Press release
Minister Rabbitte launches €3 million Disability and Participation Awareness Fund
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, has this week launched the Disability and Participation Awareness Fund to support the participation of people with disabilities in local activities, to provide valuable employment experience for persons with disabilities, and to help remove barriers to community involvement.
A total fund of €3 million will be made available under four strands, with maximum grants available under each strand.
Strand 1: Building skills and removing barriers to help people with Down Syndrome take part in their communities.
Strand 2: Social enterprise initiatives to provide valuable employment experience to people with disabilities.
Strand 3: Arts and cultural activities, particularly those that promote awareness of the lived experiences of people with disabilities and that support the participation of people with disabilities in artistic, cultural, and community life.
Strand 4: Initiatives aimed at encouraging community participation and inclusion for people with disabilities, including sports and outdoor recreation, promotion of accessibility and accessible shared spaces.
Each of the four strands will support organisations working with or involving people with disabilities, and each has a different focus. Organisations applying must meet the stipulated criteria for each strand, and initiatives should seek to address one or more of the key issues outlined in the strands.
Applying organisations should also take note of the additional criteria which could benefit their application, such as a focus on multiple impairments, innovative or assistive technology, research involving persons with disabilities, and organisations led by persons with a disability.
The fund will be operated by Rethink Ireland, and applications can be made directly to them on their website. Rethink Ireland can also support organisations to make an application.
Announcing the fund Minister Rabbitte commented:
“I am delighted to announce the launch of this year’s Disability Participation and Awareness Fund and to work with Rethink Ireland to maximise the use of this important funding. This fund has a particular focus on community level funding, helping to increase the participation and inclusion of disabled persons in society.
"The fund will also help to highlight the lived experiences of people through art and cultural activities, and will hopefully encourage organisations led by disabled persons to undertake initiatives that will improve the lives of its members.
"There is great opportunity for organisations to showcase new and exciting innovation which could provide learnings and inspiration for other organisations and communities throughout Ireland, and this is what makes this fund so important and so worthwhile.”
The Disability Participation and Awareness Fund will be operated through Rethink Ireland and is open to non-profit organisations to support the participation and inclusion of disabled people in local communities, across four different strands, each with a maximum application amount.
Strand 1 Building skills and removing barriers to help people with Down Syndrome take part in their communities – Maximum grant €500,000
Strand 2 Social enterprise initiatives to provide valuable employment experience to people with disabilities – Maximum grant €100,000
Strand 3 Arts and cultural activities, particularly those that promote awareness of the lived experiences of people with disabilities and that support the participation of people with disabilities in artistic, cultural and community life - Maximum grant €100,000
Strand 4 Initiatives aimed at encouraging community participation and inclusion for people with disabilities, including sports and outdoor recreation, promotion of accessibility and accessible shared spaces – Maximum grant €200,000
There are set criteria for each organisation to meet when applying, and there are also four advantageous criteria which can benefit an organisations application:
1. Multiple Impairments: Project/Organisations that focus on addressing the needs of people with multiple impairments or multiple types of disability
2. Technology: Project/Organisations that use innovative technology, including assistive technology, to enhance the lives of people with disabilities
3. Research: Projects that promote research involving and led by persons with disabilities
4. Leadership representation: Projects/Organisations that are led by persons with disability
Further information on the fund can be found on the Rethink Ireland website.