Minister Rabbitte announces awardees under the €2.4m Disability and Participation Awareness Fund

Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, has today announced that 14 innovative projects will receive funding under the Disability and Participation Awareness Fund.

Launched in February of this year, the funding has been allocated to support a range of initiatives under three different strands, designed to support the participation of people with disabilities in local community life, disability awareness and training, and to promote innovation in supporting teenagers transitioning from secondary school.

A total of €2.4 million was made available in an open call for funding under three strands, with awards ranging from €55,600 to €205,600.

Strand 1

Supporting community, social, cultural, arts, sports and physical participation: Funding projects/organisations that improve and encourage the accessibility of, and participation in, community life for persons with disabilities.

Strand 2

Promoting disability awareness and training: Funding projects/organisations that initiate disability awareness capacity building and training at local level in communities, that is, carrying out awareness training, supporting disability champions, engaging with Disabled Person’s Organisations.

Strand 3

Promoting innovation in supports and pathways for teenagers transitioning from secondary school through the use of innovative and meaningful services, products or programmes.

Of the 14 recipients in receipt of funding under the Disability and Participation and Awareness Fund, a total of seven projects received funding under strand one, four under strand two, and one under strand three. The projects cover different counties and regions throughout Ireland and will provide meaningful supports to disabled people at the community level.

The fund is operated on behalf of the Department by Rethink Ireland, and each of the successful projects will receive both cash grants and non-financial support as part of the funding model.

Announcing these most recent recipients of funding under the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund, Minister Rabbitte said:

"I am delighted to announce that fourteen new and innovative projects will receive funding under this latest round of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund. Every one of these projects will make a real difference in supporting people with disabilities throughout Ireland. These initiatives are not just about providing financial support; they are about fostering an environment where people with disabilities can thrive and participate fully in society.

Projects such as these make a tremendous impact in local communities, by encouraging and facilitating the meaningful participation and inclusion of disabled people. They help break down barriers, promote understanding, and create opportunities for disabled people to engage in various aspects of community life, from employment and education to social and recreational activities. The ripple effect of these projects can lead to more inclusive and supportive communities for everyone.

I look forward to seeing the projects in action, making a real and tangible difference to the lives of disabled people around the country. The success of these projects will be measured not just in numbers, but in the stories of individuals whose lives have been positively transformed. It is through these personal stories that we can truly appreciate the value and impact of our efforts.

I would like to thank Rethink Ireland for their continued efforts in delivering this Fund, and for the support they provide to organisations in making applications, which are of a consistently very high quality.”

NOTES

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 three different strands, each with a maximum amount.

Strand 1

Strand 2

Strand 3

Promoting innovation in supports and pathways for teenagers transitioning from secondary school through the use of innovative and meaningful services, products or programmes - €50,000-€200,000

In 2024 the fund was split into two parts, with €2.4 million being made available as part of an open call process, which required applying organisations to meet certain set criteria. A further €1.1 million was allocated to up to six projects from the previous iteration of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund from 2023.

Further information on the fund can be found on Rethink Ireland’s website.

The following projects were successful:

Project	Organisation	Counties	Award size	Strand
Adult Support & Wellbeing Programme	Autism Spectrum Information Advice and Meeting Point CLG (AsIAm)	Nationwide	€170,600	1
Engaging Disabled People in Direct Provision	Independent Living Movement Ireland	Dublin	€80,600	1
Baboró Creative Sensory School Workshops	Baboró International Arts Festival for Children	Galway	€55,600	1
Together Academy – Therapeutic Supports project	The Down Syndrome Centre	Dublin	€148,736	1
Disability through my Lens: A Photovoice Project	Migrant Health Alliance Ireland	Galway, Louth and Dublin	€78,600	1
Participation Opportunities 2.0	Crann Centre	Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford	€180,600	1
EAA National Programme	ChildVision	Nationwide	€205,600	1
JAMCard Awareness Training	NOW Training and Employment Enterprise	Nationwide	€198,325	2
The National Platform of Self Advocates Network	The National Platform of Self Advocates	Nationwide	€191,684	2
Deaf Awareness Training and Resource Development	Irish Deaf Society	Nationwide	€120,380	2
Disability Awareness Training @ The Wayfinding Centre	Vision Ireland	Nationwide	€103,600	2
Social Participation for Autistic Adults	Thriving Autistic	Nationwide	€98,218	2
Enabling Neurodiverse People Gain Employment in their Communities	Specialisterne Ireland CLG	Nationwide	€105,600	2
UNIMAAP	HADD-ADHD Ireland	Nationwide	€205,600	3