the country to help adults learn literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
Among the projects are:
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
“I am delighted to award funding to 51 innovative projects and partnerships that will help people access the skills of literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
“We know that accessing literacy supports can be very difficult for people to do. There is often a stigma attached to not being able to read, write, or participate in the world online.
“What is really magic about these projects is they inject fun into learning those essential skills. That can mean learning to read or count through the joy of cooking, or boxing.
“This will ensure we reach those key target groups such as older adults, members of the Traveller community, or persons experiencing addiction.
“I really want to congratulate each and every applicant. We will learn from your work and scale up if found to be successful."
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund was launched in April 2023 as part of the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy.
The Fund was developed to support collaborative and innovative activities that will help achieve the aims of the strategy and create a more equal society.
Yvonne McKenna, Director of Adult Literacy for Life said:
“The ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund will enable the delivery of a diverse and broad range of important literacy programmes to benefit adults in Ireland with a range of complex literacy needs.
“Literacy is an issue that will affect every adult in Ireland over the course of their lifetime. Currently, almost 1 in 5 adults in Ireland struggling with reading and understanding everyday text, almost 1 in 4 struggle with maths and almost 1 in 2 adults lack basic digital skills.
“This funding will help a range of learners including older adults, Travellers, migrants, lone parents, and early school leavers gain access to key supports to benefit their needs to participate more fully in society.”
Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) is a ten-year strategy that aims to ensure that every adult in Ireland has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential.
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund for 2023 was open to public, non-profit, community and voluntary organisations across Ireland. A minimum of two organisations working in partnership was required to apply for the fund, with one organisation taking the lead. The maximum grant available was €50,000. Successful projects will showcase collaboration, partnership, and meaningful literacy-awareness and learner-focused outcomes.
The funds will be allocated to a diverse range of about fifty organisations nationwide, from small community groups to libraries, refugee centres, support organisations and adult education providers. The funding will enable them to implement projects that support people to improve their literacy, numeracy and digital literacy; or that make society more accessible to people with unmet literacy needs.
The projects and beneficiaries of the funding will include many of the target groups identified in the ALL Strategy, including older adults, members of Traveller community, persons with a disability, migrants, international protection applicants, as well as other groups affected by disadvantage, such as persons experiencing homelessness and addiction. In line with the broad definition of literacy in the ALL Strategy, the funded projects will address a range of literacy needs, including health literacy, family literacy, and participation in society.
