Limerick projects benefit from new funding stream
RESEARCHERS have been given €50,000 in funding for a book which looks at life through the eyes of a young person who has a parent behind bars.
Staff at University of Limerick are creating the book - named ‘Kids Own’ alongside young vulnerable people who have a mother or father who is incarcerated.
Following this, the college researchers may produce other books to support other marginalised communities.
It’s been made available thanks to a new stream of government funding, entitled What Works.
It’s designed to promote the collection and use of data in prevention and early intervention services for children and young people.
Organisations could apply for up to €50,000 under this fund, the allocations of which were announced by Children's Minister Roderic O’Gorman.
Elsewhere, the St Gabriel’s Foundation which provides services to children with disabilities from across the region, has received €49,200 under the fund.
Based in Dooradoyle, its project is seeking to use data to assess the clinical therapeutic supports given to students of schools which are designated as Deis across the city.
The Deis designation is normally reserved for schools in areas of high deprivation.
In total, Mr O’Gorman announced funding worth €653,287 to organisations across the country.
Many of these provide a service to Limerick, despite not being based here.
An early learning initiative being run by the National College of Ireland is getting €50,000.
A youth service programme focused on the needs of youngsters who identify as lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual or queer is receiving €49,999.
The Irish Foster Care Association is to get €49,938.
Jigsaw, which provides mental health supports to people up to the age of 25, will get €50,000.
Down Syndrome centres nationwide, including at Castletroy, are to get €49,970. And a group which supports one-parent families is getting €50,000 under the scheme.
The national forum of family resource centres is getting €50,000, while a nationwide child development initiative has secured €40,000.