The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth Roderic O’Gorman T.D., today announced that the application process for funding under the LGBTI+ Community Services fund will open shortly.
€700,000 is to be made available to applicant groups, operating at national, regional and local level, to support community services and promote visibility and inclusion of LGBTI+ people.
The 2021 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call is an important initiative under the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2022.
Key takeaways
- €700,000 will be made available to support community services for LGBTI+ people.
- Funding aims to promote inclusion, protect rights and improve quality of life and wellbeing for LGBTI+ people in Ireland.
- Grant scheme will be open to applications from existing LGBTI+ non-government organisations and community organisations working with LGBTI+ people.
Announcing the imminent launch of the fund, Minister O’Gorman said,
“It is a priority for the Government to build a safer, fairer, more inclusive Ireland. The National LGBTI+ inclusion strategy has been a major step forward for the LGBTI+ community – and we want to reach people in every corner of the country. This year’s funding will continue to improve access to services for LGBTI+ people, irrespective of their age or where they live.”
Key actions for government departments and agencies in the equality sector include continued funding and capacity of LGBTI+ community services, as well as measures to ensure that community development infrastructure more broadly is both inclusive and welcoming to LGBTI+ people.
Minister O’Gorman added,
“ The funding announced today coincides with Pride celebrations and recognises the need for access to LGBTI+ services right across Ireland. Last year’s funding call provided vital funding to many organisations across the county and I am pleased to see this continue. It will help improve quality of life for LGBTI+ people and ensure they are supported in realising their rights.”
The 2020 funding call provided funding to a variety of projects across the county including pride related activities such as the Pride in the Workplace conference in February by Dublin LGBTQ Pride and the publication of the Out Mag by Carlow Pride festival.
The online application process for funding under the Programme will launch in early July, and there will be two streams of funding under which organisations can apply.
Applications for Funding will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Strategic fit and achieving the goals of the Scheme, including how the proposed project would benefit LGBTI+ people in rural areas
- Strength of proposal, including how the planned activities will improve services and meet the current unmet needs of the LGBTI+ community.
- Financial management and value for money.
