Community education providers in Cork are being encouraged to apply for funding for eligible projects under the €5.5 million Reach Fund, which is now open for applications through Cork Education and Training Board (ETB).
The Reach Fund was formerly known as the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund and carries a new name this year.
The aim of the Reach Fund is to support community education for adult learners in counties across Ireland, including Cork, who have the highest level of need. A further focus of the Fund is on building the digital infrastructure of local community education providers in Cork to increase their capacity to deliver online learning, with target funding available to improve access to technology and devices.
The Reach Fund was first announced by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, in 2020. It is funded by SOLAS, the further education and training authority, and administered to local community education projects by the 16 local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) around the country, including Cork ETB.
Commenting on the 2022 Reach Fund, Minister Simon Harris TD said:
“The success of the Reach Fund over the past two years has been so important. It’s critical, now that we are past the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, that we reconnect with the most disadvantaged learners around the country, including in Cork, and ensure that community education partners are empowered to reach them. These learners simply cannot be left behind. I am very proud of the work in reaching these learners that has been achieved under the banner of the Reach Fund and can’t wait to see what vital projects are funded in 2022’s call.”
