Deadline: 15-Mar-23
The Minister of State O’Brien is inviting applications for the Communities Integration Fund 2023 to support communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants.
Purpose and Goal
- A total of €500,000 is available in 2023 to local community based organisations to carry out integration projects in their local area. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations, and schools. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis.
- This funding can be used for both once-off initiatives and short to medium term projects. Projects should take an inclusive approach, aiming to bring migrants and host communities together.
- The maximum amount that may be granted to projects under CIF 2023 is €5,000. Please note that as capital expenditure must only amount to a very minor part of the overall expenditure capital expenditure must not exceed 10% of the overall project cost. Funding cannot be used for the provision of prize money, vouchers or monetary equivalents. The grant awarded is non-transferable.
- Please note that applications from Local Authorities, International Protection accommodation service providers, and individuals acting alone are not eligible for CIF.
Themes
- Intercultural Awareness – A project that brings host communities and migrant communities together to celebrate each other’s cultures and customs.
- Combating Racism and Xenophobia – A project aimed at preventing racism and xenophobia among local communities.
- Sport & Community Games – A project to facilitate local migrant integration by encouraging migrants to get involved in sport.
- Arts – A project to encourage social interaction between migrants and members of their local communities, through arts and crafts, music, dance, theatre and literature.
- Food/Cuisine – A project to promote interculturalism and integration through the sharing of different cuisines and cooking methods.
- Community Events – A project to adapt existing community activities or events to make them more inclusive of migrants.
- Capacity Building – A project with a social inclusion focus that seeks to help particularly vulnerable groups of migrants overcome specific difficulties (e.g. job-seeking skills, social media skills, IT skills, English language skills).
- Employment – A project offering employment advice and/or opportunities, e.g. through sponsorship by local businesses for training, skills assessment, placements, etc.
- School aged projects – A project focused on the educational needs of migrants through provision of additional supports e.g. to help migrant children to maximise the benefit of their school attendance (e.g. homework clubs).
- Migrant Women – A project assisting migrant women to integrate into Irish society
Funding Information
- Grants may range from €1,000 up to a maximum of €5,000, depending on the size and nature of the project.
- Projects must commence before 31 December 2023 and must be completed no later than 30 June 2024. Projects failing to observe these dates will be deemed ineligible, and funding must be returned to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Target Groups
- The purpose of the Communities Integration Fund 2023 is to support communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants and their children.
- As the Fund is intended to promote the integration of migrants and host communities, applicants are required to explain how the proposed project will bring migrants and host communities together.
Assessment Criteria
- All applications will be screened to ensure their completeness, and the eligibility of the applicant organisation and proposed activities. Applications deemed complete and eligible will then be assessed according to the following criteria:
- Overall strength of project proposal by reference to planned activities;
- Degree to which the planned outcomes meet the goals of the CIF 2023;
- Value for money.
- In determining the overall allocation of CIF 2023, DCEDIY may have regard to the need to achieve a balanced geographical spread of activities and to ensure a diverse array of migrant groups are represented.
For more information, visit Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.