We have an exciting funding opportunity for you from Rethink Ireland!

Rethink Ireland is partnering with State Street, and the Department of Rural and Community Development on a 3-year Breaking Barriers fund to support projects/organisations that are working towards Equity in both education and the workplace in Ireland.

The Breaking Barriers Fund aims to support Awardees that tackle discrimination and inequality in the Irish labour market and education system. The Fund will achieve this through investments in innovative projects offering tailored solutions combating discrimination and inequality in the Irish labour market/education system with outcomes including (but not limited to); sustainable jobs, work placements & internships as well as training and education.

The Breaking Barriers Fund is now open for applications from change-making non-profit organisations focused on supporting people with disabilities to participate in community life. This includes social, cultural, arts and sports participation, as well as promoting disability awareness and training at a local level, and supporting pathways for young people transitioning through education.

The Fund offers a package of cash grants and non-financial supports up to the value of €204,000 for up to 5 projects (up to €189,000 cash grant and up to €15,000 *non financial supports) , to help them expand and increase their social impact.

This includes:

• Up to 5 cash grants awards of up to €189,000
• The * non-financial supports will include:
  • a place on Rethink Ireland’s Accelerator Programme
  • bespoke business and capacity building supports designed in consultation with the successful projects on topics such as strategic planning, maximising your impact, communications, storytelling and fundraising.
• Access to Rethink Ireland’s networks.

* The Rethink Ireland Board will decide how much money to award, which may be less than the amount requested. The final amount of the award will depend on how many organisations are selected.

We invite applications from projects which rise to the challenges captured in the following themes:

1. Addressing discrimination and Inequality: This includes tackling labour market discrimination and barriers to employment related to race, ethnicity, and nationality.
2. Increasing Participation and Access: The Fund aims to increase the participation of minority and disadvantaged groups in the labour market and facilitate better access to higher education, further education, and apprenticeships for those who face barriers (i.e through tailored employability programmes, holistic skills development courses, bespoke employment supports).
3. Eliminate barriers: This involves reducing both structural and practical barriers to employment, work placements, and educational opportunities for people/groups who face these barriers.
4. Supporting Career Development and Skills Growth: The Fund supports the career development and personal skills growth of employees/future employees who are under-represented at senior levels.
5. Systems Change Approach-Empowerment of Marginalised Communities: The Fund aims to empower leaders from marginalised and disadvantaged communities to self-advocate and champion their cause, strengthening networks and partnerships to challenge discriminatory practices and support systemic reforms that enhance access to decent work or education for the most marginalised communities.

NOTE: For theme 5 - A comprehensive systems change agenda is imperative to address the deeply rooted discrimination and inequality pervasive in Ireland's societal fabric. This type of change necessitates collaborative efforts to reform policies, enhance enforcement mechanisms, and promote diversity in leadership roles. Therefore in this theme we are looking to support e.g alliances, projects that are led by two or more organisations applying together, or joint partnerships, or initiatives embracing a systems change approach (collaborating across sectors, engaging with multiple stakeholders, seeking to create sustainable and scalable impact by shifting how systems functions at a fundamental level).

The fund is open for applications from 18th November 2024 to 1pm 10th Jan 2025. Please see our website (link to fund page here) for more information on who is eligible to apply and how to submit your online application.

Please join us for our application clinics to find out more and answer any questions that you have. The application clinics will be held on:

• November 28th 2024 Thursday at 1 pm: Register Here
• December 05th 2024 Thursday at 1 pm: Register Here