Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.

Congratulations to local community groups all over winning funds to improve access to Community Education in our Towns & Villages.

December 13, 2021

Congratulations to local community groups all over winning funds to improve access to Community Education in our Towns & Villages.

Congratulations to local community groups all over winning funds to improve access to Community Education in our Towns & Villages.
This fund is a fantastic support for community groups all over the country who have felt the impacts of the digital divide over the past year and 9 months. Today so much more of our day-to-day activity, engagement with State agencies, even shopping and banking has moved online, and it can be a more challenging place without the know-how & devices to access these services.
The ‘Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage’ fund in 2021 will deliver 1,000 community projects such as laptop & device loan schemes to build capacity for community groups and centres. It is also to provide furniture to develop learning spaces with social distancing. It encourages more local participation in learning through mentorship and outreach as well as building awareness of supports available. I’ve worked with Minister Harris and his team on the promotion of this programme.
Congratulations to all the groups who have applied - these projects support learners with laptop loan schemes, furniture in community halls for social distancing, outreach.
Galway Autism Partnership - €5,200 / Encourage learners with autism to participate in FET
Clonberne Community Centre CLG €5,000 Laptop Loan Scheme to enable the learners in the group to continue to engage in learning remotely and offer them opportunities to access other courses online. The group learners would not be in a position to purchase the laptops themselves given economic circumstances.
Glenamaddy- Boyounagh Heritage Project €741 To help all who are interested in genealogy, to learn the basics of genealogical research and the creating of family trees.
Ability West €8,250 Device Loan Scheme to enable the learners in the group to continue to engage in learning remotely and offer them opportunities to access other courses online. The group learners would not be in a position to purchase the laptops themselves given economic circumstances.
Ballinasloe Training Shop €1,227 This funding will support learners to achieve increased access to IT, literacy supports as well as supporting their achieving qualification through the QQI framework.
Ballinasloe Training For Employment €5,000 To support disadvantaged & disenfranchised individuals within the local community through upskilling, technology supports, mentoring, advocacy & 1:1 educational support.
GRETB have courses available to support reading, writing or language skills to find out more Freephone 1800 20 20 65 or text LEARN to 50050 and a great team at NALA (National Adult Literacy Association) can give you all the options on Adult Literacy for Life and Computer Skills and even speak to other people who have done these courses and become more confident in their reading & writing. If you know someone who might benefit, perhaps share this Freephone number with them.