Over €54k awarded to literacy projects in Louth and Meath

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Minister of State Marian Harkin have announced the allocation of more than €54,000 to fund innovative projects in Louth and Meath supporting adults with unmet literacy needs. 

Some of the projects receiving funding from SOLAS through the Collaboration and Innovation Fund include: 

• The ‘Health Kicks’ initiative: focused on health literacy, with Healthy Louth and the Homeless Street Leagues. This project provides essential health literacy education to adults with unmet literacy needs, supporting them to make informed choices about their health. 
• The ‘ASK Her Network’: a digital literacy project that aims to improve women’s access to clear, trusted, verified information when looking to access services in county Louth. 
• ‘Read Together, Grow Together’: based in Drogheda, which supports unmet literacy and digital literacy needs in parents and guardians of school children through family literacy, as well as supporting adult learners with unmet needs. 

Minister Harkin said: 

“I am delighted to see funding awarded to these innovative projects and partnerships in Louth and Meath that are supporting people to access the vital literacy services they need, helping us to work towards a more inclusive and equal society in Ireland. 

“1 in 5 adults in Ireland, aged between 16-65, are at or below Level 1 in literacy, meaning they struggle with reading and understanding everyday text. Initiatives such as the Collaboration and Innovation Fund provide critical investment to communities across Ireland, supporting projects and activities that enable adults to gain the necessary literacy, numeracy, digital skills, and financial literacy they need to fully engage in society and realise their potential.”

Minister Lawless added: 

“Literacy is fundamental to both personal empowerment and economic participation.  Our Government and my Department are committed to ensuring every adult has the opportunity to improve their literacy. This is evidenced and actioned through the Adult Literacy for Life strategy. The Collaboration and Innovation Fund is delivering partnerships that are helping to break down barriers and bring forward innovative, people-centered solutions to literacy challenges. The aim being to build a more inclusive, informed, and empowered society.”

The Collaboration and Innovation Fund is managed by the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) National Programme Office in SOLAS.

The fund aims to help create a more inclusive and equal society by supporting collaborative and innovative projects that help adults with unmet literacy, numeracy, digital, and financial literacy needs.

This year the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) contributed €250,000 towards a financial literacy strand of the Collaboration and Innovation Fund. 

Speaking about the importance of the projects Niamh McShane, Regional Literacy Coordinator for Louth and Meath Education and Training Board said: 

"The National Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy provides a clear roadmap to support adults with unmet literacy needs in Cork, and in communities right across Ireland. The ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund helps communities create change at a local level.  

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The fund helps community partners across Louth and Meath to come together and deliver innovative solutions to drive positive literacy outcomes for people in our local area. I am delighted to see three innovative projects receive support to help address literacy needs in Louth and Meath. I am sure we will see positive outcomes to help adults build confidence with literacy and participate more fully in our community.”         

Yvonne McKenna, Director of Adult Literacy for Life in SOLAS said: 

“The ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund, now in its third year, is having a real impact at local level and making a difference in the lives of many people. The wide range and diversity of the projects it supports is inspiring to see. The projects are helping adults across Ireland to build their confidence with literacy, numeracy, digital skills, and financial literacy, and they demonstrate the importance of cross-community collaboration at local level.”