New adult literacy fund opens for Tipperary organisations

Tipperary Education & Training Borad is encouraging organisations to apply for funding after a new Collaboration and Innovation Fund for adult literacy in Tipperary was announced this week by the Minister for Further & Higher Education Simon Harris.

The aim of the Fund is to support collaborative and innovative projects that allow adults with unmet literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy needs to fully engage in society and realise their potential. Potential partnerships could include libraries, refugee centres, community and adult education providers.

Organisations that work in the public, not-for-profit, community and voluntary sectors can apply for up to €25,000 to fund a local project, or up to €50,000 for a national project. A minimum of two organisations working in partnership is required to apply for the Fund.

The total funding available in the 2024 Collaboration and Innovation Fund is €1.25 million. €1 million is available to fund local projects in Irish counties, while €250,000 is available to fund national projects that have a have a wider, national scope.

Minister Harris said he was delighted to launch the 2024 Collaboration and Innovation Fund.

"Last year, the Fund was a huge success with over 50 innovative projects that supported individuals with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs.

"We know that accessing literacy supports can be very difficult for people. There is often a stigma attached to not being able to read, write, or participate in the world online. What is really magic about this Fund is that it supports projects that often inject fun into learning those essential skills. That can mean improving reading and writing skills through the joy of cooking or learning new digital skills," he added. 

The Collaboration and Innovation Fund is an initiative of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy – a 10 year, whole-of-government and society strategy dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the literacy to meet their needs, and that literacy is valued and supported at every level of society.

The Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) office, in collaboration with SOLAS, launched the call for applications to the 2024 Collaboration and Innovation Fund on March 4. 

Cross-community partnerships are encouraged to avail of the Collaboration and Innovation Fund to support adults with unmet literacy needs. The closing date for applications is Thursday, April 4.

Further information about how to apply for the Collaboration and Innovation Fund can be found online at www.adultliteracyforlife.ie/fund/.