Closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 2 June 2021
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe O’Brien TD launched the Engage & Educate Fund. The Fund was created by law firm Mason Hayes & Curran LLP and Rethink Ireland in partnership with the Government of Ireland.
The €1.2 million Fund aims to back innovative projects that empower young people and adults through education, enabling people from marginalised communities to access game-changing education programmes.
This is the second phase of the Fund, which will run over the next three years, and is now officially open for applications until June 2nd. An initial investment of €450,000 from 2017 -2019 supported eleven inspiring projects across 10 counties in Ireland with financial and mentoring support. As a result, these charities reached 5,725 participants and mobilised 1,305 volunteers. This second phase is now worth €1.2 million.
The Engage & Educate Fund aims to work with organisations that empower young people and adults through education and seeks to create opportunity through education. The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap in education opportunities between differing socio-economic classes and is deepening the negative impact on young people and adults who have left the education system early or are at risk of doing so.
Projects that work to alleviate educational disadvantages for vulnerable groups and young people and adults in one or more of the following groups will be prioritised.
● People living in poverty
● Traveller and Roma people
● Migrant people
● People from minority ethnic communities
● People with disabilities
The Fund will contribute towards Ireland’s attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.
Commenting today, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe O’Brien TD, said: “The Engage & Educate Fund is another terrific example of public private philanthropic partnership. The Department of Rural and Community Development is happy to partner with Rethink Ireland and Irish law firm Mason Hayes & Curran LLP. This €1.2 million Fund is now open to applications from projects all over Ireland in marginalised and disadvantaged communities aiming to empower their members through education.”
Declan Black, Managing Partner, Mason Hayes & Curran, the business law firm supporting the Engage & Educate Fund said “Education is at the heart of our social responsibility programme. Education is crucial to an individual’s social, economic and personal development and overall life outcomes. As lawyers, we see this impact in our daily work and are very pleased to support this initiative."
