We would like to inform you that NALA’s Student Development Fund (SDF) will not be offered in 2024. The SDF has been reallocated to enable us to expand our own student development activities and opportunities throughout the year.

This decision follows communications between us, the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) National Programme Office and SOLAS over the period of November – February 2024 regarding our funding and activities for 2024.

It is our understanding from our discussions with SOLAS, that Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have access to other funding for events and resources such as those provided by the SDF.

NALA will review the possibility of bringing back the SDF when developing its 2025 budget.

In the meantime, we:

• Are finalising our report of the 2023 Student Development Fund that summarises the activities and impact;
• Will share any information we receive about how you could continue with the valuable work the SDF supported in the past;
• Look forward to working with you on developing and delivering further student events in 2024, such as our upcoming Student Day in Cork on 7 March 2024 . Feel free to get in touch with Margaret Murray, Student Development and Outreach Officer with any suggestions that you might have for events. Her email is mmurray@nala.ie.
• Welcome any further questions you have on this decision. Please get in touch with Michelle Lynch, Communications, Outreach and Advocacy Manager. Her email is mlynch@nala.ie.