The Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris will today launch a fund of €1.25 million to support adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital skills.

In Ireland, more than 500,000 people have unmet literacy needs. Even more have unmet numeracy and digital literacy needs. This means 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.

The purpose of the Collaboration and Innovation Fund is to pay for collaborative and innovative projects that support adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs.

This will support a more inclusive, equal society.

Speaking today, Minister Harris said:

“I am delighted to launch the 2024 Collaboration and Innovation Fund. Last year, the Fund was a huge success with over 50 innovative projects that supported individuals with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs. We know that accessing literacy supports can be very difficult for people. There is often a stigma attached to not being able to read, write, or participate in the world online. What is really magic about this Fund is that is supports projects that often inject fun into learning those essential skills. That can mean improving reading and writing skills through the joy of cooking or learning new digital skills.”

The Collaboration and Innovation Fund can be used support projects and activities that enable adults to gain the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential. It can also be used to help organisations and services to be literacy friendly and fully accessible to adults with unmet needs. Further information about last year’s projects are available on the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy website and a showcase event of these projects is planned for June 2024.

Yvonne McKenna, Director of Adult Literacy for Life said:

“The ALL Collaboration and Innovation Fund will enable the delivery of a diverse and broad range of important literacy programmes to benefit adults in Ireland with a range of complex literacy needs.

“Literacy is an issue that will affect every adult in Ireland over the course of their lifetime. Currently, almost 1 in 6 adults in Ireland struggling with reading and understanding everyday text, almost 1 in 4 struggles with maths and almost 1 in 2 adults lack basic digital skills.

“This Collaboration and Innovation Fund will help a range of learners including older adults, Travellers, migrants, lone parents, and early school leavers gain access to key supports to benefit their needs to participate more fully in society.”

Notes

Find out more information about the Collaboration Fund.

Available funding

In 2024, the total funding available in the Collaboration and Innovation Fund is €1.25 million. €1 million is available to fund local projects in any county in Ireland. €0.25 million is available to fund national projects that have a have a wider, national scope.

Who can apply

Organisations that work in the public, not-for-profit, community and voluntary sector can apply for the Collaboration and Innovation Fund. You need a minimum of two organisations working in partnership to apply for the Fund.

Main criteria for getting funding

Collaboration: There must be at least two organisations involved.

Innovation: Your project is new or innovative.

Beneficial: Your project benefits adults with unmet literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy needs.

Cost: Your project is good value for money, and:

• less than €25,000 for a local project, or
• less than €50,000 for a national project

Background information on the Collaboration and Innovation Fund

The 2024 Collaboration and Innovation Fund is an initiative of Adult Literacy for Life Strategy. Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) is a 10-year strategy that aims to ensure that every adult has the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital literacy to fully engage in society and realise their potential. A National Programme Office has been established by SOLAS to operate as a central, coordinating office for the Strategy across all departments and stakeholders.

The ALL Strategy is important because it will help people gain the necessary skills to achieve their personal, social and employment aspirations so that they can take part fully in society. It will also help organisations and services to be fully accessible to adults with unmet needs, and support a more inclusive, equal society.