Louth community education providers urged to apply for Reach Funding

Community education providers in Louth are being encouraged to apply for Reach funding for eligible projects, which is now open for applications through Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB). 

Launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Simon Harris TD; the €5 million Reach Funding, (the former Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund), is inviting applications from community groups that reach disadvantaged learners with the highest level of need to apply. 

Minister Simon Harris TD said, “Over the last four years, this vital funding has enabled community education providers in Louth and Roscommon to support thousands of disadvantaged learners - creating safe learning spaces, addressing the digital divide, building stronger learning communities, and increasing the capacity of community education organisations.

"Community education is unique and many of its learners would simply not be able to access other educational provision. I am delighted to see the impact of this funding four years on and I look forward to seeing the range of projects that receive funding through the 2024 call.” 

Since 2020, thousands of initiatives have received Reach Funding, helping to empower learners; build digital infrastructures to support learning; and reconnect disadvantaged learner groups, including the long-term unemployed; young people; people with disabilities; members of the Traveller and Roma communities; migrants and refugees; women wishing to return to the labour market; and lone parents.

Encouraging community education providers to apply for the funding, Sadie Ward-McDermott, Director of Further Education and Training in LMETB said: Reach Funding provides an invaluable opportunity for community education providers to access funding to help them support some of the most disadvantaged learners in Louth and Meath.

"This is an excellent opportunity for those delivering community education programmes to enhance their capacity to support the most marginalised in our community. A wide range of groups in Louth and Meath have successfully accessed funding in 2023 and we look forward to receiving your applications for 2024. 

Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS, said: “Reach Funding provided a critical lifeline for learners during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to transform access to community education over the last four years. We would encourage community education partners to apply for Reach funding to support the vital work that they do.

"It has been fantastic to see the enormous impact that this funding has had on not only on an individual’s life, but also to our communities, and Irish society overall.”

Funding applications from community education providers can be made by completing a funding application form, available from Adult Education Officers in Louth and Meath ETB.