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2024 Collaboration and Innovation Fund
Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science Simon Harris, TD, announced a new fund to support individuals with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs on Monday 4 March 2024.
The purpose of the Collaboration and Innovation Fund is to pay for collaborative and innovative projects that support adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs.
In Ireland, more than 500,000 people have unmet literacy needs. Even more have unmet numeracy and digital literacy needs. This means they may be unable to fill in a form, vote, read instructions on medicines, add up a bill, help kids with homework or search the web for information.
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund will support projects and activities that enable adults to gain the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential. It will also help organisations and services to be literacy friendly and fully accessible to adults with unmet needs.
This will support a more inclusive, equal society.
How much funding is available?
In 2024, the total funding available in the Collaboration and Innovation Fund is €1.25 million. €1 million is available to fund local projects in any county in Ireland. €0.25 million is available to fund national projects that have a have a wider, national scope.
Who can apply?
Organisations that work in the public, not-for-profit, community and voluntary sector can apply for the Collaboration and Innovation Fund.
You need a minimum of two organisations working in partnership to apply for the Fund.
The closing date to apply is Thursday 4 April 2024.
Have a look at some of the projects funded in 2023
County: Any
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Literacy Friendly Longford
Raising awareness about literacy needs among local businesses in Longford.
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Digital Literacy Skills Access For International Protection Applicants
Developing tutor training programmes and digital skills resources for refugees.
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Neidin Le Cheile
Digital and English literacy courses for senior adults and non-English speakers.
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Signs of Growth
Addressing unmet literacy needs through sign-making and outdoor activities.
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Traveller Story Sacks
Improving literacy in the Traveller community through storytelling.
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POW! Boxing Clever!
Teaching boxing coaches how to raise awareness about literacy skills.
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Work Ready Programmes
Developing modules for Down Syndrome Ireland members and other students.
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Library Literacy Champions
Developing library literacy champions among staff in Dublin City Libraries.
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Adult Literacy Awareness Training for staff working with individuals recovering from addiction
Adult literacy awareness training for addiction response workers.
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Your Voice, Your Vote: Voter Education & Active Citizenship
Developing teaching and learning methodologies for voter education.
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Growing Together
Building literacy skills through mindfulness and design courses.
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Learning Together
Working with parents to address unmet literacy needs.
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Digital Literacy for Disadvantaged Learners
Providing digital literacy training to marginalized groups in Cork city.
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Learner Support Service
Addressing unmet literacy needs among homeless service users in Cork.
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TechKnow: Digital skills @ your library
One-to-one digital skills sessions for the general public.
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Discover Your Path
Helping adults from marginalized backgrounds to re-imagine their future.
Collaboration and Innovation Fund
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund supports projects for adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs and projects that support organisations to be literacy friendly.