€1.5 million Ability to Work Fund Accepting Applications

Employers across Ireland were urged to “see ability not disability” and to create more opportunities in the workplace for people with visible and invisible disabilities at the launch of a new partnership between Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI) and State Street.

The partnership will see the creation of the Ability to Work Fund which will provide €1.5 million funding over 3 years to organisations working to empower more people with a disability to gain employment. The Ability to Work Fund is also supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Dormant Accounts Fund. 

SIFI and State Street hope that during the three years of the initiative, the fund will aim to reach 500 educationally-disadvantaged students across the country and empower 250 people to progress along pathways to employment. A disability might be a visible, physical or intellectual disability or it might be an invisible one such as a learning disability, traumatic brain injury or mental health condition. 

Launching the Ability to Work Fund, Regina Doherty T.D., Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection said, “The National Disability Inclusion Strategy contains a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities, many of whom want to work but are faced with barriers and challenges – some of which are personal, but more of which are societal and demand a concerted effort by Government, Employers and Civic society to break them down.  The Ability to Work Fund is an important initiative which will help provide bridges and supports into work for people living with a disability and I congratulate Social Innovation Fund Ireland and State Street for their vision in its establishment”.

Minister Doherty added that “within the public sector we are looking to double the number of people with a disability employed by 2024 and we are looking at alternative recruitment channels for people with disabilities”.  

Full details and criteria for the fund are available here: http://www.socialinnovation.ie/ability-to-work-fund/

The deadline for all applications is Friday, 14 February 20202 @ 5pm.