Aim:
The aim of the Reach fund (formerly MAEDF) is to provide funding to support educationally disadvantaged learners in accessing and participating in community education. It aims to increase the participation of disadvantaged learners, particularly those who are undertaking literacy and skills programmes. The fund has a strong focus on building the digital infrastructure of community education providers, including providing devices and software, and increasing their capacity to deliver learning. The fund was specifically designed to tackle inequalities and support access to community education, and also intended to address specific actions in the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy to target funding on access to technology and devices, expand community access to wi-fi and broadband resources and to directly address unmet literacy needs to access education and training offered by ETBs and community education providers.
Purpose:
The purpose of the Reach fund is to assist GRETB to increase its capacity and that of community education providers to address the decline in participation of disadvantaged learners particularly those on literacy and basic skills programmes at NFQ levels 1 to 3. The fund places a strong focus on community education as a mechanism to continue to support and engage with disadvantaged learners. In addition, there is a focus on enabling the investment in building the digital infrastructure of providers and their capability to ensure that online learning/blended learning can be delivered in a way that meets the complex needs of learners.
Expenditure:
Applications under €2,500 will not be considered for funding.
Approved funding allocation for any activity under the REACH Fund must:
a. Be used for specific purpose intended.
b. Be expended by 30th November 2024 . *Please note any equipment/software purchased must be in the possession of the Grantee before 31st December 2024 in order to drawdown the grant.
c. Not be used for any pay costs or costs of a recurring nature.
For external (non‐ETB) projects, any Reach funding used for staff costs must ensure that staffing commitments/contracts are for a specific purpose or fixed term and that the commitments/contracts cannot extend beyond the end of 2024
d. Only expenditure incurred after the notification of a successful grant application can be considered. Retrospective funding is not possible under this fund.
e. Successful Grant applications are paid on a vouched expenditure basis*
(*Groups must spend the allocation and claim it back from GRETB once spent on the approved item(s))
Please Note: capital threshold is based on the cost of any item in excess of €3,000 including VAT. Capital items cannot be funded through this grant.
Funding Categories
Applications for funding should consider the categories as set out below:
1. Learner assistance fund, inclusive of education outreach/mentoring projects/transport costs for learners/urgent educational response.
2. Innovative green projects.
3. Projects focused on increasing participation in learning with target cohorts
4. Events/awareness campaigns that contribute to equality policy and legislation.
5. In line with the ALL strategy, specific actions that;
• directly address those experiencing unmet literacy needs to access education and training offered by ETBs and community education providers.
• target funding on access to technology and devices
• expand community access to Wi-Fi and broadband resources
6. Community groups in pre-development phase to support the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups.
7. Support for refugee groups to support education and training delivery and promote/ support cultural and social inclusion, including research and/or needs analysis.
Beneficiaries:
Each individual beneficiary of REACH funding must complete a registration form provided by GRETB. This information will be stored on the PLSS system, the ETB learner record system.
Application and Approval:
Please include quotes for any expenditure detailed in the application and complete quote log.
· GRETB will assess the applications and make recommendations to SOLAS/ Coordination Committee in order of priority. SOLAS/ Coordination Committee will then allocate funding following their assessment procedure.
· To ensure a fair disbursement of funding the prioritisation will be used by SOLAS/ Coordination Committee where funding requests exceed the funds available.
Quotations and Procurement Requirements:
Given the short timeframe it is imperative that quotes are sought in advance of submitting the application in order to ensure that a full spend can happen if your application is successful. The following procurement requirements will apply:
· under €5000 - one written quote,
· €5,001 - €15,000 - three written quotes
· €15,001 - €25,000 - five written quotes.