Supporting adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs

A fund aiming to support collaborative and innovative projects that enable adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs to fully engage in society and realise their potential, launched on Monday, with a call for applications to the

2024 project.

Details of a new Collaboration and Innovation Fund were announced last week by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD, with a call for applications being issued by the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) office, in collaboration with SOLAS.

In Ireland, more than 500,000 people have unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs, meaning 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. This can negatively impact their confidence and prevent them from participating fully in society.

Organisations that work in the public, notfor-profit, community and voluntary sector are being encouraged to apply for up to €25,000 to fund a local project, or up to €50,000 for a national project. A minimum of two organisations working in partnership is required to apply for the fund.

An initiative of the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy – a 10 year, whole-of-government and society strategy dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the literacy to meet their needs, and that literacy is valued and supported at every level of society - the total funding available this year in the Collaboration and Innovation Fund is €1.25 million. €1 million is available to fund local projects in any county in Ireland, while €0.25 million is available to fund national projects that have a have a wider, national scope.

Cross- community partnerships are encouraged to avail of the fund to support adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs, driving effective cross-community partnerships such as libraries, refugee centres, community and adult education providers.

The closing date for applications is Thursday, April 4th and further information can be found at https://www. adultliteracyforlife. ie/ fund/