Funding for local organisations to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities

Cork are among a number of organisations who were recently granted funding to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

As part of Pathways to Work, the €7.5 million funding package will support 45 projects nationwide and is designed to support people with disabilities to improve their employment skills, advance their education, or start their own business.

€200,000 was allocated to fund Cope Foundation’s ‘ Ability@ Work’ project.

This is a dedicated supported employment service linking employers with young people with intellectual disabilities and autism and assists companies in becoming more inclusive and diverse when recruiting staff.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Cork, were allocated €155,058 to funding their ‘ Employment Vision’ project to facilitate people who are blind or vision impaired to obtain and sustain meaningful employment and undertake employment training skills.

Tipperary Regional Youth Service were granted €200,000 to fund their ‘Ability Work Winner’ programme.

According to their application, this programme targets young adults with disabilities who are not currently work ready to explore their skills talents and interests and supports the training, recruitment and retention of young people with disabilities within the workforce.

Knock an rawley Resource Centre in Tipperary will receive €194,535 for the ‘Ability’ project to support people with physical, sensory, or intellectual disability and mental health conditions to achieve their education, training and employment aspirations.

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD announced the funding package on Friday, July 30.

“As Minister, I am determined to support people with disabilities in every way I can – whether it’s helping them upskill or arming them with the supports necessary to achieve their ambition to set up their own business or social enterprise.

“I know that this funding will be very important in supporting people with disabilities right across the country to avail of employment opportunities that they have always aspired to reach,” Minister Humphreys said.

Funding will be provided to the successful projects from 1st September 2021 to 30th December 2022.