If you would like to access an Easy Read version of these Fund Guidelines, please click HERE.
What is The Disability Participation and Awareness Fund 2024?
Funding announced by Rethink Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is set to accelerate access and skills-building for people with disabilities, with a €3.5 million injection of funding for the sector to support projects.
Five high-performing projects that applied under the 2023 application process were awarded a share of €1.1 million. These include Project Arts Centre, SOS Kilkenny, Cumas New Ross, Paralympics Ireland, and No Barriers Foundation. Up 10 new projects will be eligible to share in funding worth a total of €2.4m available through application for the funding below.
The 2024 Disability Participation and Awareness Fund is now open for applications from change-making non-profit organisations focused on supporting people with disabilities to participate in community life. This includes social, cultural, arts and sports participation, as well as promoting disability awareness and training at a local level, and supporting pathways for young people transitioning through education.
The goal of the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund 2024 is to support innovative projects or organisations across Ireland to:
- Enhance community, social, cultural and physical participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life,
- Promote disability awareness and training for people with disabilities at the local level, and
- Promote innovation in supports and pathways for teenagers transitioning from secondary school through the use of innovative and meaningful services, products or programmes.
The Fund offers a package of cash grants and non-financial supports to the value of €200,000* for up to 10 projects, to help them expand and increase their social impact.
This includes:
- Up to 10 awards of up to €200,000*
- The non-financial supports will include:
- a place on Rethink Ireland’s Accelerator Programme
- bespoke business and capacity building supports designed in consultation with the successful projects on topics such as strategic planning, maximising your impact, communications, storytelling and fundraising.
- Access to Rethink Ireland’s networks.
* The Rethink Ireland Board will decide how much money to award, which may be less than the amount requested. The final amount of the award will depend on how many organisations are selected.
You can apply to The Disability Participation and Awareness Fund 2024 via the online portal from 26th February to 5th April 2024. Click HERE to apply.
If you would like to access an Easy Read version of these Fund Guidelines, please click HERE.